'Elden Ring' will have replayability features; FromSoftware says it's impossible to explore everything at the first attempt

“Elden Ring” was one of the major titles presented during the 2022 Taipei Game Show, which kicked off last Friday. In a Q&A session, FromSoftware Yasuhiro Kitao confirmed it will have replayability features that should complement how the game is designed.

Replayability is one of the important aspects of games set in an open world because completing campaign missions does not necessarily allow players to explore everything on the map at the same time. The good news is Kitao said “Elden Ring” will have replayability features just like previous games developed by FromSoftware.

Once players complete the main story the first time, Kitao said their character progress can be carried over to their subsequent playthroughs. That means players do not have to start from scratch when facing stronger enemies or when they decide to play “Elden Ring” at a higher difficulty level.

FromSoftware also recognizes that players have different approaches when completing open world games like “Elden Ring.” Some may be focused on completing all the missions and quests, while others may be more interested in exploring the entire map at first. Either way, it appears that one playthrough may not be enough to fully experience the dark fantasy RPG.

“With the world being so vast, the game is designed so that it can be cleared without necessarily experiencing everything,” Kitao said (via on-screen translated caption). He added that it may be technically impossible to experience everything “Elden Ring” has to offer at the players’ first attempt. “There are branching points near the end, but you can get pretty close.”

One of the new features previously announced for “Elden Ring” is that tackling the map can also vary depending on the players’ preferences. Kitao reiterated this aspect of the game, saying it is “fundamentally designed to provide freedom of choice.” And that includes giving fans the choice on what order they want to explore the game’s map. While some areas will be initially unlocked, players can skip some locations at first and revisit them later if they find them too challenging.

Kitao revealed that FromSoftware is currently working on the day one patch. But he also assured fans that “Elden Ring” has gone gold and it is all set to be released on Friday, Feb. 25.