It wouldn’t be shocking if FromSoftware decided to follow its most successful game with a sequel, but the studio recently confirmed that Elden Ring 2 isn’t currently in the works. Instead, the company behind the open-world RPG is working on other projects. I hope one of them is Armored Core VII.
“We’re not really considering developments such as an Elden Ring 2,” director Hidetaka Miyazaki said at the PlayStation Partner Awards, as reported by IGN Japan and translated by Automaton. He went on to say that while FromSoftware might still develop the Elden Ring IP “in some form in the future,” the staff, including himself, are currently working on multiple other projects. He specifically teased them as coming from different genres, with some of the upcoming games directed by other developers within the studio.
While FromSoftware has established a clear DNA of challenging gameplay and esoteric storytelling within its games, it hasn’t simply churned out endless sequels. Outside of Dark Souls and Armored Core, its experimented with several one-off games like Bloodborne and Sekiro. It’s possible one of the projects currently in development is another Soulsborne-inspired spin-off. Maybe the genre tease means the studio is also looking farther afield. Are we finally in for a FromSoftware real-time strategy game or even a grim-dark cozy sim?
The largest outside investor in the studio is currently Kadokawa Corporation, a media conglomerate that Sony recently made an offer to acquire. It’s unclear how a possible acquisition, which would give the PlayStation 5 maker majority ownership of FromSoftware, would factor into its future plans. I’m guessing the platform holder would be cautious about doing anything that might disrupt the creativity and development pipeline of one of the current top game studios in the world.
.