The Elden Ring - Bandai Namco bets on a long-selling fantasy epic

Elden Ring feels different the moment you step into Limgrave, wind pushing tall grass sideways as a spectral steed thuds over uneven stone and distant ruins glow on the horizon. The first big attack that slams into your shield makes the controller vibrate with a dull, threatening weight.

From launch hit to modern classic

Elden Ring by Bandai Namco launched globally on 25 February 2022 as a premium action role-playing game for PC, PlayStation and Xbox platforms, published by Bandai Namco and developed by FromSoftware. It landed with a full-price tag of around 69.99 euros on consoles in major Western markets and comparable yen pricing in Japan.

The title quickly became a commercial pillar. In May 2024, Bandai Namco reported more than 25 million units shipped worldwide, a number that keeps the game firmly in the long-seller bracket for the company’s network entertainment segment. Director Hidetaka Miyazaki has repeatedly described Elden Ring as an attempt to take the studio’s established “Souls” formula into a broader open world, combining harsh combat with exploration.

How the game plays and feels

On the screen, Elden Ring’s core loop is simple but demanding: explore the Lands Between, fight enemies, collect runes and upgrade your Tarnished character. Movement on the spectral horse Torrent gives the world a tactile rhythm; you feel the jolt every time you drop from a broken cliff to a lower ledge.

Combat is built around timing and risk. Blocking a heavy blow drains stamina, dodging at the last moment opens a window for a counter, and mistiming a roll often means a one- or two-hit defeat against bosses such as Margit or Radahn. Critics have highlighted the game’s willingness to let players fail repeatedly, while still offering multiple paths forward through exploration.

Platforms, editions and pricing

Elden Ring is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam, positioned as a multi-platform flagship within Bandai Namco’s game publishing catalog. On Steam, the base game has been holding close to its launch price, often oscillating between around 59.99 and 69.99 euros in Europe outside of sale periods.

Bandai Namco has supported the game with different editions. At launch, the company offered a standard edition and a deluxe edition that bundled a digital artbook and soundtrack. Physical collector’s editions, including a large statue of the character Malenia, sold out quickly and now appear mainly on secondary markets. Pricing for these premium bundles reached well above 200 euros in some territories.

Shadow of the Erdtree keeps the world alive

The major expansion Shadow of the Erdtree released on 21 June 2024, adding a new area called the Land of Shadow, additional bosses, weapons and quests, and giving the long-seller a second commercial wind. Hidetaka Miyazaki has described the expansion as something that “could almost be considered its own game”, though it requires the base Elden Ring to play.

Bandai Namco has marketed Shadow of the Erdtree through trailers and interviews, with producer Yasuhiro Kitao walking media through design choices such as denser dungeon placement and new build options. The expansion is sold either as a standalone DLC purchase or in bundle form with the base game, sometimes at slightly reduced combined prices during promotional windows.

Critical reception and player base

Reviews at launch were strong. Aggregator Metacritic lists Elden Ring with scores around 94 out of 100 on several platforms, putting it among the highest-rated modern games. Many critics praised the sense of discovery in the open world and the flexibility offered by different character builds.

Players have sustained interest across PC and console. On Steam, concurrent player numbers at launch peaked in the hundreds of thousands and, while lower now, still show regular spikes when updates or expansions arrive. Social platforms and streaming sites continue to host build guides, challenge runs and lore breakdowns, which help the title function as a durable franchise rather than a short-lived hit.

Where Elden Ring sits in Bandai Namco’s portfolio

Bandai Namco publishes Elden Ring within its network entertainment business, alongside fighting titles such as Tekken 8 and anime-linked games like Dragon Ball and One Piece. In the company’s financial presentations, Elden Ring appears explicitly as one of the drivers of mid- to long-term revenue, and Shadow of the Erdtree is singled out as a key event in the fiscal year.

In a recent briefing, president and CEO Yasuo Miyakawa referenced Elden Ring while describing how Bandai Namco aims to nurture “IP axis strategy”, where strong intellectual properties generate income across games, merchandise and other media. The dark fantasy setting of the Lands Between, co-created with writer George R.R. Martin, fits that template and has already led to licensed figures, art books and collectible goods.

Risk profile for players and investors

As a product, Elden Ring is demanding. New players face steep difficulty and opaque systems, including complex stat scaling and status effects. That design choice can limit broad casual appeal but reinforces loyalty among committed fans, who often buy expansions and related merchandise.

On the business side, the title’s performance contributes to Bandai Namco’s earnings but also exposes the company to cyclical risks in premium gaming. Sales spikes cluster around releases and major updates, and competition from other large-scale role-playing games can influence volume. Management has therefore been stressing a portfolio approach with multiple franchises rather than relying on a single hit.

Bandai Namco share on Tokyo

For Bandai Namco Holdings Inc., Elden Ring and its Shadow of the Erdtree expansion are central to how the company positions itself in high-end action RPGs and premium IP-driven content. The Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. share (ISIN JP3778630008) trades on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Japanese yen.