Tencent is reportedly developing a mobile version ofElden Ringinspired byGenshin Impactthat’s free-to-play with microtransactions.
Reutersreports that Tencent acquired the licensing rights in 2022 before setting up a team to develop a prototype. It’s certainly unusual given that FromSoftware tends to avoid MTX, selling full packages upfront with expansions post-launch, but there has been a mobile spin-off based on one of its games before. Bandai Namco released Slashy Souls, an endless runner, as a tie-in promotion forDark Souls 3in 2016. However, a full mobile version of one of its games is new territory.
Tencent was also reportedly developing a mobile game in theNierseries for two years, but it was axed after it “struggled to find a compelling monetisation model”. Another key reason Nier didn’t reach the finish line is that Tencent is allegedly unwilling to pay royalty fees over ten percent. Combined with the fact that work on the Elden Ring mobile game has reportedly been progressing slowly, it’s not guaranteed that it will see the light of day. It may, like Nier, get cancelled.
Of course, Tencent also published a mobile version ofPUBGthat is immensely successful, so we’ll just have to wait and see how Elden Ring fares. Until it’s officially announced, anything could change behind closed doors.
In the meantime, fans are eagerly awaiting news on the DLC, Shadows of the Erdtree. Just under a month ago,a backend Steam update was made to the store page’s DLC listingfor the first time since Elden Ring launched two years ago, which many took as proof of an announcement being imminent.
Another update four days ago revealed that it had entered the “quality assessment” stage. With Elden Ring turning two on February 25, it could be that FromSoft is gearing up to announce the expansion on its anniversary, which would also be one year since the DLC itself was revealed. Something is going on behind the scenes, at any rate.
We have a lot more Elden Ring on the horizon between this new DLC (which was reportedly two separate expansionsat one point) and the reported mobile game. But fans are still finding ways to keep the base game fresh, frombeating bosses while rolling in real lifetoconquering the game with a violin.
