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Elden Ring’smonumental success has cemented FromSoftware’s reputation as one of the few studios left in our industry that can do very little wrong with its games. Sure, there may be some hiccups in its game development procedures. Still, it is yet to let its fandom down the way many other studios have.
What’s rather interesting about the game’s success is how Hidetaka Miyazaki, in his recent reflections, shared how he and his team maintained a deeply conservative outlook toward the game’s potential for sales and acclaim throughout its development despite most likely knowing what they were about to unleash into gaming’s wilds.
Hidetaka Miyazaki Never Assumes That His Games Would Sell as Well asElden RingDid
The perfect way to start this off would be to mention howMiyazaki’s approach to game developmenthas its roots in humility and constant improvement. Even when taking on projects of immeasurable magnitude likeElden Ring, he never rests on his past laurels.
Hidetaka Miyazaki Really Thought How to Make an Enemy as Annoying as Possible When He Gave us the Most Irritating Elden Ring Enemy
Perhaps it was surprising for him and his team, then, when the game achieved near-instant release, with critics showering heaps of praise on the game and players coming in droves to scour the Lands Between and give their all at becoming the Elden Lord.
Sharing what it was like during the game’s development,Hidetaka Miyazakishared how his team maintained a grounded outlook through it all and, in an act of stoicism, stood ready to embrace failure as a path to innovation. He elaborated on the same in aninterview, explaining how:
“Elden Ring was in a league of its own in terms of the success and critical acclaim that it has seen, but what we attempt to do as a company is never assume that will happen again with our future games.”
It is a philosophy that has its roots inDemon’s Souls, wherein the game’s assumed failure by the rest of the company gave Miyazaki the chance to turn the game into a genre-defining phenomenon.
Not only that, but it’s a good practice that fosters creativity, pushing the team to explore every corner of the gaming experience with meticulous attention to detail to prevent the chance of failure.
By never assuming their next project will succeed, Miyazaki and his team remain focused on creating a unique experience with each game. This approach keepsFromSoftware’stitles fresh, incredibly detailed, and mechanically enjoyable, ensuring players discover new layers of depth with each play-through.
Despite What Hidetaka Miyazaki May Think, Fans Continue to Anticipate His Next Project’s Arrival
Now, these guys may choose to remain modest about its achievements and expectations. Still, fans of Miyazaki will forever choose to be anything but forever, singing praises of what they’ve accomplished with these games.
The studio’s newest expansion,Shadow of the Erdtree, has pushed the boundaries of difficulty and design, which has admittedly led some to questionwhere it can head next with its current soulsborne formula.
It is important to keep in mind, however, that the collectiveElden Ringexperience only represents the studio’s current mechanical peak and not a creative one. Let’s also not forget that for many of us, it’s the atmosphere, narrative cohesion, underlying themes and philosophy, and lore that make these games a real standout in the industry.
“I’m not coping, you’re coping”: Shadow of the Erdtree Has a Horribly Underutilized Feature Hidetaka Miyazaki Needs to Explore in the Second Elden Ring DLC
That said, all fans expect from the team’s future projects, with Miyazaki at the helm, is to build on this legacy of excellence while exploring new directions.
The studio’s resilience—bouncing back from the brink of closure afterDemon’s Soulsalready speaks volumes about its ability to overcome adversity. So, most will continue to rally behind the studio, eagerly awaiting what comes next, despite the uncertainty voiced by the company itself.
But what are your thoughts on the auteur’s game design ideology? Is it productive to assume possible failure in game development beforehand? Let us know in the comments below.
Akshit Dangi
Writer - Gaming
Articles Published :266
Akshit is a supposed human being and gaming writer who lurks in different corners of the internet in search of fascinating rabbit holes. Outside of that, though, you’ll most likely find him staring at a piece of art for days or completing another playthrough of Silent Hill.
