Hidetaka Miyazaki: Just Because Elden Ring Was a Hit Doesn’t Mean That FromSoftware Will Only Make Open World Games

From as early as 2004 with his initial Armored Core release, Hidetaka Miyazaki has proven himself a maestro of creating immersive worlds. Remarkably, it wasn’t until nearly two decades later that he stepped into open-world game development, an endeavor that culminated in 2022’s Elden Ring – the title that catapulted FromSoftware to unprecedented levels of success.

Venturing into uncharted territories was a daring decision for the studio, but it proved beneficial in the long run. Yet, despite achieving an incredible victory, director Hidetaka Miyazaki appears more focused on fostering innovation instead of settling comfortably in one spot.

Hidetaka Miyazaki to keep innovating after the success of Elden Ring 

Previously observed, FromSoftware seems to frequently revisit a familiar game structure. This pattern gave birth to the Soulsborne genre, and even Elden Ring adheres to some aspects of it. However, what sets Elden Ring apart as 2022’s Game of the Year is its expansive open world, The Lands Between, offering fans an exciting novelty.

However, thinking that the studio will solely focus on open-world games due to the game’s success is an error. In fact, Hidetaka Miyazaki, in a recent interview with GameSpot, shared some insights about his future plans, suggesting a possible diversification of their game portfolio.

It’s possible that open-world games won’t serve as the primary focus or universal approach for our company moving forward. Our team is expanding, with more game directors and designers coming on board, which means we remain receptive to exploring various game styles in development.

Miyazaki himself acknowledges that the studio’s direction isn’t influenced by trends but rather by a desire to constantly innovate. This implies that open-world titles, like Elden Ring, are simply one path they’ve ventured down; there’s no reason to believe they won’t delve into other unexplored avenues in the future.

Breaking traditions: What will be FromSoftware’s next move

As the much-anticipated game Elden Ring Nighreign approaches, we’re witnessing the director’s vision unfold. Scheduled for release on May 30th, this upcoming title offers both solo and cooperative play for three players, inviting them to delve into a fresh take on The Lands Between.

According to the game director, Junya Ishizaki, Elden Ring Nightreign presents an ideal chance for the studio to step away from its typical Souls series mold. This potential shift could significantly alter FromSoftware’s approach to developing new games in the future.

Hidetaka Miyazaki now stands at a pivotal moment where he could resurrect his classic series such as Bloodborne and Armored Core, though possibly with refreshed visual styles, since the studio’s mantra emphasizes continuous innovation and offering fresh gaming experiences for fans.

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2025-03-21 22:04

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