Cutscene modification in Elden Ring grabs fans’ attention as they try to figure out what it could mean

Written by. Nick Mosier based on the original Japanese article (original article’s publication date: 2022-06-13 16:32 JST)

It looks like the appearance of a certain boss in Elden Ring has been modified during a cutscene with the previous patch 1.04. Whether intentional or not, it’s grabbed fans’ attention as they try to figure out what it could mean. That isn’t the only thing that’s been quietly modified in Elden Ring, though. This article will delve into some of these changes, so be aware of potential spoilers regarding the game’s bosses and setting.

Elden Ring is the latest action RPG from FromSoftware. Since the game’s release on February 25, it’s received a number of updates to fix bugs, make balance changes, and add NPC quests. Each time an update goes out, fans of the game pour over the details. But sometimes what gets fans talking isn’t just the big changes mentioned in the patch notes. Corrections to the game’s map and other minute changes have also proven to be interesting to the game’s fanbase (related article).

That brings us to a change pointed out by a Reddit user on June 12. Morgott, the Omen King has seen a modification to their appearance in a cutscene. Reddit user Razhork made a post comparing the scene as of patch 1.02 and 1.04. As for the change, we can see that the fire effect when Morgott’s blade appears from his cane has disappeared.

Morgott's cutscene was changed with patch 1.04
byu/Razhork inEldenring

Reddit users exchanged various opinions on why the change may have happened. First is the idea that the effect doesn’t match the established lore of the game. The reason being that Morgott is a follower of the Golden Order which forbids the use of flames. Morgott also says, “Pillager. Emboldened by the flame of ambition,” in a hateful manner towards the Tarnished which might seem like odd phrasing while engulfing his sword with fire.

On the other hand, some think it’s nothing more than a bug and that FromSoftware already had a grasp of the character and setting when putting the scene together. Morgott also uses what looks to be flaming attacks during the latter half of the boss battle. On top of that, Morgott’s Cursed Sword which is made from the Remembrance of the Omen King item has the skill Cursed-Blood Slice that attacks alongside a flaming explosion. When you consider all of that, Morgott’s cane being engulfed in flames to reveal his sword doesn’t seem like a contradiction. While only the development team knows for sure, fans look over these changes and pour over all the small details.

A number of interesting but less noticeable changes have also been discovered as compiled into this video by YouTuber illusory wall. One example is the placement of the stone objects just before the area Mohg is fought in. Just before the fog that Mohg waits in, there are what look to be stone graves which can be used to jump to a normally unreachable ledge. Players can then continue from the ledge and enter the boss area in a way the game doesn’t anticipate.

Entering in this manner causes Mohg to just stand still and not do anything meaning players could defeat the boss without it fighting back. To fix this it looks like the stone graves were moved just a bit further from the ledge to make it unreachable when jumping.

illusory wall’s video also points out changes such as how a wooden chest that looked to be from the Dark Souls series was swapped out, how some Spirit Springs had their safe landing range expanded, how the Merciless Chariot had its damages halved, and more. Elden Ring has received a number of stealthy changes encapsulating everything from those we don’t know the reason for to those that improve the playability of the game.

Also keep in mind that Elden Ring’s latest patch 1.05 went live on June 13. This latest version is also hiding changes that didn’t appear in the patch notes (related article).