FromSoftware’s Hidetaka Miyazaki considers well-received Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

Now, the studio is gearing up for the release of Elden Ring Nightreign. The standalone project is set in the Elden Ring universe, but takes on a different approach, both in of story and gameplay. In the game, players will be able to tackle an adventure solo or in parties of three, enduring three in-game day cycles, each of which ends with a boss fight. At the end of each cycle, they face the final boss in the activity. There will be a lot of changes in Elden Ring Nightreign, especially when it comes to the classic soulslike formula.

FromSoftware's Hidetaka Miyazaki Considers Dark Souls 2 A "Great Project"

The Developer Mentions How The Game Established Connections For Future Titles

Looking back on the studio’s history, FromSoftware’s president, Hidetaka Miyazaki, talked about what led to Elden Ring in the first place. During an interview with IGN’s Matt Kim, the Japanese developer took some time to talk about Dark Souls 2, which is considered to be one of the studio’s most controversial titles. Directed by Tomohiro Shibuya and Yui Tanimura, and supervised by Miyazaki, the project was critically acclaimed, but also met with a lot of criticism directed toward its enhanced difficulty and changes to combat.

“In regards to Dark Souls 2, I actually personally think this was a really great project for us, and I think without it, we wouldn’t have had a lot of the connections and a lot of the ideas that went forward and carried the rest of the series,” explains Miyazaki. Despite how Dark Souls 2 is seen when compared to other soulslike titles developed by FromSoftware, it is still well-received by most Souls fans, who often praise its punitive difficulty and design choices.

As stated by IGN, much like Elden Ring, Dark Souls 2 also strays away from the traditional linear progression of the franchise and offers a more open experience to its players. During the interview, Miyazaki states that he regrets taking on the role of a supervisor during Dark Souls 2, given his appreciation for the role of director: “I think a supervisor role for me is just something I’m not used to and just is maybe not quite a good fit.”

Dark Souls 2 Laid The Foundation For Elden Ring & Nightreign

The Game’s Unique Creative Design Choices Opened Up Avenues For FromSoftware

Aside from Miyazaki’s personal appreciation for the title, Dark Souls 2 also plays a pivotal role in how FromSoftware evolved since then, ultimately leading to the creation of Elden Ring. According to him, “we were able to have that different [director] impetus and have those different ideas and make those different connections that we otherwise might not have had.” Given some of the similarities between the two titles, it seems like FromSoftware expanded Dark Souls 2’s ideas to bring Elden Ring to life.

There’s really no way of telling how or if the series would have continued the way it did without Dark Souls 2.

While Miyazaki still enjoys taking on the role of director for most of FromSoftware’s titles, stepping back from Dark Souls 2 has also made him feel comfortable about allowing the studio to tackle other projects without him. To IGN, he mentions that “it’s very likely that we’ll see new directors going forward.” Since the interview, that has proven to be true. Elden Ring Nightreign, while not a traditional soulslike game, is not being directed by Miyazaki. Instead, the title is helmed by Junya Ishizaki.

Ishizaki has worked as a battle director on Elden Ring, a lead game designer on Dark Souls 3, a game designer for Bloodborne, and more.

“If we do that, I’d like to step away from that supervisory role and give them full direction and full control over those projects. I think really this is the best way and the easiest way for them to flourish within that environment and with those new projects,” explains Miyazaki on his perception of stepping away from both direction and supervising roles. That is not to say, however, that he will step away entirely from his role as a game director at FromSoftware. The Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive title, The Duskbloods, will be directed by Miyazaki.

The PvPvE game will take on a brand-new approach to the soulslike formula, something that Miyazaki has proven himself eager to do. The Duskbloods isn’t a Bloodborne sequel, despite its similarities, though it does seem like an allusion to the 2015 PlayStation 4 exclusive. While the game is its own self, based on Miyazaki’s statements, it seems like where FromSoftware is now and where it will go after Nightreign and The Duskbloods is a direct result of the different creative inputs made possible by the release of Dark Souls 2, as controversial as it may be among some fans.

Source: IGN