History of Elden Ring in Timeline

Updated: April 17, 2025

Elden Ring, a 2022 action RPG developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco, is directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki with worldbuilding by George R. R. Martin. Released on multiple platforms including PlayStation and Xbox, and soon on Nintendo Switch 2, players explore the Lands Between as a customizable character. The core objective involves repairing the shattered Elden Ring to become the new Elden Lord. The game blends challenging combat, intricate world design, and a rich narrative to deliver a compelling open-world experience.

2017: Elden Ring Production Begins

In early 2017, production of Elden Ring began following the release of The Ringed City, a DLC for Dark Souls III.

2019: Elden Ring Revealed at E3 2019

Elden Ring was revealed to the public at E3 in June 2019, after some information had been leaked online due to a vulnerability of Bandai Namco Entertainment's servers.

June 2021: Elden Ring Trailer Shown

In June 2021, a trailer for Elden Ring was shown, after a period of no further material being released since its initial announcement.

November 2021: Elden Ring Closed Beta Release

In November 2021, Bandai Namco released Elden Ring as a closed beta that players could sign up to test.

January 21, 2022: Elden Ring Release Postponement

The full release of Elden Ring, initially scheduled for January 21, 2022, was postponed to February 25 of the same year.

February 25, 2022: Elden Ring Release

On February 25, 2022, Elden Ring was officially released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

March 2022: Elden Ring Sales Milestone

By the end of March 2022, Elden Ring had sold 13.4 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling game in several regions between February and March 2022, and the fastest-selling Bandai Namco game of all time.

February 2023: Shadow of the Erdtree Announced

In February 2023, the downloadable content (DLC) expansion Shadow of the Erdtree for Elden Ring was announced.

June 2024: Shadow of the Erdtree Release

In June 2024, the downloadable content (DLC) Shadow of the Erdtree for Elden Ring was released and met with similar acclaim, selling over five million copies.

June 20, 2024: Shadow of the Erdtree Released

On June 20, 2024, the downloadable content (DLC) expansion Shadow of the Erdtree for Elden Ring was released.

September 2024: Elden Ring Sales Update

By September 2024, Elden Ring had sold 28.6 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling video games of all time.

2024: Shadow of the Erdtree at The Game Awards 2024

At The Game Awards 2024, Shadow of the Erdtree received five nominations, including for Game of the Year, which caused controversy as many felt DLC should not be eligible for nomination.