Even after a delay, Elden Ring is right around the corner. FromSoftware's next major entry in the modern Souls-like era will be coming early next year, assuming it isn't pushed back any further. Fans are excited to have another FromSoftware fantasy adventure on their hands after so long, and every little bit of news that comes out for the game only fuels that hype. When the next trailer drops and more previews start to come out, the Souls community will surely be all over them to learn as much as possible about this bold open-world venture.
Fortunately, there will be something to tide fans over in the meantime. Bandai Namco has announced that Elden Ring will be holding a closed network test from November 12 to November 14 on PlayStation and Xbox consoles. This follows the tradition established by the rest of FromSoftware's recent games, Sekiro being the only exception. This test will allow players to try out a small portion of Elden Ring, in which they are encouraged to use the game's online features. Because these tests are routine, players already have a good idea of what may be in Elden Ring's.
What Past Network Tests Were Like
Thus far, Dark Souls Remastered, Dark Souls 2, Dark Souls 3, and Bloodborne have all received network tests in order to stress test the games’ servers. These are not open betas or demos, and are thus only available for short periods - often only to certain players. For that reason, new players should not treat these as representative of the final games. This is true in several ways, not the least of which is that (aside from Dark Souls Remastered), every network test has had unique content.
This unique content can include different NPC placements, new lines of dialogue, unique special effects, and altered background elements. Everything in a pre-release network test is subject to change, and FromSoftware has shown its willingness to change anything. Even the way players interact with these areas is not the same as in the base games. Every network test gives players some pre-made characters to choose from, instead of allowing them to gradually find the gear and shape their style. In addition, many tests do not take place in the first area of the game.
What Will Be in Elden Ring's Network Test
The same will most likely be true of Elden Ring’s closed network test, though seeing how the public currently does not have a good understanding of Elden Ring’s gameplay loop, it will still end up serving as a preview. The test will almost certainly open with a character select screen of four-to-six different avatars. These Tarnished Ones will all have different equipment and be described as having certain playstyles, such as balanced, heavy, magical, and stealthy. There is a good chance players will not be able to change their equipment or abilities during the test, so playing them with multiple characters may be a good idea.
All of Elden Ring’s mechanics, or at least the ones that will be most commonly used, should be present in this test. Online co-op play will likely be possible, perhaps accompanied by invasions. Even if players are taking part while offline, they will probably still have access to various different spells, weapons skills, and maybe even some summoned spirits. However, whether or not this test will include the open world is another matter entirely. If it does, it would have to be a very small region of the game, lacking any way to leave. This chunk of the game world may not have all of its bosses and dungeons accessible.
What Will Not Be In Elden Ring's Network Test
The closed network test will likely be restricted to the first Lord's legacy dungeon (or any dungeon of a decent size), and players will not be able to leave it or do anything else. At any rate, fans will need to brace themselves for a distinctive lack of Elden Ring’s advertised open freedom in both builds and exploration. This is a network test to collect data and feedback on Elden Ring’s online features, and will not represent the true scope and feeling of exploring The Lands Between.
That's not to say FromSoftware's usual menagerie of horrors and cool abilities won't be on display. There will probably be a lot of variety between the different playable characters, even more so than in previous tests. Unfortunately, that variety will be whatever FromSoftware and Bandai Namco have deemed it to be for now, as equipment, and probably many strewn-about items, will not be in their finalized locations. While Elden Ring was delayed to apply some additional balance passes and polish before the game hits shelves, FromSoftware is not interested in getting pre-release feedback on that matter. If players are allowed to change out any assigned spells or weapons skills at all, it will be an act of generosity on FromSoftware's part.
Still, despite the need for players to tone down their expectations for the closed network test’s contents, it will be an exciting look at what Elden Ring is going to entail when it comes out. It may not be exactly the same, but at least part of the final experience will still be tangible in this preview. Players who make it into the test will get a sneak peek at Elden Ring’s world and gameplay and can hang out with various players online in a brand-new Souls-like experience. This is still an exciting time to be a FromSoftware fan, and hopefully this closed network test will be quickly followed by more public previews for Elden Ring.
Elden Ring launches February 25, 2022, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.