A free-to-use Elden Ring mobile game is in development, according to Reuters.
While there hasn’t been an announcement from Chinese developer, Tencent Holdings, a mobile version of the role-playing game would most likely be a big hit. Elden Ring was co-developed by George RR Martin, the creator of Game of Thrones in a collaboration with Hidetaka Miyazaki, and the narrative takes gamers into an immersive fantasy world of mythical creatures.
Launched in 2022, Elden Ring became one of the most popular action games, selling around 20 million copies in its first year alone. Given the original game's popularity, Tencent’s plans to transform it into a mobile-friendly version sound plausible.
The original game retails for around $60 but the mobile version is rumoured to be a free download model with in-app purchases that further unlock accessibility to the Elden Ring world.
Tencent previously worked on mobile adaptations of Assassin’s Creed and Need for Speed. However, the game developers have faced challenges in the past with mobile models and were forced to shut down their Apex Legends project.
News of their work on Elden Ring came after one of Tencent’s founders, Pony Ma, admitted the company is facing stiff competition in gaming.
“Gaming is our flagship business ... But in the past year, we have faced significant challenges,” Ma said. “We have found ourselves at a loss, as our competitors continue to produce new products, leaving us feeling having achieved nothing.”
Speaking at the company's annual meeting, Ma added that some games they’d developed in 2023 hadn’t turned out as hoped, and they’re now trying to adapt to the emergence of AI.
