Gamers Debate Elden Ring Factions in Absence of Dark Souls Covenant System

Exploring players' preferences for Elden Ring factions in the absence of a Dark Souls-style Covenant multiplayer system.
Gamers Debate Elden Ring Factions in Absence of Dark Souls Covenant System

Highlights

  • Fans speculate on Elden Ring factions without a Covenant system like Dark Souls.
  • Covenants in Dark Souls offer unique gameplay experiences and interactions.
  • Director Miyazaki rules out adding Covenants to Elden Ring but hints at future possibilities.

Elden Ring enthusiasts are engaging in discussions about their faction preferences in a scenario where the game lacks the Dark Souls Covenant system. Covenants, a hallmark of the Dark Souls series since its inception in 2011, have been absent from Elden Ring, prompting long-time fans of FromSoftware to express their hopes for a comeback in future updates or sequels.

In Dark Souls, Covenants function as in-game factions allowing players to join, level up, and earn rewards such as items or ability enhancements. These factions also shape the multiplayer experience, with groups focusing on either assisting or invading other players. For instance, in Dark Souls 3, the Way of the Blue Covenant automatically summons members to aid in repelling invaders during online gameplay. Conversely, the Blade of the Dark Moon Covenant focuses on PvP, assigning members to eliminate players who violate their Covenant.

Although Elden Ring excluded the Covenant system and introduced its own in-game factions, fans still ponder over which groups align best with their preferences. A recent Reddit thread on r/Eldenring reignited this discussion, prompting users to share which factions they would have chosen if the Covenant system existed in the acclaimed open-world Soulslike RPG.

Some players drew parallels between Elden Ring factions and Covenants based on their experiences with the Dark Souls franchise. Others selected factions based on empathy, showing interest in groups like Miquella's Haligtree.

Lack of Covenants in Elden Ring

Regrettably, the Covenant system is unlikely to be retroactively added to Elden Ring post-launch. Director Hidetaka Miyazaki clarified that there are no immediate plans to introduce this feature, emphasizing the developers' aim to simplify the game's multiplayer mechanics. However, the return of the Covenant system to the Elden Ring universe remains a possibility in future installments.

Despite the absence of Covenants, players continue to appreciate the extensive content in the base Elden Ring game, offering hundreds of hours of gameplay. Additionally, players can anticipate the Shadows of the Erdtree DLC, featuring a new antagonist, unique weapons, and a vast new map to explore and conquer.