The release of Elden Ring was a huge deal not just because it was FromSoftware’s first true open-world game (and their biggest), but also for the involvement of storied author George R. R. Martin, who laid down the foundation of the action-RPG’s world.
A collaboration between these two legends is something no one could see coming, but boy did it bear fruit. Elden Ring not only became the most successful FromSoftware title, it also won the 2022 Game of the Year award. Now, as fans eagerly await the release of its DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, many wonder how Martin has contributed to it.
Martin’s Aura Indirectly Extends To Shadow Of The Erdtree
In an interview with IGN, Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki clarified that Martin didn’t return to the writer’s room for the DLC:
The way George Martin’s story has been incorporated is the same as it was with the base game with Elden Ring. And to avoid misunderstanding there, we just want to point out that he hasn’t written anything exclusively and new for the sake of this DLC.
Instead, Shadow of the Erdtree builds on the foundation Martin had already created for Elden Ring. So, while Martin didn’t write anything specific for Shadow of the Erdtree, his ideas and world-building from the main game will still be present in the highly-anticipated expansion.
“It would still be fair to say that he and his mythos that he created for us are involved in the creation of Shadow of the Erdtree in the same way,” said Miyazaki.
Elden Ring Used A Smaller Piece Of Martin’s Original Mythos
Miyazaki also explained that Martin’s work wasn’t just for Elden Ring, but for a slew of potential stories, and that they’re only using smaller chunks of the foundation he built:
In making the base game and making Elden Ring, we took from that mythos, but we only took one part of it. We took from a part that created the story of Elden Ring and created the world that we wanted to envision, and the Shadow of the Erdtree is yet another part of that original mythos that he wrote and that has inspired us to create the story of this DLC.
It’s interesting that Miyazaki suggests there’s more to the mythos than just the parts they’ve used for the base game and its upcoming expansion. It really makes one wonder how big Martin’s early contribution was, and whether we could see more of it being used for future expansions, or maybe even a sequel to Elden Ring.
As for Martin’s reaction to the game’s success, Miyazaki mentioned, “Mr. Martin and I have at least exchanged emails since the release of Elden Ring, but unfortunately we haven’t been able to meet and speak in person,” The director cites Martin’s busy schedule as the reason, but we can imagine the celebrated author is very happy with the game’s success.
The collaboration between Miyazaki and Martin is one we never knew we needed until it happened, and it makes a lot of sense as well. An iconic fantasy RPG auteur working with the author who wrote the most successful fantasy novels of all time is a match made is heaven, and both Elden Ring and its upcoming expansion are testament to that.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree releases on 21 June 2024 across PS4/PS5, PC, and Xbox One/Series X/S.
