Creating their perfect game is a dream for many game developers, but even the most brilliant minds in the industry have their limits. Hidetaka Miyazaki, the mastermind behind Elden Ring and other FromSoftware classics, recently shared his thoughts on this topic.
Miyazaki, credited with creating the soulslike genre, has always strived for perfection. His latest game, Elden Ring, is a perfect example of his dedication and unmatched creative vision. However, even with the game’s massive success, Miyazaki feels it’s not quite his ideal, perfect game.
The Perfect Game for Elden Ring’s Hidetaka Miyazaki
In a recent interview with PC Gamer, Miyazaki admitted that his ideal fantasy RPG is still a work in progress and might never be fully realized. Despite his remarkable achievements, there’s a crucial element he believes he can never achieve. He shared:
It’s hard to say without giving spoilers for my next idea or our next games. But I think one thing that’s not necessarily missing, but makes it difficult to achieve my ideal, is that when I play it, I know everything’s going to happen. I already know everything that’s going on. So in terms of enjoying the game from a player’s perspective, I’d love to not know that, and for somebody else to make my ideal fantasy game, please, if possible. Then I can enjoy it just as a player.
This revelation might surprise fans who see Elden Ring as a near-perfect game and one of the greatest of all time. Miyazaki explains that the process of creating a game is full of compromises. Every decision, from gameplay mechanics to story elements, involves trade-offs.
For Miyazaki, the perfect game is one where everything aligns flawlessly, but achieving that balance is incredibly tough. He acknowledges that there will always be aspects that fall short of his ideal vision.
Even the Gaming Legends Face These Challenges
Interestingly, Miyazaki also touched on a deeper issue, the creator’s perspective. As the person behind the game, he knows every detail, every secret, and every flaw. This prevents him from experiencing the game as a player would. He wishes he could forget everything he knows about his games, just to enjoy them like any other fan.
It’s easy to see where he’s coming from. Directing these games takes away from experiencing it for yourself, especially when it’s something as amazing as Elden Ring, or even previous titles like Sekiro, Bloodborne, or Dark Souls III, which were filled with awe and wonder the first time you’d step into their worlds.
Miyazaki is not alone in this struggle. He points out that other gaming legends, like Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear Solid series) and Todd Howard (The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series), might face similar challenges. These developers have created some of the most iconic games in history, yet even they can’t truly explore it from the lens of a normal player.
They can play other games and appreciate them, but their own work will always be tainted by the process of creation, and knowing everything that goes on behind the scenes when creating them.
What do you think of Miyazaki’s unmatched desire to create his ideal game? Let us know in the comments.
