It feels that FromSoftware has managed to be in the news constantly in the later part of 2024, withElden Ringseemingly always being a hot topic, even two years after its release. Its ground-breaking expansion,Shadow of the Erdtree, is largely responsible for this, smashing records previously held by legendary DLC before it, so much so that it is the first DLC to be nominated for Game of the Year at the Game Awards. With all ofElden Ring’s success, FromSoftware has been unable to stay quiet, although it might not be the news some players want.
News has come out that FromSoftware is already hard at work on several new projects, and Miyazaki has stated that there is great variation between them, likely meaning that not all titles will be Soulsborne games. Despite the success ofElden Ringand its DLC, none of these projects are a sequel to 2022’s Game of the Year. This comes across as a little strange considering how much time and effort FromSoftware went through to get the sole IP rights to the title from Bandai Namco, its producer.
The IP Isn’t Being Left To Gather Dust
According to an interview at thePS Awards, Miyazaki confirmed that none of the new projects FromSoftware is currently working on areElden Ring 2;however, the development of the IP isn’t being denied, which is somewhat cryptic. This could mean that the game could get an adaptation of some kind, books and comics to expand on the Lands Between’s brilliantly deep lore, and maybe more world building with George R. R. Martin. It doesn’t seem like the IP will be left on the shelf with cobwebs and dust, as is the case with PlayStation’sBloodborne.
Not working onElden Ring 2doesn’t mean that FromSoftware won’t be hard at work, and some of its projects won’t be directed by Miyazaki. It is possible that one of these projects is the heavilyrumoredDark Souls 3remaster, since Miyazki probably doesn’t need to oversee a game he has already directed,but it is also possible that FromSoftware could bring back an old IP to modern consoles. It did this withArmored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, which is considered one of the best mecha-based games around.
Armored Corewas dormant for ten years after the 2013 release ofArmored Core: Verdict Day.
Although known for its Soulsborne games,there are plenty of IPs in FromSoftware’s library from before the originalDemon Souls. It could turn to these for its newest projects, and one in particular seems perfect to receive the same treatment thatArmored Coregot with its sixth installment. This IP is the lesser knownKing’s Fieldseries, which got its fourth and final installment all the way back in 2001, and a lot of what makes Soulsborne games special, especially theDark Soulsseries, can be seen inKing’s Field 4.
King’s Field Would Be The Perfect Franchise For FromSoftware To Revive
A First Person Title Would Be An Interesting Direction For FromSoftware
TheKing’s Fieldseries is afirst-person, dark fantasy, role-playing franchise based around a lot of dungeon crawling. The dark fantasy setting is credited with inspiring Miyazaki’s Soulsborne titles, especiallyDemon SoulsandDark Souls, and its fully 3D environments were considered ground-breaking back in 1994, when the first game was released. After 2001, the series hasn’t been touched, which isn’t surprising given that Naotoshi Zin, FromSoftware’s founder and current advisor, is no longer CEO atFromSoft like whenKing’s Fieldwas being developed.
Hidetaka Miyazaki became the president of FromSoftware in 2014, having worked for the company since 2004.
WithKing’s Fieldbeing an inspiration for Miyazaki’s works that put FromSoftware on the map, it would be interesting for the developer to revisit it with everything that it has now learned. It would be even more interesting to see Miyazaki’s vision for the games, and it would feel like bringing FromSoftware’s Soulsborne games full circle and back to their roots. A modern,first person, dungeon-crawling RPG could be an intriguing direction to take FromSoftware too, focusing on making the game as atmospheric and claustrophobic as possible.
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Gameplay-wise,King’s Fieldwould be a drastic department from the modern FromSoftware that most of its audience now knows, but from a world-building perspective, it wouldn’t feel too far from what FromSoftware is known for.With the financial success ofDark SoulsandElden Ring, it is clear that dark fantasy is what sells for FromSoftware, and returning toKing’s Fieldwouldn’t be as risky as something likeNinja Blade. It could be the foundation for a first person Soulsborne game, whichElden Ringmoddershave proven is both possible and oddly functional.
King’s Field Can Replicate Armored Core’s Success
Reviving Old IPs Works For FromSoftware
Armored Core 6came as a surprise to some, considering that FromSoftware had been the Soulsborne studio since 2007, but the experiment went well. It sold decently, even if it didn’t compare to the likes ofElden RingandDark Souls, and the game was well received,winning the 2023 Best Action Game at the Game Awards. Interestingly, this game was directed by Masaru Yamamura, who was the lead designer forSekiroand served as a director for the first time. He could bringKing’s Fieldback if Miyazaki is unavailable to direct.
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King’s Fieldwasn’t directed by Miyazaki either, so there wouldn’t be the odd disconnect thatDark Souls 2suffered when compared to the other games in the series. There is enough time betweenKing’s Field 4and the present for it to have another director without it emulating this strange, disconnecting feeling, and with Yamamura having worked onDark Souls 1and3,he has the experience in dark fantasy settings to bringKing’s Field 5to modern consoles. Even if it isn’t him, there could be another game designer at FromSoftware ready to become a director.
WhetherKing’s Fieldis one of the several new projects in development at FromSoftware or not, it is an exciting time to be a fan of the studio.It is less exciting forElden Ringfans hoping to get their teeth stuck into a sequel in the near future, but the continued development of the IP means that the franchise won’t be on ice for long. There will be plenty to look out for from FromSoftware in the coming years, and if it can keep up the quality of the last fifteen years, then the gaming industry will be all the richer for it.
