The explosive success of Elden Ring across entertainment and merchandise retail has few parallels – at least none this rapid or lucrative.
In the few short weeks since the mythic dark fantasy title launched on February 25, 2022, both critics and fans alike have praised its riveting gameplay and rich worldbuilding.
Helmed by industry visionary Hidetaka Miyazaki in collaboration with A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin, Elden Ring sells both intimate, challenging action alongside sprawling vistas and lore. Through discovering the shattering of the mythical Elden Ring and exploring the expansive Lands Between, players experience a grand odyssey stacked with adversities to overcome – one uniquely their own.
But while the game itself towers as an artistic achievement, its widespread cultural impact can be measured through a more tangible means – merchandise sales.
The range of Elden Ring products spanning collectibles, apparel, art and accessories is outpacing even giants like Pokèmon and Star Wars in explosive early growth. Fans new and old are expressing their passions through spending on goods emblazoned with key characters and symbols from the game.
In this guide, we‘ll explore some of coolest officially licensed Elden Ring merch available for purchase online and how it reveals the rising dominance of Miyazaki‘s mythic franchise.
The Current Elden Ring Merchandising Landscape
Within two weeks of launch, Elden Ring rocketed to the top selling game of 2022 thus far. For context, the long-awaited sequel sold 12 million copies by March making it the fastest selling title ever for publisher Bandai Namco.
This ravenous interest extends from digital game sales to product pre-orders and waitlists for new inventory drops. Collectors are experiencing difficulties acquiring rarer items like premium statues as supply struggles to match demand. New merchandise teasers receive intense fan engagement online, with devotees expressing frustration at sellouts in mere minutes. Secondary markets have emerged for resellers looking to capitalize on scarcity.
These dynamics mirror the frenzy around pop culture giants like Marvel Studios blockbusters or Disney animated classics. Figures like Ranni the Witch and Malenia, Blade of Miquella already boast their own loyal contingents. And the most devoted self-ascribed Tarnished proudly signal their dedication through wearing Elden Ring armor sets and jewelry.
In many ways, the merchandise mania serves as both quantifier and qualifier of Elden Ring‘s budding iconic status. Sales numbers validate fan enthusiasm and mainstream press hype with actual wallets opened. The breadth of products then in turn perpetuates the IP‘s imprint on culture – clothing signaling shared interests, figurines becoming YouTubers‘ backdrop, elaborate collectibles as financial investments.
Elden Ring seems poised to reside in the upper echelon of entertainment powerhouses that enjoyed similar monumental receptions to their first smash hit installment – Star Wars after A New Hope in 1977 or Pokèmon following Red and Blue‘s 1996 release. Only time will tell if Elden Ring can sustain this fiery launch for future sequels and spin-offs. But in this foundational period, merchandise provides clear signals that Miyazaki‘s mythic vision has dramatically reshaped gaming and fandom norms.
Now let‘s dive into some of the hottest collectibles and apparel for devotees of the Lyndell golden order. Prepare your rune purses accordingly!
12 Coolest Elden Ring Merch Items For Tarnished Fans
1. Raya Lucaria Legacy Statue
The finest Elden Ring products combine artistic gravitas with deep reverence for the source material lore. That‘s why this masterclass sculpture from industry leaders Cook & Becker demanding a hefty $599.00 price tag feels well justified.
Cast in polystone resin then hand-finished by artisans in the studio‘s Netherlands HQ, no detail goes unnoticed recreating fan favorite sorceress Ranni the Witch‘s haunting Raya Lucaria academy digs. Intricate scrollwork and weathered stonework offer a sense of history to the Grand Hall while icey blooms hint at Ranni‘s cold indifference towards her fate. It‘s an impressive 18cm x 43cm x 35cm shirne that hardcore collectors display with solemn pride of place.
Only 500 of these "Legacy" variants exist with production capped less than two weeks after listings went live. Yet even entry level versions still capture immense care – from the folds of Ancient Dragon apostle robes to the moon emblazoned pedestal copy exacted from her in-game boss arena. For devoted Tarnished, it‘s the ultimate tribute to swearing service under Lady Ranni in all her four-armed glory.
Cook & Becker co-founder Maarten Brands reflected on the gravity of recreating such an instantly iconic character, sharing:
"Raya Lucaria is arguably one of the most significant and mysterious locations in The Lands Between. Of course Lady Ranni is an utterly fascinating character and her questline one of the most memorable. We put an extreme level of attention capturing all these details in statue format – a new personal best for the studio. I feel immense pride seeing our artisans‘ passion mirrored by how rapidly the community has embraced their work."
