FROMSOFTWARE NOW SOLE OWNER OF ELDEN RING FRANCHISE

FromSoftware has fully acquired the rights to the Elden Ring franchise, a move that was previously shared with publisher Bandai Namco. Evidence of this acquisition was discovered on Reddit through a U.S. trademark registration showing the rights transitioned to FromSoftware as of April of the previous year. Known for their titles Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Armored Core, FromSoftware retains ownership while rights to other games like Bloodborne and Demon's Souls remain with Sony, and Bandai Namco holds the rights to the Dark Souls series. Speculation suggests that the purchase of the Elden Ring rights could have been facilitated by investments from Tencent and Sony into FromSoftware, which likely provided a significant cash boost. Meanwhile, FromSoftware is developing Shadow of the Erdtree, an expansion for Elden Ring, with no confirmed release date yet. Additionally, recent reports indicate that Tencent may be developing a mobile game based on Elden Ring.

What does FromSoftware's acquisition of the Elden Ring franchise rights mean for the future of the series?nBy acquiring the full rights to the Elden Ring franchise, FromSoftware can potentially have greater creative control and financial benefit from future titles and expansions. This move suggests a strong commitment to the series' growth and expansion, which could lead to more frequent updates, sequels, or related projects.

Elden Ring is an action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Released in February 2022, it received critical acclaim for its open-world design and gameplay. It was directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki with worldbuilding contributions from fantasy author George R.R. Martin. The game achieved massive success, having sold millions of copies worldwide, and is widely considered a landmark title in the gaming industry.