Elden Ring Ownership Shake-Up: FromSoftware Takes Full Control in Trademark Shift, Unveiling a New Era for the Acclaimed Franchise!

In a recent trademark filing modification, Elden Ring has transitioned to being solely owned by FromSoftware, diverging from its previous shared ownership with Bandai Namco Entertainment. Launched in 2022, Elden Ring swiftly became FromSoftware's best-selling and critically acclaimed game, marking a significant evolution from the Dark Souls franchise by introducing an expansive open-world setting.

The game's triumphs, including numerous Game of the Year awards, took director Hidetaka Miyazaki by surprise. Approximately a year after its release, FromSoftware revealed ongoing development on a post-game DLC titled "Shadow of the Erdtree", though no release date has been disclosed. The latest development in the Elden Ring saga pertains to the alteration in trademark ownership, with FromSoftware now holding exclusive rights, as indicated in the updated filing at the United States Trademark and Patent Office.

The shift in ownership transpired around April 2023, according to the filing, with FromSoftware standing as the sole proprietor. Bandai Namco Entertainment and the Kadokawa Conglomerate, long-time collaborators with FromSoftware, had played integral roles in funding and publishing Elden Ring, extending their support since the release of Dark Souls in 2011. Notably, this transformation in ownership aligns with investments from Sony and Tencent, granting them a 30% stake in FromSoftware, coupled with the studio's expansion following Elden Ring's unparalleled success. It's worth mentioning that Bandai Namco still owns the Dark Souls series, while Sony holds Demon's Souls and Bloodborne. Elden Ring now joins Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice as the second IP exclusively owned by FromSoftware.

This development has sparked intriguing considerations, especially in light of recent rumors about Tencent's mobile adaptation of Elden Ring. The purported mobile version, drawing inspiration from HoYoverse's Genshin Impact, is said to incorporate a free-to-play gacha system for summoning characters. Fans, however, express reservations about how Tencent would translate the vast open world of Elden Ring into a gacha game meant for prolonged engagement. It's important to note that these rumors are yet to be officially confirmed by Tencent or FromSoftware, urging fans to approach the news with cautious optimism until an official statement is released.