Elden Ring Deleted Scene Is The Perfect Sequel Setup

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FromSoftware’s fantasy role-playing games, including Elden Ring, are usually set in worlds where once-great civilizations are falling apart. For example, in Demon’s Souls, the land of Boletaria is overrun by fog and demons, and the kingdoms in the Dark Souls games are all nearing the end of an era. Elden Ring‘s world, the Lands Between, is already long past its golden age. A recently discovered cutscene that didn’t make it into the final game suggests a potential direction for a sequel – one that could move away from this typical setting and explore some of the game’s more fascinating backstory.

An unfinished scene discovered in an early version of Elden Ring depicts Miquella establishing his Haligtree long before the game’s story begins. The Haligtree, while optional to explore, is a significant location in the game’s world and story. It was created as a counterpart to the Erdtree, intended to foster a more welcoming society. This backstory could be useful for a potential sequel, allowing it to stand apart from Elden Ring and the crumbling worlds of previous games.

Elden Ring’s Cut Miquella Scene Highlights One Of Its Best Storylines

The Erdtree is the most recognizable symbol of Elden Ring, even more so than the golden runes themselves. Its radiant light has shaped the Lands Between and the society built on the Golden Order, and it’s constantly visible throughout the game. With the corrupted Scadutree appearing in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion and hidden away in the Land of Shadow, Miquella’s Haligtree remains the only other important, still-standing sacred tree.

As a huge fan, I think the Haligtree, even though it ultimately ‘failed’ with Miquella gone and Malenia’s Scarlet Rot taking over, is still the biggest hint that something could actually challenge the Golden Order. The game’s different endings show us a new age doesn’t need a giant tree to begin, but seeing the roots of the Haligtree and the Greattree all over the underground areas really proves how much power these trees have, even long after their best days. It makes you think something new could really grow from the ruins!

Miquella’s story was already one of the most interesting parts of the original game, and while his attempt to become a god in Shadow of the Erdtree adds weight to the expansion, it feels like the Haligtree’s full potential remains untapped. A cut scene (shown above, reconstructed by Lance McDonald) suggests that, at one point, Miquella and the Haligtree were intended to play a much larger role in the main game, possibly even leading to a unique ending similar to those offered by Ranni or the Frenzied Flame.

Elden Ring 2 Can Focus On Competing Holy Trees

Like all great empires, the one in the world of Elden Ring is destined to fall, and a new power will emerge in the Lands Between no matter how the game ends. Pieces of the Erdtree and Haligtree will likely remain, and a sequel could focus on rebuilding the Golden Order. However, that path risks repeating the story of Dark Souls. Exploring the mysteries of the Haligtree instead offers a more compelling direction for a potential Elden Ring 2.

Instead of showing the world falling apart like the first game, a sequel to Elden Ring could focus on the effort to rebuild it. It could reuse familiar imagery and ideas by featuring competing groups, each trying to make their sacred tree the most powerful in the Lands Between. This could give players more ways to roleplay and choose a side, but it would likely stay true to FromSoftware’s style of challenging combat: players would probably have to defeat other powerful beings to claim the throne for themselves.

The numerous Minor Erdtrees in Elden Ring suggest that new ones can be created. What if these trees were deliberately altered for different purposes? The game also raises questions about a potential revival of the Golden Order long after Marika is considered a forgotten god. Will Miquella be remembered for his good intentions and the growth of a new Haligtree, or will the people of Elphael succumb to the Scarlet Rot that’s spreading? So far, the world of Elden Ring doesn’t seem to repeat itself, leaving a lot of room for further exploration and development within the existing landscape of the Lands Between.

An Elden Ring Sequel Feels Inevitable

It always feels a little early to talk about a sequel to Elden Ring. FromSoftware has recently been experimenting with multiplayer games like Elden Ring Nightreign and the upcoming The Duskbloods, but Elden Ring is still their biggest success. While FromSoftware’s loyal fans will likely buy anything the studio releases, Elden Ring reached a much wider audience due to its popularity and cultural impact. Considering this, it would be surprising if FromSoftware didn’t eventually create another single-player Elden Ring game.

Elden Ring’s backstory feels richer and more detailed than in other FromSoftware games, likely due to George R.R. Martin’s involvement in creating it. The game features many important characters and gods who have shaped the world, all while still holding onto a sense of mystery. Although fresh ideas are always welcome, considering FromSoftware’s history of innovation, Elden Ring’s world still offers plenty of exciting possibilities for future stories and exploration.

As a huge fan, one thing I absolutely love about Elden Ring is how those massive trees just fill the whole sky – it’s breathtaking! The Erdtree is everywhere, and it feels like the perfect foundation for where they could take the world in a sequel. I always felt like Miquella’s story, and especially the Haligtree, got a little shortchanged in the original game. It definitely seemed like it was meant to be a bigger deal, and I’d love to see a sequel explore a rival tree and really build on that idea. It feels like there’s so much potential there!

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2026-04-06 05:02