Summary
The next two titles set to release from legendary studio FromSoftware have already been confirmed to beElden Ring NightreignandThe Duskbloods. Both are experimental multiplayer games that don’t exactly adhere to the tried and true Soulslike formula the studio is famous for, though for different reasons. With the near future set in stone, fans are speculating what FromSoftware’s next major project will entail. A single-player, traditional Soulslike in the same vein asElden RingorSekiro: Shadows Die Twicewould be a return to form, but the recent multiplayer focus gives the impression that the studio may have shifted gears permanently.
Elden Ring Nightreignis a standalone co-op Roguelike game that reuses assets fromElden Ringand previous FromSoftware games. Players choose one of eight pre-made characters to explore a map filled with enemies in a 3-day cycle, alongside two co-op partners. After the end of each “match,” the game resets in a typical Roguelike format. On the other hand,The Duskbloodsis an eight-player PvPvE multiplayer Soulslike. UnlikeNightreign, however, it offers no co-op options, exploring the other end of the multiplayer spectrum. Players assume the roles of Bloodsworm, vampire-like characters from different timelines and backgrounds who compete for something called “First Blood.”The Duskbloodsis a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.
FromSoftware’s Multiplayer Focus is Only Temporary
BothElden Ring NightreignandThe Duskbloodsare multiplayer-focused games, a departure from what FromSoftware is known for: challenging single-player action role-playing games. Of course, previous titles from the studio have included multiplayer in some capacity, but it has never been the core focus the way it is for these two new games.Elden Ring, the last true-blue Soulslike, has been out for quite some time now, and theShadow of the Erdtree DLConly served to whet the appetite, but fans may be ready for something new.
Miyazaki Has Promised to “Actively Develop Single-Player Games”
Luckily for single-player FromSoftware game fans, in a Nintendo blog post following the announcement forThe Duskbloods,Hidetaka Miyazaki reassured fans that multiplayer games are the exception for FromSoftware, not the rule. “As previously mentioned, this (The Duskbloods) is an online multiplayer title at its core, but this doesn’t mean that we as a company have decided to shift to a more multiplayer-focused direction with titles going forward…. we still intend to actively develop single-player-focused games such as this that embrace our more traditional style.”
“(The Duskbloods) is an online multiplayer title at its core, but this doesn’t mean that we as a company have decided to shift to a more multiplayer-focused direction with titles going forward.”
FromSoftware will continue to play to its strengths in the future, making single-player Soulslikes with challenging combat and lore-rich worlds. Of course, this can take many forms, as FromSoftware’s catalog of games is as varied as it is successful. What can be confirmed, however, is that Miyazaki’s next single-player title will not be bigger in scope thanElden Ring. During an interview following the release ofArmored Core 6: Fire of Rubicon, Miyazaki stated thatElden Ringis “the limit” of what FromSoftware can producein terms of scale. For the near future, multiple smaller Soulslikes would not only be easier to make but also give younger talent in the company a chance to come into their own, as has been the case withElden Ring Nightreigndirector Juna Ishizaki.
FromSoftware’s Next Single-Player Game Will Likely be a Standalone Title
Continuing in the spirit of experimentation, one of the likeliest options forFromSoftware’s next single-player title is aSekiro-style, one-off adventurethat has no ties to theDark SoulsorElden Ringuniverse. Considering FromSoftware’s aversion to sequels for anything other thanDark Souls, it’s unlikely to be a direct sequel toSekiro. However, something that builds on the framework of the existing parrying-focused playstyle ofSekirocould very well happen. Miyazaki has a long history of taking existing concepts from his own games and iterating upon them in new ones until the mechanics are polished to a sheen.
If the stars somehow align, and FromSoftware decides to go the sequel route, theonly realistic options are eitherDark Souls 4orSekiro 2. Due to their nature, these games would be smaller in scale than anElden Ring 2, which satisfies the stance the studio has taken in recent years, and do not have the problem of being locked behind layers of red tape likeBloodborne 2. The only scenario where aBloodbornesequel could manifest is if Sony commissions it to boost PlayStation 6 sales, but whether FromSoftware would agree to step back into that quagmire is up for debate.
FromSoftware
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.
