Of all the titles produced by FromSoftware Games,Elden Ringcan be considered the largest in terms of scale. With theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC, the game has so many places to go and things to do that players can spend hundreds of hours and still not see everything. Given the amount of things it offers, it would be hard to believe that any titles being made could match what it has, let alone surpass it. This is why it is no surprise thatElden Ringis considered FromSoftware’s highest point in developing a Souslike, leading the developer to consider the direction of future games.
In an interview with the Guardian, FromSofware’s president, Hidetaka Miyazaki, shared his thoughts regardingElden Ring. He stated that the game is “the limit” and that going beyond it could lead to some problems. This has compelled the possibility of creating smaller projects headed by some of the younger talent in the company, allowing them to share their vision of the direction the company can go next. The decision to scale back after achieving critical and commercial success can be seen as a good call, as it allows for new opportunities for others to try and create new formulas for success.
Where FromSoftware Can Go after Hitting the Limit With Elden Ring
WithElden Ringconsidered one ofthe best Souslike with the most bosses, a compelling story, a huge open world, and then some, one can wonder where FromSoftware will go when directing future games. Seeing as how even the development company’s president stated that the game is the peak of what they can achieve in the open-world variation of the genre, perhaps it’s time to consider going in newer directions, like:
After the success ofElden Ring,the next FromSoftware game could be very excitingand full of new things that can bring intrigue. Doing something different is likely the way to achieve that, but what that something is going to be can only be speculated for now.
What FromSoftware Can Do if It Doesn’t Want to Stray Away From Soulslike Games
If FromSoftware chooses to stay with the genre that it made famous, then perhaps the company should focus on looking into what it can do for its previous titles, specificallyBloodborneandSekiro. Both games have seen huge success, often praised as some of the best Soulslike ever made. Although even now,it’s unlikely thatSekiroandBloodbornewill receive sequels, they have enough content and fan support to warrant them getting one. Considering the current situation, there is hope for both titles to receive a follow-up entry at some point, as the success ofElden Ring’sShadow of the ErdtreeDLC shows that developing more content outside of big games can benefit FromSoftware. Since the company has done everything it can with one of its games, there’s always a chance it does the same for the others.
WithElden Ring’s DLC being a massive success, FromSoftware making the title the limit of what they can do with the genre and going no further is likely the best decision. The company can now focus on new efforts, and with the right amount of time and planning, perhaps dominate another category of games or create a new one they can popularize.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
WHERE TO PLAY
Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only DLC expansion for FromSoftware’s groundbreaking Elden Ring. It takes players to a whole new region, the Land of Shadow, where a new story awaits the Tarnished.
