From Software's upcoming open-world soulslike title Elden Ring is one of the most hotly anticipated games of 2022. However, it's not the only Soulsborne title to come out in recent years, and some Elden Ring developers appear to be comparing their work to the Demon's Souls PS5 remake. Apparently, the recent release of the Demon's Souls remake - and its PS5 graphics - has put Elden Ring's graphics-creation staff under extra pressure.
The Demon's Souls PS5 remake is considered one of the most graphically stunning next gen games released so far, so it may be easy to understand why its existence could be putting pressure on Elden Ring developers. Bluepoint's take on the original Soulsborne game served as a PS5 launch title and received widespread acclaim for its visuals, which helped raise the bar for next-gen console games.
Hidetaka Miyazaki, who directed both the original 2009 Demon's Souls and Elden Ring, stated in the latest issue of Edge magazine that he believes the Elden Ring graphics team was most affected by the Demon's Souls remake. This may be surprising to some fans, as From Software's soulslike games are primarily known for their dark worlds and brutal combat. When asked, Hidetaka Miyazaki noted that graphical fidelity isn't always the top priority of a From Software game. He also stated that he felt a little apologetic toward the Elden Ring graphics team, which has been working incredibly hard to compete with the Demon's Souls remake despite this.
Elden Ring has taken inspiration from previous From Software games alongside epic fantasy titles like The Lord of the Rings and the Game of Thrones franchise. With that in mind, it may make sense that From Software would be comparing its work to what came before. However, Hidetaka Miyazaki doesn't seem to be particularly concerned about making sure that Elden Ring's graphics outshine the striking visuals of the Demon's Souls remake.
One of the reasons the Elden Ring graphics team may be the most affected by the existence of the Demon's Souls remake is that Hidetaka Miyazaki hasn't played the game himself. In fact, he reportedly has no plans to play Elden Ring, either. According to Hidetaka Miyazaki, he doesn't like revisiting his own creations. He is pleased to see it with its slick next-gen graphics, but he doesn't intend to actually play through Bluepoint's take on the original soulslike title.
Elden Ring releases February 25 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Source: VGC