Elden Ring has been out for less than two months, but it has already proven to be a landmark video game. The impact of the likes of Super Mario 64, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is comparable to that of this game. The game takes FromSoftware's past titles like Dark Souls III and Bloodborne and creates an ambitious open-world.

As a game, it has a lot of potential outside of the format as well. According to a press release from the Japanese video game publisher, they will continue to expand Elden Ring, not only as a game but using all parts of the intellectual property. The grand scope of the game's lore and Martin's ties to HBO make it a strong case.

Animation is the blueprint for gaming adaptations

Split image of Castlevania season 3 and Arcane promo posters for Netflix

The video game curse was a joke within the gaming community. This applied to live-action theatrical adaptations, with them consisting of cheap and cynical box-office cash grabs off a brand name alone. They seemed to have nailed down the video game formula, even though they threw everything at the wall.

The first great game adaptation was theanimated series from Netflix. The production value was top-notch, from the writing, acting, art style, and animation to the characters that have compelling story arcs.

The art direction looked great thanks to Texas-based Powerhouse Animations Studios, though there have been plenty. Castlevania's worldbuilding and lore was rich and dense, and while it certainly opts for a more gothic aesthetic and tone, it could be a good example of how to adapt a video game dark-fantasy world like Elden Ring. Especially so considering the game director's penchant for detailed lore.

The recent acclaimed hit, based on the MOBA game League of Legends, should make it clear how animation can appeal to a wide range of age demographic. The show has a stellar cast from top to bottom, including Academy Award-nominee Hailee Steinfeld, and gave one of the best showcases for 3D and 2D animation.

The HBO and George R. R. Martin factors

Split image of author George R. R. Martin, Elden Ring promo still, and HBO Max logo

Elden Ring's new world was a big marketing and selling point for him, but FromSoftware has had a great reputation and growing fan base for over a decade now that helped instill trust in fans for new. The lore and history of the Lands Between was built on top of the foundation that Martin had helped write. It was a match made in heaven because of the grim, western dark-fantasy worlds that surround it.

After that press release vaguely suggesting where the future of the Elden Ring will go, it's clear that the name attached to the game means something. George R. R. Martin's House of the Dragon is ready for an August 21 release, but he has a massive deal with TV titan HBO. Reports should prove to be true, and one or two animated GoTspinoffs are being discussed.

At this point, it's just a matter of connecting two very close dots, as Martin himself could be a gateway into Elden Ring. The idea of having him involved in an Elden Ring series through a producing would elicit groans from other fans, but it would distract the acclaimed author from finishing The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring.

For creating quality TV projects, and for attracting creative talent and giving them the freedom to craft something compelling, HBO has a stellar reputation. The Game ofThrones proved that the premium network can handle dense fantasy stories.

A wealth of fantastical opportunities

Elden Ring still of the Tarnished fighting the dragon Agheel on horseback

FromSoftware's dark-fantasy Souls games are known for their unconventionally subtle storytelling approaches. They don't go for cinematic, movie-like narratives and instead put the subdued plot more deeply into the game. Fans discover the ongoing story and world through the concise NPC dialogue, environmental cues, and item flavor texts. It leaves a lot of room for interpretation, imagination, and discovery for fantasy buffs.

If fans want to do some light detective work, they can look at community content creators like VaatiVidya to learn about these universes, which are similar to a captivating novel like any of Martin's fantasy works. An animated series about Elden Ring could explore many places in the past and future.

Split image of Malenia fighting Radahn, and Godfrey and his lion Ash of War

The Golden Order, a code that bind the world's natural laws in place, has been the focus of the game. A series could go back in time to the days of Queen Marika and her Elden Lord husband, who fell from grace.

Comic books, animated shows, and movies are almost certain to be part of the franchise if Bandai Namco wants to grow this into a full-fledged franchise. All the moving pieces seem too convenient to ignore between animation being more appreciated beyond childrens' content and a famous writer with a line straight to one of the world's most premium networks.

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