So, I was just catching up on some news, and guess what? Hidetaka Miyazaki, the legendary mind behind so many of our favorite challenging worlds, has straight-up confirmed there are no plans for an Elden Ring 2. I know, I know... it feels a bit like hearing there won't be a Bloodborne sequel all over again, doesn't it? But here's the thing—should we really be disappointed? Miyazaki's comments to Game Watch tell a much more exciting story. It means FromSoftware isn't just resting on its laurels, churning out sequels to its biggest hits. They're committed to the unknown, to creating novel experiences. Honestly, if they had just stuck to making Dark Souls sequels, would we ever have gotten the masterpiece that is Elden Ring? Probably not. So, while the future might be shrouded in mystery, that's exactly what makes it so thrilling.

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Now, let's dive into what Miyazaki did say. After dashing those sequel hopes, he revealed that the studio has "multiple projects" currently in development. Even more intriguingly, he described some of them as "various variations of projects." What in the Lands Between does that mean? 🤔 It's deliciously vague, but it strongly suggests FromSoftware is exploring several new directions at once. They're not putting all their runes in one chest. This aligns perfectly with their history of developing games concurrently—remember, they were working on the quiet VR horror game Déraciné at the same time as the intense, action-packed Sekiro. The potential range is staggering!

🧙 What Could These "Multiple Projects" Be?

Let's speculate a little, shall we? The rumor mill has been churning for a while about a potential magic-centric game from FromSoftware. Could this be one of the projects? It's certainly possible. But if that's one, what are the others? Here are a few ideas bouncing around the community:

  • A New Soulslike IP: This seems almost a given. Maybe not Elden Ring 2, but a new, sprawling open-world adventure with its own rich lore and twist on the combat we love. Imagine a world with the gothic horror vibe of Bloodborne or the precision deflection of Sekiro, but on an even larger scale.

  • Reviving a Dormant Franchise: Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon taught us a valuable lesson—never count an old FromSoftware IP out. Who expected a new Armored Core a decade after the last one? This precedent opens the door for so many possibilities. Could we see a return to Yharnam or Boletaria after all these years? Miyazaki's "variations" phrase could hint at sequels, spin-offs, or reimaginings of past worlds.

  • Something Completely Different: This is FromSoftware we're talking about. They love to surprise us. What about a narrative-driven adventure? A pure horror experience? The "variations" might be genre experiments we can't even imagine yet.

🛡️ The FromSoftware Philosophy: Innovation Over Iteration

It's worth pausing to appreciate the studio's core philosophy. They have a famous, almost infamous, aversion to direct sequels. Yes, it can be frustrating as fans when we love a world and want more of it (I'm looking at you, Bloodborne). But this forward-looking mindset is the engine of their relentless creativity. Their games are often spiritual successors, learning and evolving from what came before.

Think about it:

  • Demon's Souls → Dark Souls (A refinement and expansion of the formula)

  • Bloodborne → Sekiro (A focus on aggressive, rhythmic combat)

  • All of the above → Elden Ring (The ultimate open-world synthesis)

So, while there may never be an Elden Ring 2, the DNA of that game—its sense of scale, freedom, and discovery—will undoubtedly live on in whatever they create next. They iterate on ideas, not just on titles.

🔮 Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond

As we sit here in 2026, the landscape is ripe for FromSoftware's next move. The success of Elden Ring and Armored Core 6 has given them unprecedented resources and freedom. Miyazaki's comments suggest they're using that freedom not for safe bets, but for bold exploration.

What can we, as players, realistically expect in the coming years?

Project Type Likelihood Potential Impact
New Soulslike IP 🟢 Very High Will define the next generation of action RPGs.
Revival of Old IP 🟡 Medium Could please long-time fans and introduce classic series to new audiences.
Genre Experiment 🟡 Medium High risk, high reward. Could be their next cult classic.
Direct Sequel 🔴 Low Contradicts their stated ethos, but never say never!

In the end, Miyazaki's message is clear: the future is unwritten, and it's full of possibilities. The absence of Elden Ring 2 isn't an end—it's an invitation. An invitation to wonder, to speculate, and to ultimately be surprised by one of the most creative studios in the industry. As he said, only time will tell. But if their track record is anything to go by, the wait will be worth it. So, what kind of "variation" are you hoping for? A return to a nightmare, or a step into a brand new one? 🗡️