With the release of Shadow of the Erdtree came the inevitable question, “What’s the next Souls game after Elden Ring?” It might be a bit too early to be asking the developers this and also too early to speculate, but we do have some hints from the director of FromSoftware himself.
No, it’s not going to be an Elden Ring 2. It might not be anything like the game at all. The game is the biggest project FromSoftware has ever undertaken, and that may have prompted Hidetaka Miyazaki to relook at the studio’s way forward.
The Next Souls Game After Elden Ring May Be More Moderate in Size
Jumping into the Lands Between and now the Land of Shadow, it’s clear that FromSoftware has poured its heart and soul into this project. We can see influences of their previous titles in Elden Ring. However, the next game from the studio might not continue the massive open-world trend.
Previous interviews with Hidetaka Miyazaki have revealed that the director of FromSoftware may want to diversify his role at the company. He has stated that he would like to have other members of the team lead projects and take more of a backseat when it comes to game direction. Armored Core VI and Dark Souls 2 were two such projects, and he is quite happy with how they turned out.
Speaking with The Guardian, he commented on the size and scale of the latest release and how it was a “turning point” for the studio.
Where FromSoftware is right now, in terms of scale, I would say Elden Ring is really the limit. We’ve tapped every resource and talent that we have access to … scaling it even bigger, I’d have my concerns. Perhaps having multiple projects is the next stage, where some of the other younger talent can have the opportunity to manage and direct game design for a smaller project.
With the game being the studio’s biggest project and Shadow of the Erdtree pushing it even further, one can see why it’s a difficult benchmark to surpass. Transitioning to smaller projects may allow FromSoftware to experiment with new styles and stories.
FromSoftware Will Need to Manage Fan Expectations for Upcoming Titles
The release of Shadow of the Erdtree has again brought the spotlight back to the base game. While FromSoftware did have to release a patch to optimize the Land of Shadows Blessings, the reviews for the DLC, including our own, have cemented its spot as one of the best releases this year.
Outdoing the Elden Ring experience won’t be easy for the studio, which may be why Miyazaki has no plans to attempt such a feat. Having brought FromSoftware into the spotlight and created an entire genre, he may be thinking of taking a more supervisory role.
FromSoftware now has a blank canvas to work on, and we doubt we will hear anything from the studio shortly. But, with so much to explore in the Land of Shadows, we have enough and more to keep us busy.
What kind of game would you like to see next from FromSoftware? Let us know in the comments below!
