Dataminer Lance McDonald has discovered a previously unseen map file from the video game Elden Ring, which details a cutscene depicting the character Miquella planting the Haligtree.
The discovery also includes unused dialogue believed to be associated with this content, offering significant insights into the game's development process.
The Discovery: Miquella and the Haligtree Unveiled
McDonald's findings include a deleted cutscene that vividly shows Miquella nurturing the Haligtree. The associated map file provides crucial information on how this cutscene was originally intended to be played during earlier development and testing phases of the game. The cutscene itself was also presented as a core part of the discovery.
Visualizing Established Lore
This newly revealed content seamlessly aligns with existing in-game lore. Flavor text from the Haligtree Knight Armour already references Miquella using his blood to nurture the Haligtree, noting its ultimate failure to become an Erdtree. McDonald's discovery now provides a compelling visual representation of this established background.
Unearthing Lost Dialogue
Accompanying the cutscene discovery are a number of unused lines of spoken dialogue. McDonald has shared these voice lines, presenting them in what he believes to be their correct sequence. However, he noted that without an intermediate file to directly link them to the cutscene, confirming the precise playback order remains challenging.
Glimpse into Development
The very existence of this scrapped content offers a clear indication of changes in Elden Ring's narrative and presentation during its development by FromSoftware. Ultimately, these creative decisions resulted in the scene's removal from the final version of the game.