Summary
- Sony asked FromSoftware to work on Demon’s Souls 2, but it declined and instead chose to partner with Bandai Namco for Dark Souls.
- This is because FromSoft “were so disappointed with how PlayStation treated them”.
- However, it didn’t hold a grudge. Just a year after Dark Souls, it reunited with Japan Studio and Sony to begin work on Bloodborne.
While the soulslike genre is hugely popular today, inspiring titans like God of War and even Star Wars, its beginnings were mired in doubt.
Sony didn’t have faith in Demon’s Souls, refusing to publish it in the West due to its difficulty and the negative reception from early playtests. However, when Sony saw the buzz it was getting at launch — after Atlus and Bandai Namco stepped up to publish the game in the US and Europe — its tune changed.
As reported by VGC, former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida revealed on the Sacred Symbols podcast that Sony wanted to make Demon’s Souls 2 with FromSoftware. But the studio turned down the idea and instead teamed up with Bandai Namco for a spiritual successor, Dark Souls.
“FromSoftware was already working on the sequel, but they were so disappointed with how PlayStation treated them. We wanted to work with them again but they passed on it,” Yoshida explained.
The Pair Reunited Shortly After Dark Souls For Bloodborne
Dark Souls was an even bigger success, so much so that it became synonymous with difficulty (‘X is the Dark Souls of Y’). Going multiplatform certainly helped, with Bandai Namco publishing the game across PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. Despite this success, which so clearly proved Sony wrong, FromSoftware didn’t hold a grudge.
In actuality, just one year after the first Dark Souls was released, FromSoftware partnered with Japan Studio and Sony for a brand-new soulslike, which Yoshida has much nicer things to say about; “We have huge respect for Miyazaki, and we were able to work with them again. Bloodborne is one of his best games.”
There were even elements of Demon’s Souls at one point in development, with cut voice lines referencing the famous “Umbasa” saying.
Ten years later, fans are waiting for the two companies to reunite once again, especially for something Bloodborne. With Japan Studio shut down (the bones of which became Team Asobi), it’s unclear what that partnership would look like today. However, Sony did buy a significant number of shares in FromSoftware’s parent company Kadokawa, so perhaps we’ll see another PlayStation exclusive from the soulslike pioneer soon.
Demon’s Souls
- Released
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October 6, 2009
- ESRB
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M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
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From Software
- Publisher(s)
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Sony Computer Entertainment, Atlus, Namco Bandai