Fans debate which of Elden Ring’s factions they should join if the developers implemented a Dark Souls-style Covenant multiplayer system.
Elden Ring players are debating which faction they would join if the Dark Souls Covenant system was brought into The Lands Between. Covenants have been a staple in the Dark Souls series since the franchise made its debut in 2011, with the system even making an appearance in the PlayStation-exclusive Bloodborne. However, Covenants were notably absent from Elden Ring, and more than a few longtime fans of developer FromSoftware have since expressed their desire to see the feature return in a future update or sequel.
For context, Covenants are Dark Souls' version of in-game factions, wherein players can join, level, and gain points in exchange for items or ability buffs. Covenants are also tied to the player's multiplayer experience, with groups typically favoring either invading or helping other players. As an example, players who joined Dark Souls 3's Way of the Blue would automatically summon other members to help fend off an invader during an online playthrough. In contrast, Dark Souls' Blade of the Dark Moon was a PvP-focused faction, which often tasked members with assassinating players who abandoned their Covenants.
While the Covenant system was excluded in Elden Ring and partly replaced by several of the in-game factions, it hasn't stopped fans from pondering which groups appealed the most to their personal tastes. One Reddit thread from r/Eldenring recently opened the topic once more, with the original poster asking other users which factions they would join if the Covenant system had been implemented into the critically acclaimed open-world Soulslike RPG.
Some players were influenced by their personal experience with the Dark Souls franchise, drawing comparisons between several Elden Ring factions and Covenants. Others based their answer on the group that they empathized with the most during their playthrough, with several users expressing interest in a group dedicated to Miquella's Haligtree.
Elden Ring Does Not Feature Covenants
Unfortunately, it's unlikely the Covenant system will be added post-launch to Elden Ring. FromSoftware director Hidetaka Miyazaki previously stated there were no plans to implement the feature, explaining how the developers wanted to minimize the barriers to the game's multiplayer as much as possible. With that said, the Covenant system might still return to the world of Elden Ring in future entries, if there are any.
Though the Covenant system was not included, players were still amazed by the amount of content included in Elden Ring's base game, which could easily take hundreds of hours to fully experience. Players can also look forward to Elden Ring's expansion, with the Shadows of the Erdtree DLC promising a new antagonist, unique weapons, and an expansive map to explore and conquer.
Platform(s) PS5 , Xbox One , PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PC Released February 25, 2022 Developer(s) From Software Publisher(s) Bandai Namco Entertainment , From Software ESRB M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence See at AmazonSee at Playstation StoreSee at Xbox Games StoreSee at Steam