Elden Ring 2's Greatest Challenge: Navigating the Legacy of Player Choice

The hype for a sequel to the monumental Elden Ring is undeniable, especially after hints from Hidetaka Miyazaki himself. But hold up, Tarnished! Before we get lost in dreams of a new, vast open world, there's a massive, glowing Erdtree-sized problem standing in the way: the story. For the first time in FromSoftware's modern era, they face the daunting task of creating a direct sequel to a game where players' choices, especially the six wildly different endings, fundamentally shaped the fate of The Lands Between. How do you make Elden Ring 2 when every player's journey ended in a unique way? This isn't just another challenge; it's potentially the studio's most complex narrative puzzle yet.

The Weight of Our Choices: Can Elden Ring 2 Honor Them?

Let's break it down. Elden Ring wasn't just another Soulsborne; it was a game of profound player agency. We decided the fates of kingdoms, gods, and the very order of the world. The most critical choices, of course, were the endings. Think about the sheer contrast:

• The Age of Stars: Ranni's ending ushers in a cold, moonlit age of freedom far from the gods.

• The Lord of Frenzied Flame: You literally burn the whole world to ash in a chaotic reset.

• The Age of Order: A perfect, golden, but rigid law governed by Goldmask's logic.

These aren't just flavor text; they are cosmologically different states of existence. So, when Elden Ring 2 begins, which "Lands Between" does it inherit? If FromSoftware picks one as "canon," doesn't that completely invalidate the brilliant role-playing and emotional investment of millions of players who chose differently? It's a narrative tightrope, and falling off could mean disappointing the very community that made the first game a legend.

The Dark Souls Precedent: A Flawed Blueprint?

Now, seasoned fans might point to Dark Souls 2. Didn't FromSoftware already solve this? In the original Dark Souls, you could either Link the Fire or usher in the Age of Dark. Dark Souls 2 basically said, "Whatever you chose, it doesn't matter in the long run." The cycle continued, the fire needed linking again, and the world moved on. This cleverly turned player choice into a thematic point about inescapable cycles.

But here's the thing: Elden Ring's lore isn't built on the same foundation of inevitable cycles. Its themes are more about duality, divine will, and breaking free from predetermined paths. Applying the Dark Souls solution to Elden Ring 2 would feel... cheap. It would be like using a Glintstone key to open a Deathblight door—it just doesn't fit. Making our monumental struggle to become Elden Lord ultimately meaningless risks betraying the core fantasy of the first game. So, if not the Dark Souls way, then what?

Forging a New Path: How Elden Ring 2 Can Innovate

This is where FromSoftware has a chance to truly innovate and leave its old tropes behind. Simply ignoring player choice is the easy way out. The impressive, albeit challenging, path is to acknowledge it. Imagine if your save file from Elden Ring could be imported, subtly shaping the world of the sequel. Games like Mass Effect and The Witcher have done this, creating a powerful sense of continuity.

Of course, crafting six entirely different world states is a developer's nightmare. But what about a middle ground? Here are some potential strategies:

Strategy	How It Works	Pros	Cons
Narrative Funneling	All endings converge on a new, cataclysmic event that resets or overrides the old order.	Manageable for developers; creates a clean slate.	Still risks making original choices feel less impactful.
Choice-Specific Content	Unique bosses, NPCs, or items appear based on your prior ending. (e.g., fighting a vengeful Spirit of Melina if you chose Frenzied Flame).	Directly honors player agency; creates awesome "what if" moments.	Doesn't solve the macro-worldbuilding issue; extra development cost.
The DLC Canon	Shadow of the Erdtree introduces a new, definitive "seventh ending" that becomes the sequel's starting point.	Clean and simple for storytelling; uses DLC narratively.	Completely overrides the original six endings, potentially causing fan backlash.

Speaking of DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree starring Miquella could be the wild card. What if completing it doesn't just add a side story, but fundamentally alters the base game's ending, providing a new, unified conclusion that sets the stage for Elden Ring 2? It's a bold move with no precedent in Souls games, but FromSoftware is no stranger to breaking its own rules.

The Stakes for the Future

Why does this all matter so much? Because Elden Ring redefined open-world freedom and narrative immersion for a generation. Its sequel has the potential to either solidify that legacy or stumble by treating its greatest innovation—player consequence—as an afterthought. Fans are deeply attached to their Tarnished's journey. Choosing Ranni's path or inheriting the Frenzied Flame wasn't just a gameplay decision; it was a personal story.

FromSoftware has the talent to tackle this. They could weave a tale where the very instability of The Lands Between—caused by the multiple conflicting Elden Lord outcomes—is the catalyst for a new conflict. Perhaps the Greater Will, the Outer Gods, or a completely new force intervenes to "correct" the fractured timeline, giving players a new common enemy regardless of their past choice.

The development of Elden Ring 2 will likely take years, especially with Shadow of the Erdtree still on the horizon. That's time that should be spent not just on creating breathtaking landscapes and brutal bosses, but on solving this narrative conundrum. If they succeed in respecting player choice while telling a compelling new story, they won't just make a great sequel—they'll break new ground for storytelling in AAA gaming itself. The question is, will they rise to the challenge, or will they play it safe? Only time, and the guidance of the Two Fingers, will tell. ⚔️🌙🔥