The Real Reason You Shouldn't Buy Elden Ring Runes On eBay

"Elden Ring" is known for its unforgivingly difficult bosses, which have already apparently prompted some players to spend real money to level up. To that end, players have started selling Runes (the game's currency) on eBay and other secondhand seller sites, but they could face backlash due to the game's terms of service. 

On March 4, IGN reported that multiple listings for Runes were available on eBay. These listing typically ranged from bundles of 1 million to 20 million Runes each. For example, one listing for 2 million Runes might cost about $15. Many of these listings matched each other's prices, along with similarly free shipping and instructions on how to claim the Runes.  

Of course, Runes don't come in the mail. Sellers need to transfer them to customers through online means. Also, customers need the multiplayer item Tarnished Furled Finger for the Rune transfer to work. Note that console players also still need a subscription to their respective online service to connect with sellers.

Enterprising "Elden Ring" Rune farmers stand to make some serious extra change through this kind of trade. However, players have been warned about the consequences of "cheating" their way through the Lands Between.

Other than it being something of a moral dilemma (and a shortcut in a game built around challenge), buying Runes from other players is apparently against the rules. The "Elden Ring" terms of service specifically state that "No Player shall be entitled to [...] sell to or buy from another [...] any of his/her rights held as a Player, and items, characters and saved data within the game related to the Software which are obtained in the Services (including so-called 'real money trading')."

Breaking the rules entitles Bandai Namco to issue warnings to players about their conduct, delete their data, suspend them from the game, or even ban them entirely, all depending on the severity of the transgression. It's unclear how Bandai Namco plans to respond, but the company might already be taking action, considering some of the listings have already gone offline. Some eBay sellers have deactivated their posts for Rune sales. There are noticeably fewer listings than there were during the week following the game's release.

Those thinking of cashing in on Runes (or paying out for them) might want to think twice, especially if they want to avoid penalties from the game's publisher. Many players believe that buying Runes isn't worth it anyway, considering there are many other ways to farm Runes in-game.