The highly-anticipated next game by FromSoftware was set to release on Jan. 21 next year, but those eager to play Elden Ring will now have to wait another month.
Publisher Bandai Namco has announced via the Elden Ring Twitter account that the game will now launch on Feb. 25. The reason for the delay is because "the depth & strategic freedom of the game exceeded initial expectations." In other words, the development team needs a few more weeks to ensure there's no game-breaking bugs or crashes.
While the delay is bad news, a lucky few gamers will be able to play Elden Ring next month. A closed network test is scheduled to take place between Nov. 12-15, and anyone (over the age of 16) registering their interest before Nov. 1 has a chance of being selected for the test. FromSoftware is using the test "to improve the quality of the product," with the servers being made available for the following five sessions over the three days:
- Session 1: 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. CET, Nov. 12
- Session 2: 4 a.m - 7 a.m. CET, Nov. 13
- Session 3: 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. CET, Nov. 13
- Session 4: 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. CET, Nov. 14
- Session 5: 4 a.m - 7 a.m. CET, Nov. 15
Take note that the closed network test will be available across all supported consoles, but not for PC gamers unfortunately.
The hype surrounding Elden Ring is understandable when you consider it's an action RPG from the developers of the Dark Souls series and a collaboration with author George R. R. Martin. We've already seen how good a FromSoftware title can look on next-gen hardware with the release of the Demon's Souls remake on PS5. Elden Ring will be available for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, but also PS4, Xbox One, and PC.