Elden Ring
News, coverage and analysis tracking Elden Ring across the outlets.
Latest coverage
The Duskbloods gameplay leaks ahead of tomorrow's closed beta, showing tense PvPbattles with guns, wolves, and velociraptors
Gameplay footage from FromSoftware's upcoming PvPvE action game, The Duskbloods, has leaked online ahead of its closed beta test. The leaked video showcases fast-paced combat featuring double jumps, aerial attacks, summoning allies, and player transformations similar to Elden Ring. The closed beta is scheduled to begin tomorrow, August 21st.
Mortal Shell 2 review - the perfect Soulslike for beginners
Mortal Shell 2 offers an accessible Soulslike experience, drawing inspiration from Elden Ring with its new open world. While it lacks major innovations and its open world design is questionable, the game features an impressive shell system, a stamina-free combat mechanic, and extensive customization options. It stands as a solid third choice in the genre for players intimidated by FromSoftware's titles.
ShackStream: Super Mario Sunshine on The Stevetendo Show! Episode 742
The Stevetendo Show will feature a playthrough of Super Mario Sunshine, where the host must clean up Isle Delfino using Professor E. Gadd's F.L.U.D.D. device. The stream will also touch upon The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Pokemon Trading Card Game playthroughs. The article also mentions a potential future playthrough of Elden Ring on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Video game music, orchestral performances, and the sheer joy of a communal experience: how live concerts are helping us reconnect with gaming's good side
Live orchestral concerts celebrating video game music are experiencing a surge in popularity, attracting diverse and passionate audiences. These events, featuring composers like Borislav Slavov and Shoji Meguro, foster a strong sense of community and highlight the artistic merit of game soundtracks, offering a unique human-centric experience in contrast to AI-generated content.
Sony’s Oasis-Loving CEO Thinks We’re Going To Crave Human-Made Art In The Age Of AI
Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki believes that while AI can enhance creativity, human-made art will remain essential and craved by consumers. He suggests that the industry must adapt to leverage AI rather than be threatened by it. This perspective contrasts with some industry figures who express concerns about AI's impact on originality and the value of human experience in art.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Nintendo Switch 2 gameplay showcase
Previews of Elden Ring Tarnished Edition on Nintendo Switch 2 have been positive, highlighting impressive visuals comparable to the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 versions. The game is reported to maintain a mostly stable 30fps frame rate.
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition Nintendo Switch 2 “Gameplay Showcase” trailer
A "Gameplay Showcase" trailer has been released for Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on Nintendo Switch 2, ahead of its debut next week. This edition includes the base game, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, and new customization options. Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is set to launch for the Nintendo Switch 2 on August 28, 2026.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Videos Showcase Improved Performance, 30 FPS Gameplay
Videos showcase the Elden Ring Tarnished Edition running on Nintendo Switch, demonstrating improved performance at a steady 30 FPS in both handheld and docked modes. While some frame drops occur during intense combat, the port has seen significant refinement since its initial previews. The game was originally announced in 2022 for multiple platforms and received critical acclaim, with the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion releasing in 2024.
UK software sales chart for the week ending August 15, 2026 – Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered shoots to the top for Nintendo Switch 2 launch
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered debuted at number one on the UK software sales chart for the week ending August 15, 2026, driven by its launch on the Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo titles Pokemon Pokopia, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, and Mario Kart World also performed strongly, holding the second, third, and fourth positions respectively.
Why Are Video Game Consoles So Expensive These Days (And Games Historically Cheap)?
Video game consoles and games are becoming increasingly expensive due to a confluence of factors including tariffs, AI-driven demand for components, and a structural shift in the console business model. Experts predict hardware costs will remain high for several more years, potentially impacting future console generations like the PlayStation 6 and Project Helix.
Mortal Shell 2 review: A monumental heavy metal sequel with the spirit of a '90s PC game
Mortal Shell 2 is a monumental sequel that blends modern Soulslike elements with the spirit of '90s PC games, offering a unique and humorous take on the genre. It significantly improves upon its predecessor with diverse playable 'Shells,' a more straightforward narrative, and innovative combat mechanics that forgo a stamina bar, making it highly accessible and flexible.
