Over the years, FromSoftware games have evolved into some of the most well-designed (and punishing) experiences in video game history. Hidetaka Miyazaki has been the talented mind behind these games, and over the span of different generations, they have learned from one another and improved accordingly.
In an interview with Kotaku all the way back in 2016, Miyazaki shared his thoughts on his legacy, the evolution of Dark Souls, and much more. Looking back in time, it feels like Elden Ring is indeed the culmination of all his learnings as an artist, developer, writer, and much more.
Hidetaka Miyazaki Was Never Worried About His Legacy, to Begin With
In the interview, Miyazaki was asked quite a few questions about the Souls games as a promising franchise and how he goes about finding inspiration for the same. Between the recollection of everything that appeals to him and his faith in giving players the ideal experience, there’s one thing that spoke about him above anything else.
When asked about what kind of legacy Hidetaka Miyazaki wishes to leave behind, he had this to say:
To be honest, I’m really not interested on how I’m viewed as. The only thing I’m interested in is to keep creating something special. Whether that something is synonymous to me or not is really none of my concern.
It sounds humbling, as the creative genius also hinted at the future of the franchise and the potential ideation of Elden Ring at some point:
But, I can’t deny the fact that the Souls series is something special to me, so I am happy to know that people have that sort of image of me. Even if that image stays with me, I have no intention of ending in a way where I couldn’t create a game that surpasses the Souls series. That would be pretty sad, wouldn’t it?
Clearly, Dark Souls wasn’t the end of the road for Miyazaki, as we’ve seen FromSoftware test its capabilities time and time again.
From Dark Souls to Elden Ring, His Legacy Stays Ever-so-Strong
Elden Ring’s popularity has surged over the years, and the hype for its upcoming DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, marks an important time in FromSoftware’s journey. The open-world experience has served a huge deal for both newcomers and fans of the Soulslike games.
The evolution of Dark Souls by default nurtured the concept of a new game that would take its best parts and turn them into something more. And that’s exactly what Elden Ring gets right.
Moreover, it’s almost like an ever-evolving journey that will always thrive, even after the developers stop working on it. Simply because the community is loyal to the game and everything it stands for. Now that’s an indication of one’s legacy.
What are your thoughts on Hidetaka Miyazaki’s works over the years? Let us know in the comments below.
