Discover Elden Ring's Unexpected Twist: FromSoftware's Bold Departure
FromSoftware's Elden Ring boasts a decade's worth of design ideas, but should their next project take a different approach? Discover why a more focused and intimate experience could be the key to their future success
FromSoftware has established itself as one of the industry's most-watched developers, thanks to the runaway success of Elden Ring. With all eyes on them, everyone is eagerly waiting to see what the studio has in store for players. The upcoming release of Armored Core 6 marks the return of one of FromSoftware's beloved franchises, and it promises to offer a different experience compared to Elden Ring. As they move forward, it would be wise for FromSoftware to take a similar approach to their next Soulsborne title, providing players with a concise and focused experience, similar to what they delivered with Sekiro.
Elden Ring holds immense importance as it brings together more than a decade's worth of design ideas from Hidetaka Miyazaki, the mastermind behind Dark Souls. It is rare for an individual to witness the realization of their creative vision, but Elden Ring managed to incorporate every beloved aspect of Soulsborne gameplay and adapted it to an open-world setting. With such a high bar set by Elden Ring, it would be best for FromSoftware's next action RPG title to have a more grounded approach.
Armored Core 6 Could Be the Beginning of a New FromSoftware Era
With Elden Ring as the apex of the Soulsborne formula in both design and success, it is refreshing that FromSoftware's upcoming Armored Core installment does not aim to be a mere "Dark Souls with mechs." FromSoftware could have easily relied on its past accomplishments and attempted to replicate the triumph of Elden Ring in subsequent titles. However, as history has shown, FromSoftware is a development studio that operates by its own standards. The Armored Core series has traditionally catered to a niche audience interested in strategy, customization, and action, and it appears that Armored Core 6 will continue this legacy while propelling the series forward.
By incorporating the knowledge gained from Elden Ring and the Souls series as a whole into its other intellectual property, FromSoftware may be hinting at the beginning of a new era, starting with the release of Armored Core 6. This latest entry in the long-standing mech combat series could be the first of many titles to come from FromSoftware that are smaller in scale and more focused, following a primarily linear progression path. Although the development team has made it clear that Armored Core 6 will not be a Soulsborne title, it is likely that certain elements and influences from those games will make their way into the new Armored Core, potentially setting the stage for future endeavors by the studio.
The Next Soulslike Developed by FromSoftware Should Skew Toward Bloodborne or Sekiro
The anticipation continues for the next game from FromSoftware, as fans wonder what it will be like. Many are still hopeful for a Bloodborne remaster or sequel, while other developers are filling the void in the meantime. Sekiro is highly regarded by combat-driven Soulsborne fans as one of FromSoftware's best systems. Although Elden Ring DLC is in the works and a sequel would be highly anticipated, it seems fans are eager for more focused titles from the studio.
Instead of another massive open-world game like Elden Ring, the next Soulsborne title should prioritize brevity. Both Sekiro and Bloodborne, despite being shorter experiences compared to Elden Ring or Dark Souls 3, are still considered highlights for the developer. Regardless of the direction FromSoftware chooses for their next games, fans can expect the same high standard of quality that the studio is known for.
Elden Ring is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
