Summary
FromSoftwarepresident and director Hidetaka Miyazaki says that developers might design a total cooperative multiplayer experience for future projects. With the growing popularity ofElden Ring’s co-op mod, fans have wondered if it might be time forFromSoftwareto introduce modern innovations to its multiplayer Soulslike formula. While the studio is still focused on the impending release of theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC expansion forElden Ring, Miyazaki revealed his team of developers are already considering new ideas for their next title.
Since the release ofDemon’s Soulsback in 2009, FromSoftware has mostly left its multiplayer formula untouched throughout the years. Its latest title,Elden Ring, largely played by the same rules as previous projects and focused on quick sessions whereinElden Ringplayers can invade a hostor assist them by defeating bosses and clearing dungeons. While the system remains iconic, some players wonder what it would be like to explore the entirety of the Lands Between with a friend alongside them, leading to the spread of modder LukeYui’s “Seamless Co-Op,” a mod that overhaulsElden Ring’s cooperative multiplayer and allows six users to experience the game from beginning to end without interruption.
Miyazaki discussed the mod’s popularity during aninterview with PC Gamer, wherein the FromSoftware president claimed the developers did not want to discourage users from playing the game together. While he revealed that developers designedElden Ring’s multiplayer to focus on fast but short sessions shared by players, Miyazaki also said that the studio would consider implementing other forms ofcooperative multiplayer for future FromSoftware games, similar to what was added with LukeYui’s mod.
Elden Ring Director Looks To Other Multiplayer Games For Inspiration
This wasn’t the first time Miyazaki went on record regarding possible changes to FromSoftware’s multiplayer formula. The director previously revealed he pays close attention to recent trends in gaming for inspiration and was particularly intrigued bythe multiplayer system forEscape From Tarkov, a popular first-person extraction shooter known for encouraging players to either work together or target other players for better loot.
Though official support for a full co-op mode is not planned forElden Ring, there have been signs indicating thatFromSoftwareis working on multiple new projects that may introduce new ways to play with friends. In the meantime, the first and onlyElden RingDLC is slated for release on June 21, and while it will likely bring no major changes to the base game’s multiplayer system,Shadow of the Erdtreepromises a new storyto experience, along with unique enemies to defeat and powerful gear to snag.
From Software
Based in Japan, FromSoftware is a development company best known for the Souls series and Armored Core franchise. Other popular games from From Software include Elden Ring, Sekiro, Bloodborne, and the King’s Field series.
