FromSoftware’s journey from obscure developer to AAA powerhouse has been a joy to watch. But what is next for From and us, the fans? With the release of Shadow of the Erdtree, I’m both incredibly satisfied and hungry for more. Will we get a sequel forBloodborne? Will they jump into a new IP? Is there a secret multigame deal with Sony? In this article, we’ll explore possible future ventures and fan-fueled speculations.
Bloodborne 2: The Long-Awaited Sequel
Bloodborne remains one of FromSoftware’s most beloved titles, and fans have been clamoring for a sequel since its release in 2015. The gothic horror masterpiece has a devoted following, and the potential for a Bloodborne 2 is immense. However, FromSoftware has been tight-lipped about returning toYharnam, with Miyazaki frequently repeating that he would love to but it’s up to Sony. This is because Sony owns the Bloodborne IP, much like they own the Demon’s Souls IP, and are the ultimate decision makers on what will happen next.
My take on this is very similar to Demon’s Souls. As soon as the announcement came that the Demon’s Souls servers were to be shut down,I immediately called that this was making way for a Remaster or Sequel. This prediction of mine from Dec 2017 (3 months before the actual server shut down) came up exactly right with the remaster being done completely by Sony and with zero FromSoft involvement, in order to prop up the Playstation 5 launch.
So following a similar trend, I think it’s entirely possible that A Bloodborne Remaster or sequel could be worked on to coincide with the launch of Playstation 6, which would be around 2028. A Demon’s Souls sequel with no FromSoftware involvement is also possible before that, because Bluepoint (owned by sony) now has an engine that works perfectly with souls… it only makes sense that they use it.
How about Bloodborne on PC?
And YES I think Bloodborne PC and Demon’s Souls PC will happen. And they will happen just as sequels are announced, as the purpose will be to hook PC players and make them buy playstations that will have exclusivity over the sequels. I am really sure this will happen, it’s all a matter of time!
Sekiro 2: Shadows Die Again
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twicewas an interesting departure from the Souls formula, focusing on precise combat. The game was very well received, like everything FromSoftware does recently, and evenwon Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2019. While there hasn’t been any official word on a sequel, the game’s ending leaves a very clear path forward for a continuation of the story, and a Sekiro 2 could further delve into themythosandmechanicsthat made the first game a standout.
The more important part of this, however, is commercial success. The sales for Sekiro were relatively lukewarm with 2 million copies in 2019 and up to 5 million by 2020. The game gained traction and sales went up a lot thanks to Elden Ring, so it’s now sitting at a very successful 10 million copies, but it’s uncertain how the profit margins work when such a large percentage of those units was from sales, and now that any FromSoftware project will be measured with an Elden Ring yardstick (5 million DLC sales in 3 days!)
There’s also the publishing rights to think about. Sekiro was published by Activision-Blizzard, and it is unknown whether any future publishing rights were reserved. Activision is now owned by Microsoft, so this could create a block for a sequel as Microsoft has a focus on its own console, that is not popular in Japan.
With all of this, and given the myriad of projects that are now available to FromSoftware, a Sekiro sequel is probably one of the least likely to materialize. I’m still hoping it does, but I probably wouldn’t want it to delay production of something with more RPG focus.
Dark Souls 4: Is It Possible?
Dark Souls 3was considered the conclusion of theDark Soulssaga, wrapping up the intricate and mysteriouslorethat spanned three games. Despite this, the possibility of a Dark Souls 4 is a topic of endless speculation. While FromSoftware has moved on to new projects, the demand for another Dark Souls game persists, particularly after we were treated to the incredible level design of themain legacy dungeon of the DLC.
I have been around long enough to remember when Halo,Mass Effect,Dragon Age,The Witcherand so many other amazing trilogies were… well, trilogies. I remember the developers categorically calling them finished. I also remember the announcements of “it’s back!” and how those turned out.
I hope Dark Souls doesn’t follow a similar fate, but I certainly think that the franchise could make a successful comeback, as there’s incredible appetite for souls content as seen by the multitude of soulslikes that have appeared over the years. Much like a Demon’s Souls sequel, a Dark Souls 4 would get all the hype and more, simply because we cannot get enough of exploring the worlds FromSoftware creates.
In terms of likelyhood of this happening, I think it’s pretty low. Not becuase it would not perform well, but simply becauseElden Ringis now a bigger franchise and there’s NO WAY that they are going to call it good at 1. Let’s go there now.
Elden Ring 2 or a Trilogy: We’re in the Endgame Now
Elden Ring’s success naturally leads to discussions of a sequel or even a trilogy. What started like “Big Dark Souls” has now become “Dark Souls Who?” and I absolutely believe that this franchise is going to get the full AAA treatment of not only 3 games, but netflix animation, books, comics and everything they can possibly come up with. I wouldn’t be surprised to see live action Elden Ring or even a movie. We’re at that level of success now.
Considering the incredible sales numbers and the relative tiny size of FromSoftware and their budget (when compared to other games that sell like this), this is truly a golden egg goose and it’s already attracting big investors who are buying off Kadokawa to get more FromSoftware. Sony and Tencent bought 30% of From in 2022, and I am certain these investors will want to maximize what they can get from this new IP.
The compounded success of Shadow of the Erdtree will also push for “more Elden Ring”, but we recently heard from Miyazaki in an interview with IGN saying “We don’t currently have any plans for another Elden Ring DLC or a sequel”.
FromSoftware, like most developers, have multiple projects at multiple stages simultaneously. Sekiro and Elden Ring were being developed at the same time, for example. Knowing this, FromSoftware MUST be working on something right now, and if Miyazaki is saying there are no plans for ER 2, then it’s not Elden Ring (yet). This doesn’t mean that development could not be starting in a month from now after the quarterly investor meeting when everyone finishes swimming in money. But unless Miyazaki is lying, which let’s face it he could do or be forced to do by NDAs, then FromSoftware is working on something else… what could that be?
New Projects and Publisher Deals: Fresh Horizons
FromSoftware has always been innovative, often surprising fans with new IPs and unique gameplay experiences. Rumors have swirled about potential new projects, including collaborations with other publishers. For instance, there have been whispers about a sci-fi themed game, which would be a fascinating new direction for the studio. Additionally, partnerships with major publishers like Sony or Bandai Namco could result in exclusive titles or unexpected ventures.
Given FromSoftware’s 3 year developmen cycle, we should be getting a new “alternate” game in 2025, which could be a new IP, an explorative title like Sekiro, or a “commission” title in collaboration with Sony such as a remaster or sequel for a sony-owned IP.
They usually save their annoucemens for the Video Game Awards in december or for Summer Games Fest, so if something is coming next year we will know by December. This means that you have many, many months to enjoy Elden Ring or revisit previous souls titles, or you can take a detour to other games that are coming out.
For me personally, I will beplaying Elden Ring and making builds, but I’m going to share what I’ll be trying and why so if you’re interested in games to look forward to you can check it out.
What to play while waiting for the next souls
While waiting for news on FromSoftware’s next move, I’m going to be checking out
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
Monster Hunter Wilds
Black Myth: Wukong
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Besides these upcoming games, there are so many recently released titles that I’m sure many haven’t had the chance to try. Among my top recommendations for Soulslikes I think you guys should check outLords of the Fallen,Remnant 2andLies of P. Remnant in particular is scheduled for anotherDLC in September, so I’ll be playing that and covering it.
And as always, I’d love to hear what you guys are planning to do. Will you nolife Elden Ring? Do a full run of previous souls games you haven’t played? Maybe explore a completely different title and jump into RTS? What’s your gaming future look like? Let us know in the comments below!
