Do I Have to Buy Elden Ring Twice? A Comprehensive Multi-Platform Purchase Guide

As an avid gamer and FromSoftware fan, Elden Ring managed to exceed my lofty expectations and become my game of the generation so far. I‘ve put over 200 hours into exploring the Lands Between across platforms, so readers often ask me — do I need to buy Elden Ring twice to play across console generations or PC?

The short answer is no, you only need one copy to play within the same console family. However, there are some key technical differences in performance and features depending on your platform. In this purchase guide, I‘ll break down Elden Ring on current-gen vs last-gen, and highlight why I recommend playing on PS5/Xbox Series X for the definitive experience.

Elden Ring‘s Runaway Success

First, let‘s quantify why so many gamers are wondering if they need duplicate Elden Ring purchases. According to Bandai Namco, over 17.5 million copies of the game have sold globally as of August 2022 across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

Elden Ring Unit Sales by Platform

This makes it one of the fastest selling new IP in video game history. Based on these sales figures, it‘s clear that Elden Ring has captivated PlayStation gamers in particular, with over two-thirds of sales happening on Sony‘s ecosystem.

So why has Elden Ring exceeded sales expectations and resonated with such a wide audience? As a loyal FromSoftware player, even I was shocked by how accessible yet deeply challenging this new fantasy world is. The Lands Between captures that signature sense of mystery and wonder previous Souls games nail so perfectly. Exploring the open world and stumbling upon mini-dungeons places an intrepid sense of adventure back into players‘ hands. The legacy of punishing boss fights remains, but with more player choice, crafting, spell variety and summoning mechanics, overcoming challenges is more flexible than ever.

Quite simply, Elden Ring retains the meticulous combat and brooding atmosphere fans expect while layering on unprecedented scale through its open world. This masterful combination has cemented its status not just as 2022‘s Game of the Year, but an all-time great.

Current-Gen vs. Last-Gen Performance

So back to the key question — if you already own Elden Ring on PS4 or Xbox One, do you need to re-purchase the game to play in enhanced quality on PS5 or Xbox Series X? Thankfully, you can upgrade at no additional cost thanks to the console manufacturer‘s forward-thinking policies. However, the differences in performance and visuals are substantial, so playing the current-gen edition is highly recommended.

Here‘s a breakdown of the advantages to playing on PS5 or Xbox Series X:

• Higher Resolution – PS5 and Series X target 4K visuals versus 1080p on last-gen
• Higher Framerates – Current-gen platforms allow 60 FPS, PS4/Xbox One only 30 FPS
• Faster Loading – Fast travel and area transitions are over 50% quicker on next-gen hardware
• More detailed environments/draw distance – LOD settings heightened to take advantage of new consoles‘ horsepower

You‘ll immediately notice the crispness of textures and models at 4K resolution — gone is the slightly muddy look that plagued last-gen. 60 FPS gameplay is essential for a precision action-RPG where reacting to enemy tells is vital. And the reduction in loading times helps sustain the open world immersion.

To quantify the exact gains, Digital Foundry conducted a stellar technical breakdown assessing current-gen vs. last-gen performance across a range of metrics. Here were their key findings:

So in summary — the PS5 and Xbox Series X editions provide substantially improved visuals, twice the framerate for smoother combat, and load rough 50% faster when fast traveling or entering dungeons. These technical advantages resolve nagging issues that impacted the last-gen experience, and modernize Elden Ring into one of the best looking open world games available.

Game Length & Replay Value

Considering the enhancements on new hardware, you‘ll surely get better value by playing the current-gen edition. But exactly how many hours of adventure are packed into the Lands Between?

For players mostly following the main story path, you can expect a lengthy 55+ hour playthrough. Completing additional side content like NPC quests, mini-dungeons and optional areas will extend your playtime closer to 100 hours. Lastly, maxing out achievements and collecting every item nets over 130 hours of gameplay.

So Elden Ring represents one of the most content-rich open world RPGs ever created. The value is further extended by New Game Plus allowing repeated full playthroughs while retaining your character. With different endings based on quest lines completed, you‘ll log 200+ hours before exhausting everything the experience has to offer.

Recommendation — PS5/Xbox Series X Definitive Edition

Considering the drastically improved visuals, performance and immersion, I wholeheartedly recommend the current-gen edition of Elden Ring on PS5 or Xbox Series X as the definitive experience. Tempering expectations, last-gen platforms still offer the same incredible adventure — albeit at lower fidelity.

My Elden Ring purchase recommendation by platform:

• PS5 or Xbox Series X – Premium way to play with 4K60 gameplay and cutting edge features
• PS4 Pro/Xbox One X – Still highly enjoyable, but resolution dips under 4K and 30 FPS cap
• PS4/Xbox One – Playable experience but frame pacing issues can disrupt flow

Ultimately, Elden Ring‘s universal acclaim is warranted no matter how you play. But the technical prowess of new hardware removes constraints so Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 owners can plunge into the Lands Between unfettered. Avoid buying twice by utilizing free next-gen upgrades after purchasing the last-gen edition. Now eyes up, Tarnished — adventure awaits with katana in hand!