Elden Ring, one of FromSoftware’s most significant works, is an absolute masterpiece that weaves its intricate lore with one of the best open-world combat systems and bosses of all time.
Fascinatingly, however, the game may never have taken its current shape had Hidetaka Miyazaki continued to hesitate in collaborating with George R.R. Martin. As successful as the collaboration proved to be, Miyazaki himself admitted that he had significant concerns at the outset of the project.
Miyazaki was hesitant in collaborating with Martin at the start of Elden Ring’s development
The game and its new expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, have been the subject of critical acclaim. Much of the praise has been directed towards its atmospheric and topographically surreal world, dense lore, and breathtaking micro-level design.
For many, however, it’s hard to believe that Martin indeed had a hand in this game’s development, considering how much of Miyazaki’s signature can be found all across The Lands Between.
Not only that, but it’s the simple fact that FromSoft’s titles have always thrived on fragmented storytelling and mysterious lore, which Elden Ring delivers in droves.
Nonetheless, Martin played a key role in shaping Elden Ring’s foundational mythology. He was tasked with creating the backstory, mythology, and history that Miyazaki and his team then built upon to craft the modern-day conflict players experience.
It is surprising to know then that Miyazaki had some genuine concerns about this collaboration. The anxiety about collaborating with Martin stemmed from two main factors: the language barrier and their significant age gap.
As a legendary author known for his sprawling and intricately detailed narratives, Martin’s extensive experience raised concerns for Miyazaki, who was a master of obfuscation more than anything. Miyazaki feared that communicating what both parties wanted from each other might pose challenges.
Additionally, the age difference made Miyazaki apprehensive about their ability to connect on all the creative ideas and visions for the project. Despite these concerns, or perhaps due to the apprehension, Miyazaki’s was ultimately driven to work on the title quite meticulously, ensuring that both influences blended seamlessly.
Could Miyazaki and Martin collaborate again on another FromSoftware title in the future?
Despite Miyazaki’s early concerns, the collaboration between George R.R. Martin and FromSoftware ultimately bore fruit in Elden Ring’s success. With Martin’s foundational work and Miyazaki’s solid game design ideologies, they crafted one of the most immersive and artistically rich games in recent memory.
That being said, given the unexplored bits of Elden Ring’s world and due to the game’s success as well, fans have started to wonder if Miyazaki and Martin might collaborate again in the future.
For instance, regions like the Land of Reeds remain shrouded in the game’s dense lore, and Martin’s vast experience with world-building could offer new depths to explore some of Elden Ring’s leftover and uncharted territories.
While FromSoftware may have reached a mechanical peak, with bosses like Promised Consort Radahn pushing the limits of challenge, the sky is still the limit for this team’s lore and narrative development.
If not a second collaboration that could expand on the 2022 title’s foundations in a number of ways, perhaps a new game is in order, one that may truly push the boundaries in a way that even Elden Ring couldn’t accomplish.
With that said, what are your thoughts on this? How much do you think Martin truly contributed to Elden Ring’s world? Let us know in the comments below!
