Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin might not have written much of Elden Ring, but that’s because it’s a FromSoftware title at the end of the day.
In an interview with The New Yorker, Elden Ring’s director Hidetaka Miyazaki explained how he worked with Martin. Apparently, Miyazaki put some key restrictions on Martin during the creative process. Not to hinder Martin’s freedom, but so that FromSoftware’s core design principles wouldn’t need to shift significantly with whatever Martin came up with.
“In our games, the story must always serve the player experience,” Miyazaki said. “If [Martin] had written the game’s story, I would have worried that we might have to drift from that. I wanted him to be able to write freely and not to feel restrained by some obscure mechanic that might have to change in development.”
Much has changed in the Lands Between since the days of your banishment, Tarnished. Come and learn what awaits you on the path of grace.
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It makes sense since Martin is known for ridiculously labyrinthine plots rife with detail, while Miyazaki’s games like Dark Souls are often esoteric as possible. The two of them greatly admire each other’s work and even became good friends while working on Elden Ring. Miyazaki was unwavering in his insistence that fans play FromSoftware’s games to be part of the story in some capacity though.
“That power of imagination is important to me,” Miyazaki continues. “Offering room for user interpretation creates a sense of communication with the audience—and, of course, communication between users in the community. This is something that I enjoy seeing unfold with our games, and that has continued to influence my work.”
Who knew that imaginative wiggle-room would lead to “maidenless” memes.
Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.
