Elden Ring delayed to February, closed network test coming next month

[Daniel Sims]

In brief: Bandai Namco today announced an upcoming closed network test for FromSoftware's latest dark fantasy action RPG, Elden Ring. However, the news also came with a delay of the game's final release date by about a month.

FromSoftware says it needs to push Elden Ring's launch from January 21 to February 25, 2022. In the meantime, the developer has a closed network test coming up in five "sessions" lasting a few hours each day from November 12 through November 14 on consoles.

Bandai Namco marked the announcement with a brief teaser and a new screenshot (above). Those who wish to participate in the network test must sign up before November 1.

Important message:

ELDEN RING will release on Feb 25, 2022, as the depth & strategic freedom of the game exceeded initial expectations. Thank you for your trust & patience. We look forward to seeing you experience the game in the Closed Network Test in Nov.

The #ELDENRING Team

— ELDEN RING (@ELDENRING) October 18, 2021

Bandai Namco has the session times for the network test listed on the sign-up page. All times listed are Pacific. The first two will be in the early morning and late evening of Friday, November 12. The third session will be in the middle of the following day, and the last two will be in the morning and evening of Sunday.

The network test will be for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series consoles. Elden Ring is also coming out on PC, but FromSoftware has not scheduled a PC network test.

Over the weekend, someone leaked about 30 seconds of new footage from Elden Ring. According to a post on the ResetEra forum linking to the now-deleted YouTube channel that posted the footage, it appears to be from the Xbox One version. It doesn't show much—just a player character running around and jumping in an outdoor environment with a compass at the top of the screen—two features that weren't in Dark Souls or Bloodborne. From Software introduced jumping in its games in its most recent title, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/91808-elden-ring-delayed-february-closed-network-test-coming.html

 

[Yenega]

Every game gets delayed today. And probably still releases filled with bugs.

 

[GamerNerves]

Looks a lot like Dark Souls, which is not a bad thing. FromSoftware develops their games very efficiently, Sekiro released not that long ago. Current-gen seems to once again offer huge landmasses and very long draw distance.

 

[Yenega]

Looks a lot like Dark Souls, which is not a bad thing. FromSoftware develops their games very efficiently, Sekiro released not that long ago. Current-gen seems to once again offer huge landmasses and very long draw distance.

I surely hope the gameplay experience is going to be more smooth and optimised. Movement is pretty wonky in all their former games.

In Elden Ring you atleast can jump it seems (proper jumping, not spring + run like they use to) and Mount is a nice addition instead of small corridors and maps. I think a big open world (however not completely open) will be a big step forward for FS.

I still consider Bloodborne the best FS game till this day. Even tho I played and completed most of their games. Except Sekiro which I tried several times but the Ninja crap is not for me.

 

[GamerNerves]

@Yenega We have slightly different preferences, since I think Dark Souls series is actually very responsive to control, since there are no unnecessary animations, though sometimes button prompts are not registered if there is a roll finishing or something else. I like the way the character handles in all their games, but overall Dark Souls series is flawed, Dark Souls 2 maybe not even worth playing, while Sekiro is their more polished game that actually tells you an understandable story and ditches out the stats system that ineffectively affects how the game is actually played. Sekiro's tool upgrades add more variety and player creativity to the gameplay and the sneaking part is an extra layer that can really make the game easier if you utilize it, since the game is hard otherwise. Sekiro is very smooth to play and even those quick button prompts in heat of the action are well registered. In the end the actual progress and action of these games are all much the same, Sekiro's more three dimensional I would say, and Sekiro is more refined and thought out overall, having a purposeful story and relatable characters, while Dark Souls' mysterious world is it's strongest point. Sekiro is more traditional game mood wise, which some people understandably might not prefer over Dark Souls.

Elden Ring looks to be a mix of their games, having quick action as in Bloodborne, travelling the world like in Sekiro but heavily expanded, with stats stuff (some sort of RPG like character progression) as in Dark Souls. The open world is surely exciting to explore, but it's not always easy to pull off a captivating and meaningful open world, though I trust FromSoftware's talent very much. Is the story mysterious though or is it something like the author George R.R. Martin would write? I'm eagerly waiting to learn.

 

[Yenega]

@Yenega We have slightly different preferences, since I think Dark Souls series is actually very responsive to control, since there are no unnecessary animations, though sometimes button prompts are not registered if there is a roll finishing or something else. I like the way the character handles in all their games, but overall Dark Souls series is flawed, Dark Souls 2 maybe not even worth playing, while Sekiro is their more polished game that actually tells you an understandable story and ditches out the stats system that ineffectively affects how the game is actually played. Sekiro's tool upgrades add more variety and player creativity to the gameplay and the sneaking part is an extra layer that can really make the game easier if you utilize it, since the game is hard otherwise. Sekiro is very smooth to play and even those quick button prompts in heat of the action are well registered. In the end the actual progress and action of these games are all much the same, Sekiro's more three dimensional I would say, and Sekiro is more refined and thought out overall, having a purposeful story and relatable characters, while Dark Souls' mysterious world is it's strongest point. Sekiro is more traditional game mood wise, which some people understandably might not prefer over Dark Souls.

Elden Ring looks to be a mix of their games, having quick action as in Bloodborne, travelling the world like in Sekiro but heavily expanded, with stats stuff (some sort of RPG like character progression) as in Dark Souls. The open world is surely exciting to explore, but it's not always easy to pull off a captivating and meaningful open world, though I trust FromSoftware's talent very much. Is the story mysterious though or is it something like the author George R.R. Martin would write? I'm eagerly waiting to learn.

George R.R. Martin helped with alot of stuff including making some of the monsters and areas it seems.

Some like Sekiro yeah but I did not like the ninja setting so maybe thats just me.

I actually did not play DS2, only DS1 + DS3 + DS1 Remastered and then Bloodborne which was awesome. I hope they do a PC/PS5 remaster of that game with steady 60 fps.

 

[GamerNerves]

George R.R. Martin helped with alot of stuff including making some of the monsters and areas it seems.

Some like Sekiro yeah but I did not like the ninja setting so maybe thats just me.

I actually did not play DS2, only DS1 + DS3 + DS1 Remastered and then Bloodborne which was awesome. I hope they do a PC/PS5 remaster of that game with steady 60 fps.

Neither I played DS2, the tutorial area was enough . I have never owned a console so I will play Bloodborne on PC if it comes up. The remastered Demon Souls I would also play.
Bloodborne deserves a remaster just for the PS5 customers, so it would run better, no need for any huge rework necessarily.

 

[Yenega]

Neither I played DS2, the tutorial area was enough . I have never owned a console so I will play Bloodborne on PC if it comes up. The remastered Demon Souls I would also play.
Bloodborne deserves a remaster just for the PS5 customers, so it would run better, no need for any huge rework necessarily.

I have a few hundred hours in Bloodborne (most of all From Software games) and I will def. replay it on PC too, with max graphics and fps.

The setting in this game is just 10/10. Beating any other Souls game with ease IMO.