Rather than explain the history of the world they're set within to the player directly through lengthy exposition, FromSoftware's "Soulsborne" games often deliver plot-relevant information through indirect sources like item descriptions and dialogue from non-player characters. While this method usually provides the player with enough facts to glean a general understanding of the game's world and story, it also leaves many things open to speculation, and many players have crafted theories to fill in the gaps with their interpretations of things the games leave unsaid.
While Elden Ring is more forthcoming about its setting than previous FromSoftware games, that hasn't stopped fans of the critically acclaimed action role-playing game from creating theories to try and explain the many mysteries of The Lands Between. One particularly ambitious theory that's currently gaining popularity on Reddit claims that Elden Ring's high-fantasy setting is a post-apocalyptic version of modern-day Ireland. This theory uses evidence from many areas of the game to explain how the Emerald Isle became The Lands Between.
Created by Reddit user u/Doop_444, the theory proposes that The Lands Between is Ireland and that the events of Elden Ring's story unfold on a post-apocalyptic Earth. In the game, it's established that the Greater Will used a "golden star" to deliver the Elden Ring to The Lands Between, but the Ireland theory casts this act of seemingly benign divine intervention in a darker light. Using the similarities between the topographies of Ireland and The Lands Between as evidence, the theory argues that the "golden star" was a meteor that crashed into modern-day Ireland, triggering a cataclysmic impact event that devastated both the British Isles and the rest of the planet.
In the aftermath of this world-changing event, modern civilization decayed back into a medieval state over the span of a few millennia, which the theory positions as the reason why the topography of The Lands Between shares some similarities with that of Ireland despite being drastically different overall. During this time, the inhabitants of what was once Ireland and Great Britain evolved into the diverse humanoid races who inhabit The Lands Between. The theory calls upon real-world evidence to argue that the English people inhabiting Northern Ireland could have transformed into the giants that once lived on the Mountaintops of the Giants.
To hammer home the theory that The Lands Between is a post-apocalyptic Ireland, u/Doop_444 points to several pieces of evidence found within the game. Despite being covered in rust, many of the more "ancient" weapons available in Elden Ring appear to be more advanced than more "contemporary" ones, implying that whatever civilization preceded Marika the Eternal's kingdom was technologically superior. On top of that, unrecognizable ruins dot every corner of The Lands Between, even in areas that are said to be older than recorded history, such as the Lake of Rot. Additionally, many areas and characters in Elden Ring have names drawn from the Gaelic language, deepening The Land Between's connection to Ireland.
Although the Ireland theory was posted just over a week ago, comments from other Redditors seem to show that it's already gaining popularity among Elden Ring fans. Many comments have complimented it, praising both the scope of its ambition and its extreme attention to detail. While many comments are simply compliments or affirmations of belief in the theory, others have actively contributed to it by pointing to other pieces of evidence that support it, such as the seemingly advanced technology that the dragons appear to have wielded.
However, not all reception to the Ireland theory has been positive. While many have praised the theory as potential canon, others have criticized it as simply being too far-fetched. In some comments, Redditors go into even more detail, criticizing inconsistencies in the theory. These range from arguments that the location of the asteroid's impact doesn't align with the theory's assertion that it occurred in Northern Ireland to observations that the advent weapons and ruins bear no similarities to anything found in modern or ancient Ireland.
Regardless of whether u/Doop-444's theory is true, it's hard to deny that Irish history and mythology didn't inspire The Lands Between in some way. From the use of Gaelic words to the similarities between Elden Ring's dysfunctional family of demigods and the ancient gods of Irish folklore, it's clear that Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R. R. Martin took some influence from the classic myths of Ireland when crafting Elden Ring's story and world. If the Ireland theory is true, then it adds another level of tragedy and complexity to the world of Elden Ring.