Miquella’s Forgotten Cutscene: A New Direction for Elden Ring
FromSoftware’s dark fantasy worlds are known for their haunted grandeur and crumbling civilizations, but the cut scene recently discovered in pre-release Elden Ring material hints at something more. Imagine a ring of loyal followers kneeling before a radiant golden rune, while a gold-dripping tree stands solemn in the background—the Haligtree, planted by Miquella himself. This moment is anything but incidental in the broader tapestry of the Lands Between. Instead, it could be the very seed from which a bold sequel might grow, one keenly aware of the franchise’s legacy yet willing to challenge its most enduring themes.
The Haligtree: Rival to the Golden Order
Within Elden Ring, the Erdtree dominates more than just the skyline—it is the heart of faith, society, and power. Its golden blessing shapes every element of life under the Golden Order. By contrast, Miquella’s Haligtree is a symbol of ambition and alternative futures. Designed to rival the Erdtree and nourish a more inclusive society, the Haligtree’s story runs in parallel to the grand myths of collapse and decay seen in prior FromSoftware titles. Even in failure—abandoned by Miquella and corrupted by Malenia’s Scarlet Rot—the Haligtree hints at the possibility for resistance and renewal.
Despite being an optional destination in the game, its roots run deep. The various endings of Elden Ring prove that a new age in the Lands Between does not require a divine tree, but the Haligtree’s mere existence—and the running network of Greattree roots beneath the land—shows the enduring influence of these holy symbols. With so much of Miquella’s arc left unfinished even after the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, there’s a sense that the Haligtree’s tale is far from over and is prime material for a new era.
A Sequel Framed by Rival Trees
Traditionally, FromSoftware stories are set at the dusky end of empires, but the discovery of this deleted scene points to a fresher canvas. Rather than yet another saga of collapse, an Elden Ring sequel could focus on the rebuilding phase. Imagine rival factions each vying to have their holy tree—inspired by either the Erdtree, Haligtree, or even the sinister Scadutree—ascend as the new axis of power in the Lands Between. Such a premise would dramatically expand the potential for meaningful roleplaying and factional storytelling, reminiscent of the complex power struggles in classic medieval epics and dark fantasy anime.
The creative opportunities are endless: What if new Erdtrees and Haligtrees rise, twisted by fresh ambitions and ideologies? How might a society attempt to restore a Golden Order with Queen Marika’s shadow looming as ancient myth rather than divine presence? And could the remnants of the Haligtree ever shake off the curse of the Scarlet Rot, or will they simply embrace its dark legacy? With the landscape itself teeming with metaphysical roots and unfinished stories, the Lands Between remain fertile territory for both returning and new players.
Why Elden Ring’s World Still Has Untold Stories
While FromSoftware has recently experimented with multiplayer ventures, Elden Ring continues to set the gold standard for narrative-driven action RPGs. Its lore, meticulously detailed in collaboration with George R.R. Martin, overflows with memorable deities and lost dynasties. Yet, for all its density, the world of Elden Ring feels more like a prologue: lands haunted by gods, storylines cut short, ambitions thwarted by tragedy.
In this context, a sequel centered on the still-competing holy trees is more than fan service. It’s a way to unlock the dormant potential of icons like the Haligtree—a narrative shift away from inevitable ruin towards uncertain, perhaps even hopeful rebirth. A world where the sky is once again pierced by titanic trees, each vying for supremacy, would not only pay tribute to the imagery that made Elden Ring iconic but allow the series to branch into stories yet unimagined.
The Path Forward
Whether Miquella is ultimately remembered for his failed utopia or becomes the progenitor of a renewed order, his legacy—embodied by the Haligtree—remains one of the most intriguing unanswered questions in Elden Ring’s lore. The deleted cutscene is more than a narrative curiosity; it could well represent the foundation for the next unforgettable chapter in the Lands Between.
