Hidetaka Miyazaki On Bringing Elden Ring To A Close And The Future Of From Software
What inspired the decision to create Elden Ring as an open-world game after From Software's experience with more linear titles like Dark Souls and Bloodborne?
The decision to create Elden Ring as an open-world game came from the desire to provide players with a sense of adventure and freedom that was not possible in the more linear titles like Dark Souls and Bloodborne. According to Hidetaka Miyazaki, the game director, the team wanted to give players the ability to explore a vast landscape full of possibilities, while still retaining the sense of challenge and achievement that the studio is known for1. The collaboration with George R.R. Martin also played a role in the decision, as his lore and mythology provided a rich foundation for the open-world setting. Additionally, the success of other open-world games and the growing demand for more exploration and discovery in games may have influenced the decision.
What were the specific challenges faced during the development of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, particularly considering its extended development period compared to previous projects?
Shadow of the Erdtree is a massive DLC expansion for Elden Ring, releasing on June 21, 2024. It takes place in a new region called the Land of Shadow and follows the story of Miquella, a demigod offspring of Queen Marika and Radagon. The DLC features new weapons, bosses, and a large map that is reportedly larger than Limgrave in the base game.
The expansion will be available for pre-loading from June 19, 2024, and comes in several editions. The Shadow of the Erdtree Edition includes the base game and the DLC, while the Deluxe Edition also includes digital artbooks and soundtracks for both the base game and the DLC. The Collector's Edition features a statue of Messmer the Impaler, a 40-page hardcover artbook, and the official soundtrack.
The DLC will introduce around 100 new weapons for players to discover, as well as new enemies and bosses. The level scaling system has been tweaked to better facilitate challenges for players who have completed several New Game Plus runs. The story of Shadow of the Erdtree will involve Queen Marika and what led Miquella to follow her to the Land of Shadow.
In what ways did the development of Elden Ring contribute to the growth and nurturing of From Software's in-house talent?
Elden Ring, an open-world action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware, has been highly anticipated since its announcement in 2019. The game takes place in a fictional realm called the Lands Between, which is overseen by several demigods. Players control a customizable character on a quest to repair the Elden Ring and become the new Elden Lord. The game features elements similar to those in other FromSoftware games, such as the Dark Souls series, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Elden Ring's development was a significant undertaking for FromSoftware, as the studio's first open-world game. The studio's president, Hidetaka Miyazaki, wanted to create an open-world game that maintained the sense of adventure and challenge for which the studio is known. The game's world was designed to be vast and diverse, with a focus on exploration and discovery.
One of the key features of Elden Ring is its multiplayer mode, which allows players to engage in cooperative and player-versus-player play over the internet. The game also includes a unique "guidance of grace" system, which helps guide players through the game's complex world.
Elden Ring was released on February 25, 2022, and has received widespread critical acclaim. The game has been praised for its open world, gameplay systems, and setting, and has been cited as one of the greatest video games of all time. It has won several Game of the Year awards and sold over 25 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling games of all time.