Stop Watching Elden Ring Trailers Before You Get Spoiled

Those looking to buy Elden Ring when it releases on February 25 should stop watching the game’s trailers, because there’s a very good chance some encounters will be spoiled. A new Elden Ring overview trailer already set the stage pretty well, but now the game’s official launch trailer has included clips of spectacular set pieces in order to draw in those still on the fence about purchasing. Anyone who appreciates the enigmatic atmosphere and exploration of FromSoftware’s games will want to avoid the launch trailer, and probably refrain from watching any more footage until the game is out.

For those dedicated to FromSoftware’s brand of action RPG, the wait for Elden Ring has felt excruciatingly long. Its announcement back in 2019 was followed by a significant period of radio silence from the developer, and when marketing material finally started to ramp up, Elden Ring was delayed from its original January 2022 release date. With Elden Ring having FromSoftware’s first genuine open world, and it being something of a culmination of the Soulslike games that came before it, the excitement has been palpable, making it difficult for some to resist watching all the trailers.

For the most part, Elden Ring‘s promotional material hasn’t been exceptionally egregious when it comes to spoiling late game content; that is, until this latest launch trailer. Elden Ring‘s Official Launch Trailer, which can be viewed on YouTube by those unconcerned, goes far beyond the narrative generalities of earlier trailers. Areas unseen before, major bosses, and some very heavy implications on the direction the narrative is going to take are all components of the launch trailer.

Elden Ring Will Be More Fun Without Having Seen The Launch Trailer

Those who aren’t tuned in to the Soulslike community may be wondering why spoilers are always discussed at length when a new trailer drops. Even an official Elden Ring tweet warned players of spoilers knowing some dedicated fans might have their experience soured by leaks. FromSoftware is known for its minimalist storytelling, but it’s the games’ fantastical areas, enemies, and especially bosses that players like to keep a mystery until they have a chance to play it themselves. A lot of the excitement in games like Dark Souls and Bloodborne comes from not knowing what’s around each corner.

FromSoftware’s trailers – and launch trailers more specifically – have a knack for using some of the more visually stunning bosses or grand set pieces as a means to generate interest in the game. This works well for hooking someone who might not have Elden Ring on their radar, but could take away from the excitement for others who savor each new FromSoftware game. Elden Ring will be best played on launch when the fandom is collectively discovering the game’s intricacies and engaging heavily with the online multiplayer aspects, and even having slight knowledge of what’s ahead detracts from that experience. It will be much better to just wait for the release of Elden Ring, even though it’s very tempting to watch the latest, admittedly very good, trailer.

Source: Bandai Namco (via YouTube)

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