FromSoftware revealed how much input acclaimed fantasy author George R.R. Martin had on the script for its upcoming role-playing game Elden Ring.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly,  Yasuhiro Kitao, FromSoftware's spokesperson for promotion, marketing and production, shared more details on the studio's collaboration with George R.R. Martin, author of the beloved A Song of Ice and Fire series. Through a translator, Kitao said, "George R.R. Martin wrote the original mythos for this game. He created a backstory or a history that takes place many, many years before the events of the game itself, and he wrote this in collaboration with [Elden Ring creator] Hidetaka Miyazaki."

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"They consulted and they discussed and they exchanged ideas, but George Martin was the spearhead of that writing process initially," continues Kita, who goes on to clarify that Martin's attention was entirely dedicated to Elden Ring's world-building. "Once that original mythos was complete, George R.R. Martin was kind enough to leave that in our hands, so to speak, and to do with that what we will," said Kitao.

Martin reportedly offered FromSoftware free reign over his world, allowing them to add to his creation or cut features that may not necessarily align with the game or its design. "George provided this lineage or these character bloodlines and, in true George fashion, he created a lot of political intrigue and a lot of these familial ties that shaped a lot of our characters in the game world currently as it stands. It was a really interesting process, and it felt unrestricting despite him having written this key piece," concludes Kitao.

Elden Ring is the latest open-world action RPG from the developers behind the highly influential Dark Souls franchise. As "The Tarnished," an exiled being, players will return to the Lands Between, a sprawling landscape populated by hideous abominations, unsettling dragons and disgraced rulers.

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Players will be able to craft their own unique characters, traversing the world either on foot or with the help of their trusty horse. The Tarnished is drawn back to the land of their ancestors following the shattering of the titular Elden Ring, an event that creates many of the game's villains. Speaking in a past interview, Miyazaki clarifies that the game's bosses have nearly all been touched in some way by the Elden Ring's power.

"One main theme of the main bosses of the game, in particular, are that they are essentially demigods – and characters who are written, again, by George R.R. Martin – and they inherited the mad tainted power of the Elden Ring shards once it was shattered. We wanted to depict these beings as not just creatures and horrible monsters, but have an element of heroism and an element of mythology to them," said Miyazaki.

Fans of FromSoftware won't have to wait too much longer for the studio's next game. Elden Ring launches for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC on Jan. 21.

Keep Reading: Elden Ring: Trailer, Plot, Release Date & News to Know

Source: Entertainment Weekly