Over the years, FromSoftware has introduced a number of successful franchises, several of which have thrived due to sequels. For instance, King’s Field, which made its debut in 1994, stayed relevant for nearly ten years, Armored Core has been around for over 25 years, and the Dark Souls trilogy kept audiences engaged for a solid five years. Elden Ring, however, has taken a different path.
Nearly three years after its launch, Elden Ring still captivates players without the need for a sequel. Instead of following its predecessors’ footsteps, it has maintained its momentum by releasing a grand-scale expansion and announcing a multiplayer spin-off. This strategy could be a beneficial model for future FromSoftware titles to replicate.
Expanding the game world for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree laid the foundation for what downloadable content from FromSoftware could be. While additional content isn’t a new concept for them—as seen with the Dark Souls series—none have had the impact of the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. This add-on introduced a sprawling new world, over 80 bosses, eight new weapon classes, and numerous new quests, making it feel akin to a standalone sequel. The expansion reignited interest in Elden Ring, sustaining its presence two years post-release and likely keeping it relevant for an extended period.
Developing Shadow of the Erdtree took about two years, arguably a shorter timeframe than creating an entirely new sequel, given the reuse of existing assets and the game’s architecture. This approach of launching extensive expansions instead of developing full sequels could be a smart move for future FromSoftware projects that remain popular yet don’t necessarily require a full follow-up.
In another innovative move, FromSoftware is planning to keep the Elden Ring legacy alive with Elden Ring Nightreign, a new three-player co-op roguelike that emphasizes replayability. While the success of this venture remains to be seen, its very existence is a testament to various creative ways an intellectual property can continue beyond sequels or expansions.
Many former FromSoftware projects had a single installment but showed great potential for more. Bloodborne and Sekiro stand as excellent examples—despite Bloodborne receiving celebrated DLC, both games seemingly had more to contribute. If they had taken a page from Elden Ring’s playbook with such post-launch strategies, both might have further flourished.
