Previously sharing ownership with its publisher, Bandai Namco Entertainment, it seems that FromSoftware has secured the Elden Ring IP, becoming the sole owner.
As spotted on Reddit, an update to the Elden Ring trademark records was made earlier today, now listing FromSoftware as the trademark owner. This change went into effect on April 24, 2023, though the trademark was only updated today with the information.
If true, this means that FromSoftware now has full control over the IP, whereas before, Bandai Namco had a say on what could be done with it. This is massive news, as it puts power back into the hands of the creators, allowing them to do whatever they want with the IP.
Over the last few years, FromSoftware has been gathering funding to self-publish its games. As a result, Sony acquired 14% of the company, with Tencent getting 16%, spending 120 million and 140 million, respectively. As speculated, part of that funding may have gone toward acquiring the Elden Ring IP.
What Does This Mean for the Elden Ring Brand?
This seems to suggest that more Elden Ring is on the way (be it games, movies, etc.), and FromSoftware now has total control over it. We’ll have to wait and see whether FromSoftware sticks with Bandai Namco for future releases in the franchise or self-publishes. Either way, for the studio, this is fantastic news.
In other Elden Ring news, it’s upcoming DLC — Shadow of the Erdtree — still has no release date, but we’re hoping that gets revealed soon.
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Unbelievable! I can’t wait !!