Tencent's New Elden Ring: Not as Expected

Tencent, one of the world’s most valuable gaming companies, is reportedly working on a slightly different version of Elden Ring. However, this isn’t the logical successor for PC and consoles.

First off: Tencent, which acquired nearly a third of FromSoftware alongside Sony in 2022, owns about 16 percent of the shares, while Sony holds approximately 14 percent of the studio. Why is this important? Tencent, as one of the leading gaming companies, wields considerable influence, especially in the Chinese gaming market, and is simultaneously involved with prominent publishers and developers outside of China, including Riot Games – so, the influence is significant!

Please follow us on Twitter and Facebook

It was clear that this involvement wouldn’t be without consequences. As Reuters reported, Tencent is intensively working on a new version of Elden Ring. However, it seems that this isn’t the successor but rather a mobile spin-off, whose development is progressing slowly.

Continuing Elden Ring Success – Hastily or Thoughtfully?

Elden Ring, with over 20 million copies sold, is more than just popular and stands among the most successful games of 2022. Since its release, Elden Ring has captivated a continuously growing player base – so, it’s clear that Tencent sees a good opportunity here to either build on the success or expand it.

What isn’t so clear yet is the execution. According to Reuters, the development of the mobile version of Elden Ring is progressing slowly. Additionally, the question arises: How can such an expansive, lively, and dynamic world like that of Elden Ring be translated onto a smartphone?

The company is striving to land another major hit with an existing IP after the success of League of Legends: Wild Rift. Tencent CEO Pony Ma said last week that the company feels left behind by the competition as they develop new, successful games – “We feel like we haven’t achieved anything,” were his words.