FromSoftware's Hidetaka Miyazaki Discusses New Multiplayer Game Ahead of Release

Hidetaka Miyazaki, the video game director behind Demon's Souls, Dark Souls and Elden Ring, discussed his approach to game design and his upcoming multiplayer title The Duskbloods in an interview with The Guardian ahead of the game's release.

Miyazaki, 51, has served as president of Japanese studio FromSoftware since 2014, having been promoted from game designer to chief executive following the commercial success of the Souls series, according to the report.

Since Demon's Souls debuted in 2009, Miyazaki's games have been noted for their difficult combat, obscure rules and unwelcoming settings, the article said. This approach spawned the "Soulslike" genre, named after Demon's Souls and its sequel Dark Souls, which has influenced numerous best-selling titles including God of War and Star Wars: Jedi, according to the source.

His most recent major release, 2022's Elden Ring, which credited Game of Thrones author George RR Martin as a co-creator, has sold more than 30 million copies, the report stated. The game also inspired director Alex Garland to develop a film adaptation for production company A24, according to the article.

The success of Elden Ring earned Miyazaki a place on Time magazine's list of most influential people, an honor he shares with only one other video game developer, Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, the report noted.

According to the Guardian, Miyazaki rarely gives public interviews and has never appeared on camera. The interview took place at FromSoftware's headquarters in Tokyo's Shinjuku district, where a large statue depicting Malenia, a boss character from Elden Ring, stands in the conference room, the article described.

The interview centered on themes of connection between players and the design philosophy behind The Duskbloods, FromSoftware's new multiplayer game, though specific gameplay details were not extensively outlined in the excerpt provided.