In February 2024, speculation arose regarding the potential for Elden Ring to be ported to mobile devices through a collaboration between FromSoftware and Tencent, although no official confirmation has been made to date. Despite a year having passed, uncertainty lingers regarding the status of this project.
Industry developments hint at the possibility that the project is still in progress, or that FromSoftware and Tencent are working together on a collaborative endeavor. Following an increase in Tencent’s investment in the parent company of the renowned developer responsible for titles like Demon’s Souls and Bloodborne, key members of FromSoftware, including Hidetaka Miyazaki, were observed visiting Tencent’s headquarters in China.
While official details remain scarce, Miyazaki’s presence at Tencent indicates a potential collaboration on a project, possibly Elden Ring Mobile. In 2022, Tencent acquired the licensing rights for Elden Ring, enabling them to promptly assemble a team dedicated to crafting a prototype.
Elden Ring Mobile purportedly follows a free-to-play model with microtransactions, aligning with Tencent’s aim to replicate the success of Genshin Impact. Nonetheless, specifics regarding the game’s development and potential modifications by Tencent to achieve their objectives remain undisclosed.
Tencent’s strategic objective revolves around diversifying its portfolio and generating new triumphs rather than solely relying on existing offerings. Yet, the adaptation of third-party intellectual property like Elden Ring into a format reminiscent of Genshin Impact may pose challenges, as it implies transforming a pre-existing game into a different experience with indefinite longevity.
