Legendary game developer Hidetaka Miyazaki recently spoke with Japanese news outlet Game Watch, confirming that there are no plans forElden Ring 2. Fans still waiting fora sequel toBloodborneorDemon’s Souls, sadly, know precisely what this means.
But just because there won’t be anElden Ring 2, doesn’t mean thatFromSoftwaredoesn’t have big plans for other exciting projects down the road. Indeed, Miyazaki’s comments about anElden Ringsequel, while perhaps disappointing, indicate that the studio is still committed to creating novel and innovative experiences rather than just building specific IP. After all,Elden Ringitself likely would never have happened ifFromSoftwarewere to have simply stuck to makingDark Soulssequels. Of course, this means that upcoming FromSoftware releases are more shrouded in mystery, as it’s difficult to imagine what the famed studio could do next. But that’s part of what makes the company’s future so exciting.
The Sky Is the Limit for FromSoftware Moving Forward
FromSoftware Will Continue to Work On New Projects
Afterdousing hopes for anElden Ringsequel, Miyazaki told Game Watch that FromSoftware has “multiple projects” currently in the works, with some of them being “various variations of projects.” Tantalizing ambiguity aside, these comments seem to indicate that FromSoftware is pushing ahead into several new arenas, not putting all of its eggs in one basket, so to speak.
There have been rumors of a magic-centric game from FromSoftware, so perhaps this could be encompassed in the “multiple projects” Miyazaki referenced. Assuming that’s the case, though, that still leaves room for at least one other in-development game, which may or may not be helmed by Miyazaki himself.FromSoftware tends to develop several games concurrently, with VR horror titleDéracinébeing worked on alongsideSekiro, for instance. Given the immense differences in tone and gameplay between those two titles, they may serve as a rough outline of what audiences can expect from FromSoftware in the future. That is, they can expect the unexpected, as FromSoftware certainly isn’t afraid of stepping outside its comfort zone.
FromSoftware Could Be Working On Sequels or Spin-Offs to Older Games
FromSoftware has an infamous aversion to sequels, ignoring beloved IP even in the face of rampant fan demand (see:Bloodborne). This can be frustrating, but keeping eyes on the horizon is what allows for the studio’s consistent innovation and creativity, especially since so many of its games are iterative of previous works. For instance,Demon’s SoulsandDark Soulsaren’t actually connected through narrative means, but the latter is clearly a spiritual successor to the former, learning from its strengths and weaknesses.
Maybe gaming audiences will see similar relationships with future FromSoftware games; there may never be anElden Ring 2, but there could be another sprawling open-world game, set in a completely different universe, adhering to certain tenets of soulslike gameplay. Maybe an open-world adventure withBloodborne-like orSekiro-like combatcould be in the cards.
Armored Core 6also set an interesting precedent for the studio. After 2013’sArmored Core: Verdict Day, most familiar with the franchise assumed that it had been forgotten, usurped by the much more popularDark Soulsand its inheritors. But then,a decade later cameArmored Core 6, proving that FromSoftware is open to revisiting older franchises under certain circumstances. So, even though it’s been over nine years sinceBloodbornewas released, and more than fifteen years sinceDemon’s Souls, perhaps these long-forgotten titles will get sequels, spin-offs, or continuations of some other sort. This could be what Miyazaki meant by “variations of various projects” in his Game Watch interview. But, as always, only time will tell what it has in store.
From Software
Based in Japan, FromSoftware is a development company best known for the Souls series and Armored Core franchise. Other popular games from From Software include Elden Ring, Sekiro, Bloodborne, and the King’s Field series.
