Dark Souls 3 may be 8 years old, but the passionate (and patient) Soulsborne community has kept the game alive thanks to mods. They’re abuzz once again with anticipation for the upcoming demo of Archthrones, a huge new mod launching on March 15th, 2024.
This project transcends the boundaries of a typical mod, offering a complete reimagining of the title that draws inspiration from the genre’s foundational title, Demon’s Souls. A reimagined world, fresh lore, and new encounters are only the tip of the iceberg for Archthrones.
How Archthrones Revamps The Dark Souls 3 Experience
In development for 4 years, Archthrones promises a complete transformation of Dark Souls 3, reshaping the 2016 action-RPG into a thematic successor to the trailblazer of the genre, Demon’s Souls. The team behind the mod promises “an overhaul for level progression with new bosses, NPCs and a good deal of secrets,” on their X/Twitter page.
Firelink Shrine, the central haven in the base game, has been renamed the Nexus of Embers. This new sanctuary serves as the gateway to five meticulously crafted worlds, each echoing the interconnected level design that Demon’s Souls pioneered all the way back in 2009.
Archthrones Trailer Shows Breathtaking Content
The demo trailer offers a captivating preview of Archthrones‘ diverse environments. From snow-capped castles to fragile bridges spanning perilous chasms, the world promises breathtaking vistas alongside moments of claustrophobic tension.
The classic Dark Souls ‘dark, dank sewers’ makes a welcome cameo as well, ensuring that fans of the series’ hallmark atmosphere will not be left wanting. Notably absent, however, is any sign of the dreaded poison swamp – a detail that will likely be met with relief by players who still bear the scars of Blight Town.
There’s more than just visual refreshes on offer, though. The Archthrones development team has crafted a brand-new narrative set chronologically before the events of Dark Souls 3. A fresh cast of NPCs to encounter, formidable new bosses to fight, and a plethora of secrets to uncover, can all be expected.
If all of this got you excited, good news! The team behind Archthrones has confirmed a demo will be available from today, 15 March for PC players. For those yearning for even more FromSoftware content, Elden Ring’s much-awaited expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, is nearing its release on 21 June. This DLC will plunge players into the mysterious Land of Shadows.
With the imminent arrival of the Archthrones demo and the colossal Shadow of the Erdtree looming on the horizon, FromSoftware fans will undoubtedly be eating well over the next few months. If you’d like to support Archthrones and want to see more mods like it, you can support the team on their Patreon page.
