Tencent, the gaming giant based in China, is reportedly developing a mobile version of the highly acclaimed action role-playing game Elden Ring, according to Reuters. Reuters attributes the information to sources familiar with the matter. After ditching the mobile adaptation of a Nier game, which it has worked on for two years, Tencent is looking for new IPs suitable for mobile adaptation.
Acquiring licensing rights for Elden Ring from FromSoftware in 2022, Tencent assembled a team of several dozen individuals to commence work on a prototype. Progress, however, has been described as sluggish by insiders.
Elden Ring, a collaborative effort between Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin and renowned game designer Hidetaka Miyazaki, immerses players in an action-packed fantasy realm where they confront mythical creatures. Since its release in 2022, the game has garnered significant acclaim, selling approximately 20 million copies within its first year, positioning it as the world’s second-best-selling game of that year.
While Elden Ring follows a premium pricing model with a fixed price tag, Tencent intends to transform it into a free-to-play game supported by in-app purchases, mirroring the strategy employed by its competitor, miHoYo, with the popular Genshin Impact. However, reconciling the game’s design, which emphasizes a comprehensive experience post-purchase, with Tencent’s proposed model poses a challenge.
Both Tencent and FromSoftware declined to comment on the reported mobile adaptation project, with sources choosing to remain anonymous due to confidentiality agreements.
As Tencent struggles to break through the inertia in the game industry characterized by stagnated market growth and significant royalty fees, the company faces pressure to identify a new blockbuster hit. Despite past successes like “PUBG Mobile,” recent endeavors have not met expectations, prompting Tencent’s chairman to acknowledge the vulnerability of its gaming business.
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