FromSoftware President Hidetaka Miyazaki says the studio will continue protecting its creative freedom and making valuable games, even as investors in parent company Kadokawa reportedly push for safer sequels and more predictable content. His comments suggest FromSoftware is not planning to abandon the experimental approach that helped shape Elden Ring, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro, and other acclaimed projects.
The pressure comes at a time when many publishers are leaning harder on established franchises, remakes, sequels, and lower risk projects. FromSoftware could easily follow that path. Elden Ring became a massive success, Bloodborne remains heavily requested, and Dark Souls is still one of the most influential names in modern action RPGs.
But Miyazaki’s message is clear. The studio’s strength comes from an environment where developers can focus on the games they want to make without too much outside interference.
Miyazaki says FromSoftware’s freedom is central to its success
Miyazaki said he is generally satisfied with FromSoftware’s current development environment. While he admitted there are always areas that can improve, he said the studio is still able to create freely and focus on game development.
That point matters because FromSoftware’s identity is built on risk. The studio became famous by making games that were difficult, mysterious, and often unfriendly to mainstream design trends. Its success came because it did not simply chase the safest possible market.
| FromSoftware approach | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Creative autonomy | Lets teams make unusual games |
| Fewer safe formulas | Keeps the studio from feeling stale |
| Experimental projects | Leads to games like Sekiro and The Duskbloods |
| Strong player trust | Fans expect bold design choices |
| Investor pressure | Could push the studio toward safer sequels |
| Miyazaki’s stance | Protect the environment that created its best work |
This is why his comments feel important. He is not only defending one game. He is defending the culture that made FromSoftware valuable in the first place.
FromSoftware has not relied only on predictable sequels
FromSoftware could have spent the past decade making only Dark Souls sequels. Instead, it moved through different ideas and styles. Bloodborne changed the pace and tone. Sekiro removed traditional RPG builds and focused on precision sword combat. Elden Ring expanded the Souls formula into a large open world. Déraciné was a quiet VR project far removed from the studio’s usual image.
Even Elden Ring Nightreign was not the obvious follow up many expected. It turned Elden Ring’s formula into a multiplayer roguelite style experience, which many players doubted before launch. The game still found a strong reception because FromSoftware was willing to test a different structure.
That pattern is continuing with The Duskbloods, which appears to push the studio again toward new systems instead of another straightforward Soulslike.
Investor pressure reflects a wider industry problem
The reported pressure on FromSoftware is not unusual in the current industry. Many game companies are under pressure to reduce risk, protect margins, and lean on proven IP. That usually means more sequels, more live service plans, more remakes, and fewer unusual ideas.
The problem is that this approach can make the industry feel repetitive. It may protect short term revenue, but it can also weaken the creative identity that made studios popular in the first place.
FromSoftware is a useful example because its success came from not following the easiest path. Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls were not safe bets when they arrived. Elden Ring was also a major risk because it took a demanding combat formula and placed it inside a huge open world.
Fans still want Bloodborne, but FromSoftware should not be trapped by demand
Many players would welcome Bloodborne 2 or a proper remaster. That demand is real, and it is understandable. Bloodborne remains one of FromSoftware’s most beloved games.
But Miyazaki’s comments suggest the studio does not want to be trapped by fan demand or investor demand alone. A sequel only works if the studio has the right creative reason to make it. Otherwise, it risks becoming exactly the kind of safe content that investors may prefer but players eventually grow tired of.
FromSoftware’s best games usually feel purposeful. They are not built only to extend a brand name.
FromSoftware’s future depends on protecting its development culture
Miyazaki’s comments are reassuring because they show that FromSoftware understands why players trust the studio. The trust is not only about difficulty or dark fantasy. It is about surprise, confidence, and the sense that each game is built around a strong creative vision.
If investor pressure ever forced FromSoftware into safer production habits, the studio could still sell games, but it might lose the edge that makes its work special.
For now, Miyazaki says the goal is to keep making truly valuable games, including announced and unannounced projects. That is the right message for fans who want the studio to keep moving forward instead of becoming another sequel factory.
FromSoftware has built its reputation by taking risks that many companies would avoid. Protecting that freedom may be the most important thing the studio can do, even if investors would prefer safer returns.
Discussion (0)
Be the first to comment.