A strange rumor has been spreading through the gaming community that Elden Ring has been canceled. While these rumors’ origins are unknown, the lengthy silence between any formal announcements or details about the game likely contributes to the ongoing belief and apparent validity of them.

Without a doubt, the game’s announcement came too early in its development. Still, the delay in information could also be related to the same struggles of getting the game working on current generation consoles that have caused the delay of Cyberpunk 2077 into December. Leading either to a protracted development where the developers are unsure what features will make it into the game’s final build or in the game being shifted entirely to next-generation consoles.

A similar issue occurred with Dark Souls 3’s where a slew of complex world state mechanics that would tie into the story was ultimately removed from development. Lighting mechanics shown off during earlier demonstrations were similarly cut from development due to the limited processing power of the current generation of consoles.

Whether or not the game has been pushed exclusively into the next generation or not, Phil Spencer, in a Gamespot interview, laid to rest the notion the game was no longer in development.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0duvlbro4Gk?start=1662]

Host: How much of Elden Right have you seen and can you tell me anything?

Phil Spencer (visually happy/excited): *laughs* I’ve seen actually quite a bit, I’ve played quite a bit. I can’t you. I can’t. I can’t tell you much other than as somebody who’s played all of Miyazaki’s games over at least the last decade. This is clearly the most ambitious that he’s done.

I mean, you know, it’s and I love his games, but like seeing even some of the gameplay mechanics stuff that he’s tackling, he and his team are tackling this time. The setting working with another creator in terms of story and uh, I love it. I love him, seeing him challenging himself expanding. He’s a good friend of mine. Expanding his horizons, I think it’s it’s a good thing. I know he’s…he has when he has me play I go over, he has to leave the room. He doesn’t want to, well I think that’s because I’m a bad player, but you know then he comes back and then we’ll have a conversation about things that I think. It’s just he’s so passionate about what he does and its one of the I just love about getting to work with him on some of these games. Seeing them come to our platform.

Little of substance was revealed during the interview, but the confirmation of the game’s ongoing development should lay to rest the game has been canceled.