“What we try to do as a company is never assume”: FromSoftware’s Success With Bloodborne and Elden Ring Lies in Avoiding Assumption-Driven Decisions

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Over the years, FromSoftware has risen through the ranks to become a major player in video game development. Originally starting out as a humble studio in 1986, it has since grown into an industry powerhouse. In recent times, they’ve released critically acclaimed games like Bloodborne and Elden Ring that have left a lasting impression on gamers worldwide.

The key factor behind the triumph of these games lies in their intricate gameplay mechanics, thrilling boss battles, and exceptional world design. Yet, what truly set FromSoftware’s most popular titles apart is their avoidance of hasty decisions based on presumptions.

How avoiding assumptions helped FromSoftware

It’s common knowledge that Hidetaka Miyazaki plays a significant role at FromSoftware, where his leadership has led the studio to unprecedented success. He’s the mastermind behind the creation of both the highly acclaimed games, Dark Souls and Bloodborne.

In an interview with The Guardian, Miyazaki expressed that everything shifted for FromSoftware upon the release of Elden Ring. This game went on to sell over 25 million copies, solidifying the studio’s legendary status. However, even with this impressive achievement, Miyazaki remains cautious and doesn’t take for granted that every future project by the studio will receive the same level of recognition.

Elden Ring achieved an unprecedented level of both commercial success and critical praise, setting a high standard for us. However, when it comes to our upcoming projects, we strive not to take its achievements for granted and always aim to create something new and unique.

Developers of video games often base their subsequent decisions on the success of a particular game. After all, if a previous game was successful, it makes sense to assume that similar strategies will yield further hits.

Contrarily, this is not the usual course of events. Developers often find themselves ensnared in assumptions, which in turn makes their video games more challenging due to a lean towards repetition and an avoidance of creative risks. It seems that the objective has shifted from creating a high-quality game; it’s now primarily about ensuring profits.

FromSoftware strategically avoids falling into common industry pitfalls by refusing to assume that future games will replicate the same level of success. Instead, they actively strive for novelty and creativity to attract gamers, demonstrating a willingness to take risks rather than playing it safe. Miyazaki and his team are not content with conforming to expectations.

Sony’s interesting relationship with FromSoftware

It appears that FromSoftware and Sony have jointly produced several successful video games, including “Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice” and “Bloodborne”. While these collaborations may give the impression of a strong alliance between the two companies, it’s important to note that their partnership is not as extensive as it seems at first glance.

According to VGC, during a conversation on the Sacred Symbols podcast, the ex-president of Sony, Shuhei Yoshida, shared insights about how the management of “Demon’s Souls” put pressure on Sony’s partnership with FromSoftware.

Initially, Sony harbored doubts about ‘Demon’s Souls’, and even Yoshida encountered some challenging early playthroughs. As a result, ‘Demon’s Souls’ was first published by Atlus in North America and Bandai Namco in Europe instead of Sony.

As a devoted fan, I’d rephrase that statement as follows: When FromSoftware chose to team up on Dark Souls development, they opted for collaboration with Bandai Namco rather than Sony. Yoshida expressed some regrets about the choices made in the past regarding Sony.

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2025-03-09 11:03