Things I miss as an Elden Ring player on PS5

Alright, fellow Tarnished! Today, let’s talk about what PlayStation 5 players are missing out on in the Lands Between. While Elden Ring is an incredible experience on PS5, there are at least two PC-exclusive perks that might make even the most loyal console player a bit jealous.

From my point of view, one of the biggest advantages PC players have over their PS5 counterparts is the ability to manage save files. This might not sound exciting at first, but trust me, it’s a game-changer and its absence really annoys me as a PS5 player, because I miss it quite a lot.

On PC, players can back up, restore, and even edit their save files. This opens up a world of possibilities:

1. Experimentation: Want to try a risky build or decision without committing? PC players can back up their save, experiment and revert if things go south.
2. Build Variety: By saving different character builds at key points, PC players can jump between various playstyles without starting from scratch each time.
3. Sharing Builds: The PC community can share save files, allowing players to try out interesting builds or character setups created by others.
4. Recovering from Glitches: In the rare event of a game-breaking glitch, PC players have a better chance of recovering their progress.

Second up: mods! Elden Ring’s modding scene, while unofficial, has flourished with creative additions to enhance the game. Popular mods include the Seamless Co-op mod, allowing uninterrupted multiplayer, and Reforged, a comprehensive gameplay overhaul, while Randomizers shuffle game elements for new experiences. Some mods adjust difficulty, either increasing challenge or easing gameplay. New weapons and armor mods expand player options beyond the base game. Unfortunately, using mods, especially online, risks account bans. Nevertheless, the modding community continues to grow, constantly introducing innovative ways to experience the Lands Between.

Yes, there is more, but I can get over things like the use of custom controllers, faster load times or higher frame rates and I even understand, that you can’t easily bring mods to PS5 as it is a more or less closed system. Nevertheless, I assume save file management can be made available on PS5 and it would grant us so many new opportunities. Come on, you could have made a copy of your current character just before entering the DLC and once you had finished your journey through the Shadow Lands, simply restarted all over again and enjoyed the game one more time, without the grind to start from scratch or in an NG+ until you reach the DLC entry point (yeah, that was quite a long sentence).

At least give us something like a training feature. Once you have defeated a boss, you should get the chance to fight him over and over again in practice mode with your current build. It’s so sad that you have to redo all the grind, just for the chance to fight a boss again.

What do you think? Is save file management a feature you’d love to see on PS5 or do you prefer the more controlled, “as-intended” experience of console gaming?

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