Mortal Shell 2 Review – A Bigger, Better Sequel, Clearly Inspired by Elden Ring
Mortal Shell 2 offers a refined Soulslike experience, drawing clear inspiration from Elden Ring's open-world design and progression systems while maintaining its own identity. The game features a more interconnected world, expanded Shell mechanics, and a satisfying combat system that blends traditional weaponry with firearms and status effects. Despite some noticeable bugs and a less impactful narrative, Mortal Shell 2 is a strong sequel that builds upon its predecessor's foundation.
Mortal Shell 2 review: "The best Soulslike I've played since Elden Ring thanks to brilliant death-dealing toys and speedy combat"
Mortal Shell 2 is a superior and more accessible sequel to the original, offering faster combat and a world dense with ideas. While it doesn't dethrone Elden Ring, it stands as a strong Soulslike with its own merits, featuring unique "mortal shells" with distinct abilities and a satisfying combat system. Despite minor issues with camera control and difficulty balance, the game is a visually impressive and fun experience available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X.
Mortal Shell 2 review - falls short of Elden Ring's greatness
Mortal Shell 2 attempts to emulate Elden Ring's open-world success but falls short in navigation, though its combat and shell system offer a thrilling Soulslike experience. The game features interconnected areas, a dark-fantasy setting, and a unique shell mechanic where players embody fallen individuals, each with distinct backstories and skills. While the boss fights are challenging and enjoyable, and the combat offers flexibility, the open world can feel hollow and frustrating to explore, leading the reviewer to prefer Elden Ring.
Mortal Shell 2 Is A Fresh And Exciting Shake Up Of The Souls-like Formula
Mortal Shell 2 offers a fresh take on the souls-like genre by deconstructing familiar mechanics, such as removing the stamina meter for more aggressive combat. While it retains core elements like challenging combat and a dark fantasy setting, it introduces unique features like Seals and Tarstones for build variety. Despite some issues with level design leading to frequent player deaths and weapon upgrade limitations, the game's dynamic combat and engaging world make it a strong sequel.
Nintendo pre-order updates – August 16, 2026 – Minecraft Dungeons 2, more
This article provides a comprehensive list of video game pre-order updates for the week of August 16, 2026, across various regions including the United States, Canada, and the UK. It details upcoming releases for the Nintendo Switch and the unreleased Switch 2, covering a wide range of titles and their respective release dates and retailers.
How to make the perfect video game according to Google AI - Reader's Feature
A reader explores the concept of the 'perfect video game' by asking Google's AI for its criteria, which include good controls, clear rules, no wasted time, and good style. The AI's top picks were Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Elden Ring, prompting a discussion on how games like Grand Theft Auto 5 and Assassin's Creed succeed and fail in meeting these standards.
How I’m dealing with my video game backlog of 48 titles - Reader's Feature
A reader details their strategy for tackling a personal backlog of 48 video games, categorizing titles and discussing their purchasing habits. They highlight challenges with game length, difficulty, and digital ownership, while also reflecting on completed games and those they've abandoned.
Beast of Reincarnation is a Pokemon soulslike minus the souls, and all the better for it
Beast of Reincarnation offers a challenging action-RPG experience inspired by soulslike games but with a unique twist: players retain their inventory upon defeat, removing the typical penalty of losing currency. This approach, running on PlayStation 5, provides a more accessible yet still demanding combat system, drawing comparisons to titles like Elden Ring and Dark Souls 3, while diverging from the typical Game Freak formula seen in Pokémon games.
Mortal Shell 2 Is Proof Open Worlds Don’t Need to Be Massive
Mortal Shell 2's open world design prioritizes a compact, interconnected experience over massive scale, aiming to respect player time and deliver a focused narrative. This approach contrasts with games like Elden Ring, with developers Cold Symmetry emphasizing deliberate exploration and unique environments. The game is set to launch on August 20th for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.