The world of Elden Ring evolved quite a bit from what was initially laid out by Game of Thrones creator George R. R. Martin. Game director Hidetaka Miyazaki believes that Martin would be taken aback by how everything turned out. In an interview with Game Informer, Miyazaki shared that while Martin contributed to the foundational elements of the world and some character backstories, it was the narrative team at FromSoftware that really fleshed those ideas out in the game’s universe. In fact, Miyazaki hinted that some alterations were so significant that he’d be surprised to see what made it into the final product.
Miyazaki explained his role, saying, “as a player walks through this world, […] they have a very fragmented understanding of the lore, the surroundings, and the type of monsters, whereas I don’t.” With his comprehensive knowledge of the game and its universe, he aims to ensure that pivotal moments within the game don’t get overlooked. To achieve this, he merges “the map and level design” as a sort of guide, helping players gather more information and make sense of the world around them.
Interestingly, while Martin himself remarked that he thought the game “looks incredible,” Miyazaki feels his approach has been notably successful. The experimentation with Martin’s narrative groundwork allowed the entire game to solidify into what he describes as a creation that remains “in a league of its own,” even years after its release.