Hey fellow Tarnished! Just caught up on some recent news from the Lands Between, and wow, it's got me thinking. Our beloved Elden Ring, after the monumental Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, is officially considered the peak achievement for FromSoftware. Hidetaka Miyazaki himself, the mastermind behind the madness, has called the game "the limit" for their open-world Soulslike formula. It's a bittersweet feeling, right? On one hand, we have this absolute masterpiece that's consumed hundreds of hours of our lives. On the other, it means the studio is looking at a brand new horizon. Miyazaki-san mentioned they might scale back for future projects, letting some of the younger talent at the company take the lead with smaller, more focused games. Honestly, after such a massive success, that sounds like a genius move to keep things fresh and innovative. The future is wide open!

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So, if Elden Ring represents the ultimate evolution of their signature style, where could FromSoftware possibly go from here? The possibilities are honestly thrilling! Let's speculate on some potential new paths they could forge:

🔥 Potential New Directions for FromSoftware 🔥

  1. A Full-Blown Roguelike/Roguelite Adventure

    • Why it makes sense: The core Souls experience is all about perseverance, learning from failure, and incremental progress. Sound familiar? That's the heart and soul of a great roguelike! Imagine a game with the tight combat of Sekiro or the gothic horror of Bloodborne, but with procedurally generated dungeons, permadeath (or a clever twist on it), and crazy build variety each run. The potential for endless, brutal fun is huge!

  2. A Metroidvania Masterpiece

    • Why it makes sense: FromSoft are already the undisputed kings of intricate, interconnected world design. Think about the genius layout of Central Yharnam or the tangled depths of the Depths in Dark Souls. Translating that expertise into a classic 2D or 2.5D Metroidvania seems like a natural fit. They could create a labyrinthine world filled with hidden paths, ability-gated progression, and those "aha!" moments we all live for. It would be a love letter to exploration.

  3. A Return to a Tight, Linear Narrative

    • Why it makes sense: While the open world of Elden Ring was breathtaking, there's a special magic to a focused, linear experience. A game with a single, curated path could allow for:

      • A more direct and character-driven storyline.

      • Even more meticulously designed and challenging boss encounters.

      • A heightened sense of atmospheric dread and pacing.

    Sometimes, less is more, and a concentrated dose of FromSoftware storytelling could be incredibly powerful.

Of course, there's always the chance they stick with what they know best. But even within the Soulsborne sphere, there are unfinished symphonies...

💀 The Legacy Sequels We Still Dream About 💀

Let's be real, the community has been begging for follow-ups to two specific masterworks:

Game Why It Deserves a Sequel The Hopeful Sign
Bloodborne Its gothic Lovecraftian universe is arguably the most unique and rich setting they've ever created. The combat, the trick weapons, the lore—it's all begging for expansion. The massive success of Shadow of the Erdtree proves that developing premium DLC/content for existing worlds is a winning strategy. A Bloodborne follow-up, even if not a direct sequel, would break the internet.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice The posture-based combat system is a masterpiece of mechanical design. A sequel could explore new lands, introduce new prosthetic tools, and deepen the shinobi fantasy. It's a flawless combat system with room to grow. While Miyazaki has been hesitant about direct sequels, the fan demand for more Sekiro is deafening. The success of Elden Ring gives them the security to potentially revisit past triumphs.

The success of Shadow of the Erdtree shows that there's a massive appetite for more content in these beloved worlds. Maybe the next step isn't always a brand new IP, but a glorious return to a past one with fresh eyes.

Ultimately, declaring Elden Ring the pinnacle and choosing to evolve is the mark of a truly visionary studio. They're not resting on their laurels. Instead of trying to make an even bigger open world (which sounds exhausting for everyone!), they're poised to innovate, experiment, and perhaps dominate an entirely new genre. Whether it's a roguelike, a Metroidvania, a linear narrative gem, or a triumphant return to Yharnam, the future of FromSoftware is, as always, shrouded in intriguing mystery. And I, for one, can't wait to die trying to figure it out. What direction are you hoping they take? Let me know in the comments! ✨