Summary
FromSoftware has been on a roll sinceDemon’s Soulsreleased back on the PS3, with many considering 2022’sElden Ringto be the culmination of the design philosophies the company has cultivated over the years. Despite the astonishing scale and polish ofElden Ring, FromSoftware might have a tough time iterating on it in a hypothetical sequel. Indeed, the developer may have an easier time building on the foundations laid by theDark Soulsfranchise.
Elden Ringmay be similar toDark Souls,Bloodborne, andSekiroin many key ways, but it is ultimately a game defined by its bold departures from tradition. Its sprawling map and deep build-crafting options helpElden Ringstand out among both Soulslike and open-world games in general, and the sheer scope and depth of its content means that it often keeps surprising players well after they pass the 100-hour mark. For many fans,Elden Ringis FromSoftware’s magnum opus: the perfect blend of polish, creativity, and lightning-in-a-bottle game design. With such massive shoes to fill, any sequel to the game will be fighting an uphill battle against sky-high expectations.
A New Dark Souls Could Be More Revolutionary than a New Elden Ring
FromSoftware Has Less Room to Grow with Elden Ring
Theimpact thatElden Ringhas had on gamingis sure to be felt for years to come, as many open-world action games will no doubt attempt to learn from what made it such a success. At the same time, all eyes are on FromSoftware to up the ante and release a game of equal or greater quality and scope. While the first goal seems somewhat realistic, it’s hard to imagine how FromSoftware could expand onElden Ring’s foundations.
Elden Ringhas its flaws, but a sequel to a game that is so ambitious is expected to do more than just fix the problems of its predecessor or expand on what is already there; anElden Ringsequel would likely be expected to recapture the magic of the original. The element of surprise and the subversion of expectations played major roles in the success ofElden Ring, as both a consumer product and a work of art, but these two elements are the hardest to replicate, especially in a direct sequel following the same general formula.
Dark Souls Could Return With a Blast
On the other hand, FromSoftware has theDark Soulsseries. The franchise has been dormant sinceDark Souls 3in 2016, and while there hasn’t been any official news about a fourth game,returning toDark Soulscould allow FromSoftware to create a satisfying and meaningful evolution.Dark Soulsenjoyed massive leaps in scale, gameplay, art design, and polish between its first and third entries, and this sort of step forward could happen again inDark Souls 4.
Elden Ringis sometimes considered the natural evolution of theDark Soulsformula, but there is still demand for a more linear and focused game in the series.
By leveraging FromSoftware’s advancements in game design (which is evident in games likeSekiro: Shadows Die TwiceandArmored Core 6, as well asElden Ring),a newDark Soulscould be significantly different from anything the developer has made before. A level-basedDark Soulsgame that folds inkey gameplay elements fromSekiro,Bloodborne, andElden Ring, while retaining the core staples of the series, would be both more unique and more feasible than a bigger, betterElden Ring. Plus, a newDark Soulswould be the first game in the series to launch on next-gen consoles, adding another layer to its potential.
Elden Ring
WHERE TO PLAY
ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
