Summary
AnElden Ringfan has uncovered a hidden gem for the soulslike community, sharing a previously leaked image unveiling the game’s original map one year before its release.Elden Ringwas first launched in 2022 and easily went on to become Game of the Year. Crafted to perfection by Hidetaka Miyazaki andGame of Thronesworldbuilder George R. R. Martin, the action RPG sees players take control of the customizable Tarnished, who enters into a quest to restore the titular law of the world and become the new Elden Lord.
Following the incredibly successfulShadow of the Erdtreeexpansion in 2024, the next chapter in FromSoftware’s epic isElden Ring Nightreign, a co-op spin-off taking place in a now procedurally generated variant of Limgrave called Limveld. Just weeks before its launch date,FromSoftware adjustedElden Ring Nightreign’s difficulty, a change implemented after the game’s network test to reflect players’ feedback.
Posted on Reddit by AlenIronside, an image was shared on theElden Ringsubreddit showcasing a leaked glimpse at what the game’s map looked like one year before its official release, similar to anElden Ringdataminer who uncovered alternate underground maps. While the general curvature of the map’s land mass stays roughly the same, including the placement of the Erdtree and the water region around Liurnia of the Lakes, Miquella’s Haligtree is noticeably missing, as well as more obscure points of interest such as the Crumbling Farum Azula.
Elden Ring Fan Shares Leaked Lands Between Map One Year Before the Game’s Release
The soulslike’s map has come a long way since its original conception, and fans previously took it upon themselves tocompareShadow of the Erdtree’s massive map toElden Ring’s. Redditors wasted no time in discussing the stark differences between the original and final maps, and one fan thought it was interesting to see the elevation change. Another comment highlighted that the area around Leyndell added credence to the Shadow Lands being “scooped out” of the Lands Between, which, from a developer’s standpoint, would eliminate players from swimming to Leyndell from the beginning.
The Lands Between is not only a dark fantasy playground for punishing boss battles, but it’s become a cultural staple in the video games community, so much so that oneElden Ringfan recreated the map inMinecraft. The setting is a vast realm in scope and lore, previously overseen by Queen Marika the Eternal. The map comprises varying regions harboring their unique environments, including Deeproot Depths, Mountaintops of the Giants, and the popular Caelid.
