Summary
- Elden Ring Nightreign and The Duskbloods are experimental multiplayer games diverging from FromSoftware's usual single-player focus.
- FromSoftware will still actively develop single-player games despite recent multiplayer projects, according to Miyazaki.
- The next single-player FromSoftware game may be a standalone title, potentially building on mechanics from Sekiro or another past game.
The next two titles set to release from legendary studio FromSoftware have already been confirmed to be Elden Ring Nightreign and The 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 as Elden Ring or Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice would be a return to form, but the recent multiplayer focus gives the impression that the studio may have shifted gears permanently.
Elden Ring Nightreign is a standalone co-op Roguelike game that reuses assets from Elden Ring and 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 Duskbloods is an eight-player PvPvE multiplayer Soulslike. Unlike Nightreign, 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 Duskbloods is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.
Elden Ring Nightreign Reveals New Details About Its Story and Lore
New details emerge regarding Elden Ring Nightreign, with game director Juna Ishizaki informing players what they can expect from it this summer.
FromSoftware’s Multiplayer Focus is Only Temporary
Both Elden Ring Nightreign and The Duskbloods are 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 the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC only 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 for The 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 than Elden Ring. During an interview following the release of Armored Core 6: Fire of Rubicon, Miyazaki stated that Elden Ring is “the limit” of what FromSoftware can produce in 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 with Elden Ring Nightreign director 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 for FromSoftware’s next single-player title is a Sekiro-style, one-off adventure that has no ties to the Dark Souls or Elden Ring universe. Considering FromSoftware’s aversion to sequels for anything other than Dark Souls, it’s unlikely to be a direct sequel to Sekiro. However, something that builds on the framework of the existing parrying-focused playstyle of Sekiro could 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, the only realistic options are either Dark Souls 4 or Sekiro 2. Due to their nature, these games would be smaller in scale than an Elden 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 like Bloodborne 2. The only scenario where a Bloodborne sequel 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.
- Date Founded
- November 1, 1986
- Headquarters
- Tokyo, Japan
- CEO
- Hidetaka Miyazaki
- Parent Company
- Kadokawa
- Known For
- King's Field, Dark Souls, Armored Core
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.
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