British-Canadian Streamer Demonstrates EEG-Controlled Elden Ring Gameplay
Perrikaryal, a British-Canadian Twitch streamer, tried a hardcore run of Elden Ring using an electroencephalography (EEG) device instead of a traditional gamepad. The EEG interface translates brain signals into commands for the on-screen avatar, a concept that captured attention on social media after a post on a Karjal Twitter account.
Karjal first drew public notice in early 2023 by showcasing that Elden Ring could theoretically be played through EEG input. The journey from idea to execution proved more intricate than anticipated: it demanded substantial training, careful setup of the EEG hardware, and a lot of trial and error to interpret brain activity reliably for game actions.
During the attempt, the player gradually learned that complete brain-only control was not yet fully achievable. Movement, a fundamental action in the game, still required the traditional controller. Nonetheless, the EEG setup enabled other in-game actions—attacks and the activation of healing items could be triggered by specific brain signals, illustrating a partial, rather than total, brain-based control.
In a message shared with followers, Perrikaryal stated that the Elden Ring run was completed with all in-game activities except movement performed through mind signals. The post also teased a future project, inviting supporters to stay tuned for what comes next.
The Perrikaryal Twitch channel currently hosts a growing audience, with tens of thousands of subscribers and a thriving community of viewers who follow experimental gaming experiments and technology-driven play styles. In parallel, Karjal had built a following in the hundreds of thousands before this latest endeavor, underscoring the cross-pollination between streaming, experimental gameplay, and new input technologies.
Industry coverage at TIME magazine highlighted the broader landscape of innovation in video games, referencing influential figures such as Hidetaka Miyazaki, the creator behind FromSoftware’s acclaimed titles including Dark Souls and Elden Ring, in discussions about the year’s most impactful individuals. This context helps frame Perrikaryal and Karjal’s EEG experiments as part of a wider push toward novel interfaces and multimodal control in modern gaming. (TIME Magazine)