The next two years could be potentially transformative for FromSoftware. The famed Japanese studio achieved near-unprecedented status in the early 2010scourtesy ofDemon’s SoulsandDark Souls, action-RPG franchises that would go on to set the gold standard for the genre during that decade and beyond. It’s no secret that FromSoftware is considered perhaps the most influential developer of the modern age, and that influence could morph with the impending release ofElden Ring Nightreign, andThe Duskbloodsafter that.
What sets these two new IPs apart from FromSoftware’s previous work is their emphasis on cooperative and competitive multiplayer.Nightreignis a cooperative roguelike set in theElden Ringuniverse (which might actually be part of theDark Soulsuniverse, as it turns out), whileThe Duskbloodsis a PvPvE extravaganza exclusive to the soon-to-be-released Nintendo Switch 2. While previous FromSoftware games have featured multiplayer elements, none have been as structured around online play as these upcoming titles, and while this pivot is certainly enticing, not to mention indicative of FromSoftware’s oft-praised willingness to experiment, one can only hope that the studio will kick it back to basics in the coming years.
Why FromSoftware Should Swing Back to Traditional Soulslikes After Nightreign, Duskbloods
NightreignandThe Duskbloodscould combine toform a new pillar of FromSoftware titles, providing an alternate route in addition to the studio’s other major avenues: soulslikes and mech games. Assuming that the aforementioned multiplayer endeavors turn out well, this could be for the best, but it perhaps shouldn’t come at the cost of other single-player experiences.
Thankfully,FromSoftware has made it clear that it’s not abandoning single-playergames altogether—something that many longtime fans were worried about following the close reveals ofNightreignandDuskbloods. But with FromSoftware building its reputation on hard-hitting, linear single-player titles, to the point that the company effectively changed how such games were viewed by gaming audiences at large, this hiatus from the status quo hopefully won’t be too long. And this isn’t just because fans want moreDark SoulsandBloodborne; there’s a lot more ground FromSoftware can cover in the traditional soulslike space.
FromSoftware Can Still Do New Things with Single-Player Action Games
If2019’sSekiro: Shadows Die Twicetaught gaming audiences anything, it’s that FromSoftware is more than capable of reinventing its tried-and-true gameplay systems within a new framework. Looking at how much the studio reinvented itself withSekiro, and evenBloodborne, to a lesser extent, it’s clear that there’s more potential to be uncovered in its seminal soulslike, single-player-action workspace. In short, there’s still ground for FromSoftware to cover here, and hopefully, the company will strive to do just that.
There are countless possibilities in, say, a truescience fiction soulslike game from FromSoftware, or a magic-focused action-RPG like the long-rumoredSpellbound. The last “true” soulslike from the company—that is, the last linear, combat-focused game adhering to the tenets established byDark SoulsandDemon’s Souls—wasDark Souls 3in 2016. Incorporating the lessons learned from games likeElden Ring,Sekiro, andArmored Core 6, not to mention the myriad advancements in gaming tech in the last decade, could make for a truly special return to form, whenever FromSoftware feels ready for it.
One of the reasons that FromSoftware is such a special studio is its ostensible rejection of modern trends and audience demands; players weren’t necessarilyasking for a game likeDark Soulsback in 2011, which is precisely why it was such a breath of fresh air. That is to say, FromSoftware certainly shouldn’t revert to its “old” style of game design just because audiences are demanding it, but it shouldn’t have to: there are enough embers in the fire to keep this single-player design philosophy burning for years to come.
WHERE TO PLAY
Developed for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, The Duskbloods is a PvPvE title with online multiplayer at its core, where up to 8 players vie for supremacy among themselves and against challenging foes.
Play as the “Bloodsworn”; a group that has transcended human strength thanks to their special blood, and throw yourself into a violent fray for “First Blood” as the twilight of humanity approaches.
