Elden Ring creator discusses influence on Soulslike genre

Hidetaka Miyazaki, the president of FromSoftware and director of Elden Ring, shared his thoughts on the impact his studio has had on the gaming industry and his feelings towards the Soulslike genre inspired by his games.

During an interview with Rolling Stone, Miyazaki expressed his thoughts on how FromSoftware’s games have influenced a sub-genre, with the term Soulslike being a tribute to the Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls series.

Despite being honored by the term, both Miyazaki and the FromSoftware team refused to take full credit for inventing a new genre, as they acknowledged that the core mechanics already existed.

In his opinion, the Soulslike label and its prosperity can be attributed to chance as he states, “We were fortunate enough to release [Demon’s Souls] at the opportune moment in the market.”

Screenshot from Elden Ring. — FromSoftware

As Miyazaki expressed, “While it brings us joy, I also believe it is a humbling experience to be credited with naming a genre.”

Ever since its release in 2009, Demon’s Souls has solidified FromSoftware’s reputation for its brutal gameplay and formidable bosses that players anticipate dying to repeatedly as they master their attacks and develop strategies to overcome them.

Many other developers have been clearly influenced by this formula, as seen in games like Lies of P and the Nioh series, though they each incorporate their own unique elements.

In the same interview, Miyazaki revealed that he occasionally plays other Soulslike games for research purposes rather than as a fan. He clarified, “I find it highly beneficial to view the genre from various perspectives, as we are all creating within the same sandbox, in a sense.”

FromSoftware’s plans following the release of Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion remain unknown. However, Miyazaki has expressed a desire to explore new genres and potentially create a traditional JRPG in the future.

Currently, enthusiasts of this genre can indulge in a wealth of material, as Shadow of the Erdtree continues to set records and surprise players with its challenging gameplay.