FromSoftware’s 2022 hit Elden Ring is another feather in the cap of an already illustrious game developer. Available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, and PC, gamers have a variety of platforms to choose from to explore The Lands Between.
A new one may be added to the list, as mobile gaming giant Tencent could bring Elden Ring to mobile as a free-to-play title. Not only that, Tencent may introduce in-app purchases to the title, a move that is sure to create a buzz amongst fans and mobile gamers alike.
Tencent’s plan may affect the way Elden Ring is meant to be enjoyed
First reported by Reuters, the news outlet claims to have received this information from three individuals close to the matter. Tencent, the largest gaming company by revenue, acquired the licensing rights for Elden Ring from FromSoftware in 2022, the same year it bought a 16% stake in the studio. A team of a few dozen people was placed to work on a prototype, but progress has been slow.
While Elden Ring was released as a premium title with a $60 price tag, Tencent is looking to make it entirely free-to-play for mobile with in-app purchases. Gamers will likely see the similarity to gacha game Genshin Impact, developed by Tencent’s rival miHoYo.
However, the issue appears to be that Elden Ring was never meant to support in-app purchases. The game was designed as a one-time payment product, so it’s going to be strange to see in-app purchases retrofitted for the new platform.
There is also the issue of royalty fees, which range between 15-20 percent of sales, and platform fees such as Apple’s 30 percent commission. With such bills to pay and no clear route on how to monetize the game, it’s no wonder insiders claim the project is going at a snails pace. In-app purchases have been a point of contention for many gamers on mobile platforms, so it will be interesting to see the reception of its implementation in Elden Ring.
Building free-to-play mobile games is standard practice for Tencent
The company has a long-standing reputation for bringing some of the biggest names in console gaming to mobile. Call of Duty: Mobile and PUBG are two of their most well-known titles to the mobile gaming platform, and subsidiaries are also working on mobile versions of Need for Speed and Assassin’s Creed.
It has not always been smooth sailing for the company though. Tencent had to shut down the mobile version of Apex Legends in 2023. The company also canceled a mobile project for Nier due to monetization issues, despite investing nearly two years in its development.
This track record is sure to have fans of Elden Ring a bit worried, and some may also be wondering if the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC will be included in the mobile version. Do you feel Tencent is on the right track by porting a beloved game like Elden Ring to mobile platforms? Let us know in the comments below!
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