From Software's mysterious "Shadows Die Twice" project was officially unveiled today live on-stage at Microsoft's E3 2018 press conference. Introducing Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, the next major action RPG project from the creators of Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice will be immediately familiar to those who have played From Software's past action games, but unique in ways that should entice fans both new and old.

In Sekiro, players take on the role of an afflicted ninja sporting a prosthetic arm, described as the "one-armed wolf." Yes, that's the bony, bloody contraption shown in Sekiro's original teaser trailer from The Game Awards 2017. The warrior, shown to lose his arm in the trailer, is rescued from the brink of death for a seemingly nefarious purpose. The arm may prove a curse before Sekiro ends.

The arm can be used in a number of ways, judging from the trailer. In combat, the arm is shown transforming into a variety of weapons or even a shield mid-action. For those worried that Sekiro would turn down the challenging combat of past From Software games, this new trailer should diminish those fears. The player is shown rolling, hurtling, dashing and dancing around all variety of enemies, from horse-riding spearmen to giant snakes. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice appears to be exactly what fans want from From Software post-Dark Souls.

A surprise to everyone, it appears that Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice will be published by Activision of all companies. The news was confirmed in the announcement trailer shown during Microsoft's E3 press conference. Recent From Software projects, including the Dark Souls trilogy, were published by Bandai Namco. Sekiro will mark a new era for From Software in more ways than one.

Regarding the From Software and Activision partnership, game director Hidetaka Miyazaki says:

"Collaborating with Activision on Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has been a very exciting experience for us. With Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, many From Software team members, including myself, are thrilled to be exploring themes of Sengoku Japan and ninja for the first time. We can't wait for everyone to discover what's in store for the game."

More information on Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is expected in the days to come, as several press outlets have confirmed that they've been shown a demo but are under an embargo until Tuesday. Stay tuned for the start of E3 on June 12.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice releases in 2019. Supported platforms have yet to be announced.