As Elden Ring players cross the finish line, many are left wondering what’s next. FromSoftware has confirmed more Elden Ring updates are on the way, while DLC seems to be a given. But beyond that, FromSoftware isn’t the type of developer to focus on its latest and greatest forever.
Under Hidetaka Miyazaki’s leadership, FromSoftware tends to focus more on new IPs and upcoming titles than reiterating with sequels. This plays some role, likely, in how FromSoftware’s development cycle, where it typically has about two different games in various stages of development at once. Dark Souls 2, Bloodborne, Dark Souls 3, Sekiro—their release dates (2014, 2015, 2016, and 2019) all show how this is done. While it seems there’s always something cooking at FromSoftware, the company may be looking to take it up a notch.
FromSoftware recently posted on social media, revealing that it was hiring staff across a wide range of game development positions. It said that it looks forward to working with new people on FromSoftware games, though not necessarily FromSoftware Soulsborne games if considering its extended catalog, and asks for folks to look at the hiring website. What’s interesting, though, is that it says it is recruiting for “multiple new projects” – per the Twitter translation.
Furthermore, Miyazaki confirmed that one of those projects, an unannounced game, is already in the final stages of development. That doesn't set it up for a 2022 release, but it's possible more is learned later this year and a release comes in the next one or two years. He also reiterates that work on Elden Ring isn't done, and that Miyazaki's focus will continue to be on direct games--where he is already working on his next game. Whether that's the unannounced final stages project or not remains to be seen, but all of these multiple new projects are exciting nontheless.
It's possible this reference includes Elden Ring DLC, but it seems unlikely overall. Elden Ring is out, and any work on that has likely been underway for at least some time now. This likely means then that FromSoftware is referencing multiple new games, likely all at various stages of development.
Following the success of Elden Ring, working on multiple new projects would likely be a smart move. FromSoftware has defined a genre, and its games are loved the world over. Still, multiple could mean 2-3 other projects, maybe less. It’s hard to say for sure, but knowing that there is more in the works at FromSoftware bodes well for fans of the developer.
Fans should keep their expectations in check with this announcement, though. As games get bigger, game development takes longer. FromSoftware’s next game is could still be a year or two away, and it’s unlikely that these projects refer to a Bloodborne remaster, Bloodborne 2, Sekiro 2, or anything like that. Again, FromSoftware prefers new, exciting IPs over bloated sequels, and for better or worse, that really puts the “new” in “multiple new projects.”
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Source: 4gamer