Nobody likes spoilers, but unfortunately with the internet, they tend to be everywhere. Movie or video game trailers too can sometimes be spoiler-filled, but there’s been a recent trend with someMarvel movie trailersthat help mitigate some of these early discussions. Interestingly enough, there is a similar strategy seen with some ofElden Ring’s early trailers—if almost inverted.
Indeed,trailers forElden Ringwere far and few between, with the marketing driving hordes of fans “hollow” while waiting. What was shown was precious, though, especially as more and more came to light. Yet, there is one element of early trailers that was as misleading as any MCU trailer.
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Elden Ring: Malenia, the Not-So-Secret Secret Boss
MCU trailers are misleading so as to keep the integrity of certain plot elements intact.Infinity Waris a good example as, while the trailer showed Bruce Banner as the Hulk, he’s actually incapable of turning into the green guy in the film. He’s running around in the Hulk Buster suit instead. Had it been done any other way, the impact of Hulk’s storyline could have been undercut. Another good example is howTobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Menwere edited out of theSpider-Man: No Way Hometrailer.
What the MCU does show can be equally misleading—needless to say, the plot goes in adifferent direction inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessthan one would presume. Although it’s a slightly different tactic, earlyElden Ringtrailers were misleading fans on one element: Malenia.
When Malenia was first shown, some believed she was a class of the main playable character or an important woman in the early game—similar to the Doll inBloodborneand the Maiden in Black inDemon’s Souls. Players even, temporarily, called her Valkyrie in lieu of other information. Except, as players now know, she’s none of these things. Before this was clarified, many believed she would be a “main” character—not the secret boss of the game. In fact, what this boils down to is that FromSoftware madeMalenia’s identity inElden Ringmuch more surprising by showing her beforehand.
This makes the whole of Malenia inElden Ringall the more impressive. Facing her and obtaining her armor is no easy feat, and since she was shown early—albeit to some thinking of her in a different capacity—fans are endeared to her. It’s the serious appreciation ofMalenia’s lore and her boss fight that has likely led players like Let Me Solo Herto her footsteps. Furthermore, because of this, spoiler discussions about her were limited in a way similar to how MCU trailers help shape the conversation.
Deciding what to show and what to tell is a neat little trick that the MCU has mastered in marketing, butElden Ring’s approach of showing but not telling works wonders as well.
Elden Ringis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
