Elden Ring: reviews embargo date, release time of game on PS5, Xbox, PC, and PS4 – and preload details

(Image: BandaiNamco)

First, famed Japanese video game director Hidetaka Miyazaki is at the helm once again for Elden Ring.

The president of legendary development studio FromSoftware, Miyazaki is best known for creating the Dark Souls series of cult classic games, as well as working on hits such as Bloodborne and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

Secondly, George R. R. Martin – the author and creator of Game of Thrones – is working in collaboration with Miyazaki to write the game.

“Building the world of Elden Ring with Miyazaki and his team was a treat,” Martin has said. “The graphics, mythos, and action-RPG gameplay will deliver an unforgettable experience.”

Here is everything you need to know about it.

What is Elden Ring?

Producers of the game have promised an immersive open-world epic which allows players to “traverse the breathtaking world on foot or on horseback, alone or online with other players”.

Fans have already drawn comparisons between the upcoming release and the Dark Souls series.

“This is a FromSoftware title through and through,” said Miyazaki, “rich in fantasy and RPG action. We sincerely hope you look forward to it.”

(Image: BandaiNamco)

According to publishers BandaiNamco, players will embark on a journey across “a meticulously handcrafted world dripping in blood and deception”.

Throughout their adventures, players will “choose the fate of this cursed land by unravelling its secrets and myths,” and the game will feature a “vast and seamless landscape with natural weather and time-of-day progression”.

“Players will become fully immersed in the world of Elden Ring as they begin their journey and choose on their own path,” they add.

You’ll be able to traverse on foot or horseback, alone or online with friends across grassy plains, suffocating swamps and lush forests, and role-playing and customisation options will allow players to define their own unique play style.

When does the review embargo lift?

Fans are eagerly awaiting the critical response from reviewers.

As is often the case with blockbuster video games, the embargo on reviews – meaning the moment they can be published – falls rather close to the launch of the game itself.

It’s believed that Elden Ring reviews are scheduled to drop on Wednesday 23 February at 3pm UK time.

Critics have likely had their hands on the game for a couple of weeks now, and seeing as it’s a major release, most gaming outlets will have their write-ups primed and ready to go at that time.

So it shouldn’t be too long to wait to find out what reviewers thought of Elden Ring.

Can I pre-load the game?

(Image: BandaiNamco)

Like many other games, those purchasing Elden Ring digitally (as opposed to on a physical, plastic disc) can “pre-load” the game, meaning they can install in onto their consoles ahead of release.

This negates the need to wait for a lengthy download to play the game once it is made available.

Preloading is currently live for Xbox players and will be available to PlayStation players and PC players 48 hours before launch.

The file size for Xbox consoles is 49.04 GB, though this may increase if a separate day one patch is required – which it likely will be.

The file size on PS4 is reported to be 44.929 GB on PlayStation, according to Twitter account PlayStation Game Size, though this likely doesn’t include a day one patch.

There’s no confirmed file size for the PC version of the game yet, though Recently released PC requirements for Elden Ring require players to have at least 60GB of free space.

When can I play the game?

Elden Ring will release on Friday 25 February 2022 – the console release timing is set for midnight (12am) in most time zones.

That’s true for players in the UK, though those who are planning to play the game on PC will get access to the game a full four hours early, at 8pm GMT on 24 February.

It will be available on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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