As the gaming world still basks in the afterglow of the monumental Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, the visionary behind it all, Hidetaka Miyazaki, has dropped some fascinating thoughts about the future. It's 2026, and while the Lands Between continue to captivate millions, Miyazaki's mind is already wandering towards an elusive personal horizon: his ultimate fantasy RPG. In a recent reflection, he revealed a poignant twist—his ideal game is one he doesn't want to make himself.
The Tabletop Roots of a Modern Masterpiece
Miyazaki's creative DNA is deeply entwined with the analog world of tabletop RPGs and game books. He often cites these experiences as the core inspiration for Elden Ring's vast, mysterious world. The feeling of uncovering a map piece by piece, that sense of uncharted adventure, was something he desperately wanted to translate into a video game. "For me, the excitement comes from seeing that world map and piecing it together," he shared. Developing the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC was, in part, another attempt to "capture the excitement of those old tabletop games." The expansion's Land of Shadow, with its undiscovered expanses and deep lore dumps, was his latest love letter to that feeling. While Elden Ring came "pretty close" to his vision, it wasn't the final destination.
The Developer's Curse: Knowing Too Much
Here's the catch that every creator faces, but few articulate so clearly. Miyazaki pinpointed the fundamental barrier to achieving his personal gaming nirvana: foreknowledge. 🎮 When you're the architect, you know every secret, every trap, every boss's move set. The magic of discovery is gone before you even press start.
"One thing that's not necessarily missing, but makes it difficult to achieve my ideal, is that when I play it, I know everything's going to happen. I already know everything that's going on."
This simple, profound statement reveals the bittersweet reality for a game director. The very act of creation robs you of the pure player experience. So, what's the solution?
The Dream: To Be a Player, Not a Prophet
Miyazaki's ideal scenario is surprisingly humble. He doesn't yearn for more control or a bigger budget. Instead, he wishes to hand the reins to someone else.
"So in terms of enjoying the game from a player's perspective, I'd love to not know that, and for somebody else to make my ideal fantasy game, please, if possible. Then I can enjoy it just as a player."
Imagine that! The master of the soulslike genre, politely requesting that another studio or director bring his dream game to life, just so he can be surprised by it. He even joked about the alternative: "The 'dream' outcome would be to self-induce amnesia and enjoy the game I created myself. But I might get really angry and break the controller... Maybe it's not a good idea." 😂
What Could This Ideal Fantasy Game Be?
While Miyazaki remained tight-lipped about specifics for FromSoftware's "next games" or his "next idea," we can extrapolate from his philosophy:
| Core Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Unguided Exploration | A world map that feels genuinely discovered, not just revealed. The joy of piecing together the geography yourself. |
| Tabletop Spirit | The emergent storytelling and "you are there" feeling of a great pen-and-paper RPG campaign. |
| Unknowable Secrets | Layers of mystery so deep that even the creator would be shocked finding them. |
| Atmospheric Combat | Engaging systems that challenge but perhaps, as seen in Shadow of the Erdtree's blessing system, offer ways to make the journey less grueling without sacrificing depth. |
Looking Beyond the Erdtree
It's been a couple of years since Shadow of the Erdtree concluded Elden Ring's saga, and the gaming landscape is hungry for what's next. Miyazaki's comments aren't about dissatisfaction; they're about a creator's eternal hope for pure wonder. He built worlds that have defined a generation of gaming, yet he still chases the feeling he had as a player exploring a new tabletop module.
This revelation adds a new layer to how we view FromSoftware's future. Could the next project be Miyazaki stepping back into a purely conceptual role? Or is this a hint that his ideal game is so personal, it might never exist outside his imagination? One thing is clear: the man who taught us to embrace the struggle and find beauty in obscured lore is, at heart, still a player yearning for his own sense of discovery.
In the end, Miyazaki's ultimate fantasy isn't just a game—it's an experience of genuine surprise, a treasure map where X marks a spot even the cartographer has never seen. And for someone who has given us so many unforgettable worlds, that might be the most fitting quest of all. 🤔✨