Reports indicate that Chinese company Tencent is in the process of developing a free-to-play mobile version of the popular game Elden Ring from FromSoftware. The team at Tencent dedicated to this project consists of “a few dozen people,” as stated by Reuters.
After acquiring a 16 percent stake in FromSoftware in August 2022, Tencent has been slowly progressing with this venture. If the reports are accurate, Elden Ring, the 2022 Game of the Year winner, will join Tencent’s lineup of gaming IPs adapted for mobile free-to-play versions, including titles like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile.
Though an official announcement is yet to be made by Tencent regarding the mobile free-to-play adaptation of Elden Ring, the company is also working on mobile versions of other popular games like Need for Speed and Assassin’s Creed.
Facing Challenges
Despite their widespread popularity, launching successful mobile versions of these titles can prove to be challenging. According to earlier reports from Reuters, licensing agreements for such adaptations may involve royalty fees that can range from 15 to 20 percent of sales, in addition to platform fees like Apple’s commission, which can go up to 30 percent.
Tencent also faced setbacks with projects like Apex Legends Mobile, developed in partnership with EA, and an undisclosed mobile game based on the Nier franchise, which was canceled due to monetization concerns after two years of development.
Similar obstacles may pose challenges as Tencent works on bringing Elden Ring to a free-to-play mobile format. This endeavor comes at a time when Tencent is competing heavily with other major players like miHoYo and NetEase.
During Tencent’s recent annual meeting in Shenzhen, chief executive and co-founder Pony Ma stated, “Gaming is our flagship business… But in the past year, we have faced significant challenges. We have found ourselves at a loss, as our competitors continue to produce new products, leaving us feeling having achieved nothing.”
