Hidetaka Miyazaki on His Career’s Most Controversial FromSoft Game: “I’m not in a position to say what kind of decision the company made at the time…”

Hidetaka Miyazaki has revealed his thoughts in an interview on someone else stepping in to direct Dark Souls 2.

Hidetaka Miyazaki on His Career’s Most Controversial FromSoft Game: “I’m not in a position to say what kind of decision the company made at the time…”

SUMMARY

  • Hidetaka Miyazaki has a track record of phenomenal releases, with the only hiccup being Dark Souls 2, where he acted only as a supervisor.
  • He has revealed in an interview what he thinks about somebody else directing the title instead of him.
  • He disclosed how he thinks it was time for someone else to have the opportunity to showcase their talents, and FromSoft can grow from it too.
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Hidetaka Miyazaki is without a doubt one of the most renowned directors in the gaming industry. He has consistently delivered to fans the best Dark Fantasy titles over the last few years, and there has been only one single hiccup in his whole career.

The release of Dark Souls II has always been considered one of the most controversial moves by FromSoft. This title was unfortunately not directed by Miyazaki as he instead chose to supervise the production, prompting another member of the studio to step in and assume the role in his place.

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Cover for Hidetaka Miyazaki's Dark Souls 2 Scholar Of The First Sin
Dark Souls II is the only game Miyazaki did not direct in the series

Hidetaka Miyazaki Reveals His Thoughts On Dark Souls II Being Directed By Someone Else

In an interview via 4gamer, Hidetaka Miyazaki was asked why the decision to remove him from the lead development role was taken. The production should have naturally been treaded more carefully as the success of Dark Souls II was the key to determining the success of the franchise as a whole. He answered by saying-

” I understand what you’re saying. I’m not in a position to say what kind of decision the company made at the time, but my personal thought on that matter was that the Dark Souls II project could be a huge chance for even someone other than myself. I had already received plenty of chances, and if someone else in the company could take that same chance and make good on it, then From Software could grow as an organization.

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Miyazaki shared his thoughts on how he saw the development of this particular title as the perfect opportunity to give someone else a chance to showcase their talent. This would help not only the chosen director but also FromSoft as a company in the long run as it continues to grow.

The promotional cover for Dark Souls II
The director revealed he wanted to give someone else a chance to direct the game

This is also not the first instance where Miyazaki has showcased his humble nature. Previously, he has shown optimism towards other studios taking mechanics from his games, seeing it as an opportunity to gain a fresh perspective. Another example of the same would be how he has refused to take full credit for the studio’s latest release, Elden Ring.

Hidetaka Miyazaki Refuses To Take The Full Credit For FromSoft’s Latest Release

Elden Ring is a game that has sold millions of copies ever since its release, and is sure to sell even more with its upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree DLC lined up. Miyazaki in an interview has revealed how his opinion is not absolute when it comes to deciding elements of the storyline, ultimately refusing to take full credit for the phenomenal success of the game.

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A still of The Lands Between from FromSoft's Elden Ring
Hidetaka Miyazaki has refused to take full credit for the success of Elden Ring

A perfect example of seeing the director’s opinion not being followed to the tooth is how he once was willing to save a character from their unfortunate end in Bloodborne. The idea was unfortunately rejected by the studio, failing Miyazaki’s plan to alter the storyline.

Aaditya Chugh

Written by Aaditya Chugh

Articles Published: 362

Aaditya Chugh is a Gaming Content Writer at FandomWire. With a passion for everything gaming, he's the one you turn to for the latest insights and reviews straight from the industry. Whether he's diving into timeless classics like the first ever Doom or staying up-to-date with the newest releases like Helldivers 2 and Stellar Blade, he provides whatever you might need to stay in the loop.