Elden Ring Microsoft Showcase Rumours
All of this arguably began as fans linked two separate sets of rumours together. On February 26, Microsoft reporter Paul Thurrott tweeted to say that he believed an Xbox event would be held on March 23.
On the same day, journalist Jeff Grubb said on the GamesBeat Decides podcast that he believed new Elden Ring information would be released by the end of March. On February 28, investigative journalist Jason Schreier added that there was “strong evidence floating around that the game will be shown relatively soon.”
Fans and websites put the two sets of information together, speculating that the Microsoft event would include an Elden Ring trailer. Microsoft GM of Marketing Aaron Greenberg subsequently said that “this is not happening.”
Reported Elden Ring Trailer Leak
Today, VGC, reported that an Elden Ring trailer has leaked online, apparently showing off-screen footage of gameplay from the much-anticipated From Software open-world RPG. The trailer is reportedly being shared in “online chat groups”. Jason Schreier added that this purported trailer was the evidence he had mentioned previously.
VGC adds that the trailer “shows a montage of familiar Souls-style melee combat, boss battles against a fire-breathing dragon and a large, sword-wielding foe, and a glimpse at horseback combat in a large, open environment.”
Since that report, multiple images purporting to be from that trailer have been posted on Reddit but have since been proven to be fake – an image of a warrior in ornate armour gained traction online, but was since proven to come from the ArtStation account of artist Ben Reubold.
7 seconds of what purports to be the game in motion, showing several elements included in VGC’s reporting, have now begun circulating online.
IGN has contacted publisher Bandai Namco for comment on the purported trailer leak.
Bandai Namco Next Trademark
Twitter user Nibel pointed out a Bandai Namco trademark registered in 2020 for product called Bandai Namco Next. Some have speculated that Next could be the branding for a Bandai Namco-specific games showcase, similar to Nintendo Direct, at which an Elden Ring trailer could be shown.
The trademark was published in January 2021, and Bandai Namco has not commented on what Next could be since that time.
Elden Ring Internal Delay Rumours
As part of its reporting on the trailer, VGC said that sources close to Elden Ring had told the publication that the game has been delayed “several times” because of pandemic-related production difficulties. Those delays were speculated by one source to have pushed the game’s release out of 2021.
Elden Ring has been notably quiet since its reveal in 2019, although Head of Xbox Phil Spencer said he’s ‘played quite a bit’ of the game, and concept art created for the trailer did recently emerge. Developer FromSoftware has previously thanked fans for their support, after the game’s subreddit took telling the game’s story into its own hands.
Joe Skrebels is IGN’s Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
