is a 2022 action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki with worldbuilding provided by fantasy writer George R. R. Martin, it was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on February 25. In the game, players control a customizable player character on a journey to repair the titular Elden Ring and become the new Elden Lord. Elden Ring is presented through a third-person perspective, with players freely roaming its interactive open world. The six main areas are traversed using the player character's steed Torrent as the primary mode of transportation, while linear hidden dungeons can be explored to find useful items. Combat is facilitated by several types of weapons and magic spells, including non-direct engagement enabled by stealth mechanics. Checkpoints located throughout the open world allow for the player to improve their attributes using an in-game currency called Runes, as well as acting as locations that enable fast travel. Elden Ring features online multiplayer, with players able to join each other for both cooperative and player versus player combat. FromSoftware wanted to create an open-world game with gameplay similar to Dark Souls, intending Elden Ring to act as an evolution of the first game in the series. Miyazaki admired Martin's work and hoped his contributions would produce a more accessible narrative than FromSoftware's previous games. Martin was given the freedom to design the backstory without restriction, while Miyazaki remained lead writer for the story taking place during gameplay. The developers concentrated on environmental scale, roleplaying, and the story as the main elements, with the scale requiring the construction of several separate structures inside the open world. Elden Ring received critical acclaim, with praise directed towards its open-world, gameplay systems, and setting, although some criticism went towards its technical performance. It won many Game of the Year awards and sold over 20 million copies in a year. An expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, was announced in February 2023. Gameplay Elden Ring is an action role-playing game played in a third person perspective, with gameplay focusing on combat and exploration. It features elements similar to those found in other games developed by FromSoftware, such as the Dark Souls series, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Set in an open world, players are allowed to freely explore the Lands Between and its six main areas; these locations range