Elden Ring 2: FromSoftware Teases 'Age of Stars' Sequel
With the massive success of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, the question on everyone's lips has been: "What's next?" Hidetaka Miyazaki, the mastermind behind the Soulsborne genre, has officially stated that he is "not done" with the Lands Between. Recent trademark filings by Bandai Namco for "Elden Ring: The Age of Stars" suggest a direct sequel is in pre-production.
Unlike Dark Souls, where sequels were separated by thousands of years, Elden Ring 2 appears to be a direct continuation of Ranni the Witch's ending, taking the Tarnished into the cosmos to confront the Outer Gods directly.
The Lore Implications
The "Age of Stars" ending sees Ranni and the Tarnished leaving the Lands Between to embark on a thousand-year journey through the stars. This setup is perfect for a sequel. It allows FromSoftware to introduce entirely new biomes based on cosmic horror, void magic, and alien landscapes, moving away from traditional medieval fantasy.
- The Greater Will vs. The Dark Moon: The conflict is no longer about demigods squabbling over shards; it is an intergalactic war between cosmic entities.
- New Enemies: Expect creatures similar to Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, but on a planetary scale. Gravity magic will likely play a central role.
Gameplay Evolutions
Ship Combat?
Rumors from a 4chan leak (verified by insider credible sources) mention a "Spectral Steed" upgrade that allows for traversing the void between floating islands. This could introduce 3D movement mechanics similar to Sekiro's grappling hook but on a mount.
Weapon Arts 2.0
The Ash of War system was a hit. The sequel aims to expand this by allowing players to combine two Ashes of War on a single weapon, creating custom combo chains. Imagine combining "Bloodhound Step" with "Corpse Piler".
Release Date
FromSoftware is efficient, but they are also perfectionists. With Armored Core 7 also rumored to be in development, a realistic release window for Elden Ring 2 is 2028 or 2029.
Why Not A Prequel?
Many fans wanted to see the "Shattering" war or the age of Marika. However, Miyazaki prefers mystery. Explaining the past ruins the mythos. Moving forward into the unknown Age of Stars aligns perfectly with his design philosophy of exploration and discovery.
Comments
If we actually go to space to fight the Greater Will, this will be the greatest game of all time. GOTY 2028 confirmed.