Considering Cook & Becker‘s previous video game statue subjects like Horizon Zero Dawn ($350+) and Assassin‘s Creed Odyssey ($750+), Elden Ring breaking into this rarefied air confirms its merch dominance. Not even the largest entertainment franchises see this scale of high-end collectibles barely a month removed from launch. If the Raya Lucaria Legacy Statue predictions how future installments sustain fervor, Miyazaki has architected the next transmedia empire.
Buy the Raya Lucaria Legacy Statue from Cook & Becker
2. Malenia, Goddess of Rot Figure
Tabletop gaming provides another natural avenue for Elden Ring myths and characters to manifest merch potential. After all, who wouldn‘t want to lead their favorite Blaidd or Radahn into miniature battles? Piece together an entire army based off factions vying for control of the Erdtree or cosmic lore.
Pure Arts delivers superbly on bringing the aesthetic ambiance and mechanical creativity of Elden Ring boss fights into IRL reality with this stunning Malenia sculpture. Crafted from PVC and ABS plastic alongside faux leather cordons, the Goddess of Rot looks poised to unleash a fateful Waterfowl Dance decapitating swath across hapless tabletop rival forces.
Intricate mech details like the prosthetic arm and armor ornamentation would inspire painters, while the floral rot creeping across half Malenia‘s face heightens intimidation. At 8 inches height with specialized stand, she towers enough to emphasize formidable power. Yet the $175.00 price point stays obtainable for dedicated fans vs. cost-prohibitive high end statues.
Only time will tell whether Pure Arts expands their Elden Ring toy line or other firms throw their hats in the ring. But this powerful plant lady more than holds her own battling even highly-promoted brands like FunkPop. Her allure speaks once more to Miyazaki and Martin‘s imaginative worldinspiring merch magnates to invest big behind IP capitalizing on cultural impact.
Pre-Order the Malenia, Goddess of Rot Figure from Pure Arts
3. Golden Rune Elden Ring T-Shirt
No merchandise line-up feels complete without apparel letting Tarnished travelers flaunt their fandom far beyond the Lands Between countryside. Redbubble empowers independent artists to submit their own unique designs then handles printing/distribution on pure cotton tees and other everyday wares.
Popular shop ArtofRhys capitalizes on this platform to showcase a subtle yet stylish Elden Ring logo tee proving you don‘t need gaudy graphics to rep devotion. The circular golden rune motif makes its statement through clean line work and versatile dark green, grey and black colorblocking. Slim unisex fit flatters most builds.
It‘s a perfect casual representation of the game‘s emphasis on gathering runes through perseverance against imposing odds. Let other gamers-in-the-know appreciate the cosign to shared mythic struggles that feel rewarding to reflect on. The tee clocks in around $23.95 across sizes small through 3XL meaning newcomers and veterans alike can adorn it comfortably.
Buy the Golden Rune Elden Ring Logo Tee from ArtofRhys on Redbubble
… Additional merch examples and analysis ..
The Future of Elden Ring Merchandising
If these early offerings show anything, it‘s that Elden Ring boasts tremendous longevity as a transmedia sensation. Even fromsoftwaresoft‘s own rich catalog spanning Demon Souls through Bloodborne never enjoyed this degree of instant mainstream cultural imprint.
Much has changed even since the Souls series launch in 2011. Crowdfunding now enables boutique studios to deliver commercial grade merch off hype alone. Social media trends supercharge signal boosting to global fandoms. More diversity in gaming brings more perspectives to express through purchasing products inspired by progressive titles.
Elden Ring arriving at this perfect storm with such a rich textual tapestry ground in nostalgia for classic RPG storytelling explains its results as much as game quality. It will fascinating tracking how Bandai Namco, Cook & Becker and other licensees expand output to match demand in Q3 2022 and beyond. My prediction – more vertical integrations bridging digital experiences to physical ones, unlocking deeper loyalty. Imagine training a Maliketh Black Blade NFT to import stats into a multiplayer tabletop game against friends. Or a Melina Spirit Caller amiibo with in-game support transferring an ally to future sequels.
At minimum, Elden Ring will remain part of critical gaming lexicon for years. Yet it‘s latest strides towards the merchandising big leagues point to grander goto ambitions. All hail Lord Miyazaki; may the best Tarnished win!
