Selling 12 million copies in just two months since its release, Elden Ring is now one of the top contenders for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2022. Even though the event is still months away, many fans already think Elden Ring deserves the award right now. This alone speaks volumes about the impact and appeal of this blockbuster game today.
There are plenty of reasons behind Elden Ring’s current success. But recently, a survey by foreign media, specifically gamesindustry.biz, revealed that the main factor driving its massive popularity, record-breaking sales, and huge player base comes down to one simple phrase: open world.
According to the survey, 80% of players said the first thing that made them consider buying Elden Ring was its open world label. After a long period of being overshadowed by MOBA and Battle Royale games, open world games are making a strong comeback with recent hits like Red Dead Redemption 2, Genshin Impact, and Elden Ring benefiting a lot from this trend.
Besides that, Elden Ring’s quality and media buzz also play a key role. About 67% of players said they picked up the game after seeing all the praise it received, while 28% bought it because friends recommended it. The survey also revealed interesting reasons why some gamers choose not to play Elden Ring, despite it being a top-tier AAA title.
The survey found that 32% of those who skipped Elden Ring said the main reason was lack of time. Another 22% gave up after learning about the game’s high difficulty. Others cited reasons like disliking the gameplay, boring graphics, high price, or feeling the Souls genre just isn’t for them.
