FromSoftware’s early games were niche due to their testing combat. However, thanks to immersive atmospheres, memorable bosses, and eccentric storytelling conventions, subsequent titles have found increased mainstream attention, leading to many more gamers discovering the masochistic joys of FromSoftware combat. WithElden Ring, the studio has found new levels of success and mainstream popularity in gaming. Part ofElden Ring’s success is thanks to the involvement of novelist George R. R. Martin, but it is also a result of FromSoftware’s proven record of offering fierce yet fair combat that can become addictive.
The game’s success can be seen in terms of critical reception, as it currently sits as one of the most highly-rated games on Opencritic. However, perhaps the most impressive indicator ofElden Ring’s success is its sales. On March 16, Bandai Namco announced that in less than a month since its release,Elden Ringhad sold over 12 million copies globally, with 1 million of them sold in Japan. This is impressive on its own, butElden Ring’s achievements become even more awe-inspiring when the game’s sales are compared to previous FromSoftware games.
RELATED:Elden Ring’s Outer Gods Explained
How Does Elden Ring Compare to Previous FromSoftware Titles?
Elden Ringis by far FromSoftware’s bestselling title, and comparing it to previous titles from the studio helps to put the game’s level of success into context.Dark Souls 3, the most recent entry in the popularDark Soulsseries, was released in 2016. By 2020, the game had sold over 10 million units, a feat thatElden Ringachieved in less than a month. In fact, the entireDark Soulsseries has sold 27 million copies, meaning thatElden Ringhas almost matched half the lifetime sales of the series in but a few weeks.Elden Ringalso dwarfsSekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which was released in March 2019 and managed to sell over 5 million copies by July 2020.
Not even FromSoftware and the game’s publisher,Bandai Namco, anticipated the monumental success ofElden Ring. Before the game’s launch, Bandai Namco had told investors that the game can be expected to sell about 4 million copies in its first month. In a press release, FromSoftware and Bandai Namco attributedElden Ring’s astronomic success to its global release in fourteen languages, George R. R. Martin’s contribution, as well as FromSoftware’s “expertise in developing pulse-pounding, action-based titles.” Commenting onElden Ring’s success, Hidetaka Miyazaki, who is the game’s director, has extended thanks to gamers and admitted that it has astonished him to see just how many gamers have jumped into The Lands Between.
Elden Ring Signals a Bright Future For FromSoftware
FromSoftware is a studio that has managed to establish itself within mainstream gaming despite not making use of many of the trends that have come to characterize triple-A games.Elden Ringcontinues this pattern,presenting an uncluttered map, ruthless boss battles, and no difficulty settings. Regardless,Elden Ringhas been a resounding success, proving that there is a market for games that deviate from the norm and make no attempt to handhold players.
To the satisfaction of many, FromSoftware recognizes thatElden Ringhas resonated with gamers, and it has told gamers that they can look forward to the IP “expanding beyond the realm of games.” Whether this entails books, films, television shows, or something else entirely has yet to be confirmed, but it is clear that this is not thelast that gamers will see ofElden Ring. In many ways,Elden Ringmarks a new era for FromSoftware. No longer can the studio be seen to serve only a niche group of interests. AsElden Ring’s sales reveal, the game has allowed FromSoftware to reach far more gamers than ever before.
Elden Ringis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
