George RR Martin co-developing FromSoftware's 'Elden Ring'

For HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” Winter already came in May when the series ended after eight seasons. Fans that prefer the source novels written by George R.R. Martin have already waited years for the concluding sixth and seventh books to arrive, but they must wait longer as the author is now co-developing a videogame.

Martin’s fans are already frustrated by his writing side-stories and supplementary material to the world of “A Song of Ice and Fire,” rather than finally close the book saga as planned. Instead, they must wait much longer for his collaboration with FromSoftware, “Elden Ring,” to release following its recent announcement.

‘GOT’ creator tries his hand with co-developing a videogame

Polygon reports “Elden Ring” is the latest action RPG videogame to come out of FromSoftware and Bandai Namco. Its initial teaser, shown before E3 this past Sunday, June 9, revealed the surprise collaboration of FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki, creator of their 2011 masterpiece “Dark Souls,” and of George R.R. Martin, creator of the “A Song of Ice and Fire” books from which HBO’s “Game of Thrones” had been based on.

A FromSoftware press release from Miyazaki notes that “Elden Ring” will be their largest title yet, and that their collaborating with Martin to develop the game’s fantasy setting was an experience both genuinely delightful and inspiring.

The press release also included words from Martin himself. Aside from reciprocating the fun he had world-building “Elden Ring” with Miyazaki, the author also notes that the fantasy action RPG gameplay will be an unforgettable experience for genre players.

Martin has a massive production workload

That is all well and good for fans of FromSoftware games, as “Elden Ring” from its initial trailer feels like a spiritual successor to the highly-acclaimed “Dark Souls.” But for readers of George R.R.

Martin’s books, it is another reason the last two books of “A Song of Ice and Fire” will not be arriving anytime soon. And, as Vanity Fair puts it, co-developing a videogame is just the tip of the iceberg for what various other activities Martin is busying himself with other than just finishing “The Winds of Winter” so he can start on “A Dream of Spring.”

In addition to “Elden Ring,” Martin is also discussing with HBO for more spinoff series of “Game of Thrones.” He is, in fact, writing a pilot for a prequel set in the early days of Westeros, conceptualized by Jane Goldman and starring Naomi Watts.

He is also working with Nnedi Okorafor to adapt the latter’s novel “Who Fears Death” as another new HBO series. This is now what “ASOIAF” fans want to hear, but there really is nothing they can do but wait for winter to come. “Elden Ring” by FromSoftware and Bandai Namco is coming to Xbox One, Windows and the PS4. No release date has been given yet.