Summary
FromSoftware, the studio behind critically-acclaimed games likeDark Souls,Bloodborne, andElden Ring, still has yet to make a proper next-gen game for PS5 and Xbox Series X.FromSoftwarehas had a fairly regular release schedule since the studio’s first game,King’s Field, was released in 1994. A new FromSoftware project of some description has come out nearly every year since then, with some exceptions.
Since the launch of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles in 2020, FromSoftware has released two games. The first was open world RPGElden Ringin 2022, and the second was mech action gameArmored Core 6: Fires of Rubiconin 2023. Both games were released as cross-gen titles, meaning that they were not only available on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, but PS4 and Xbox One as well.Elden RingandArmored Core 6both earned acclaim from critics and fans alike, so it’s not like the older consoles held them back from their full potential, but it would still be nice to see FromSoftware make a game that takes full advantage of the newer hardware.
Even though it’s been four years since the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S launched, FromSoftware has not made a game exclusively with those systems and higher-end PCs in mind. In fact, FromSoftware hasn’t even announced such a project. Currently, the studio is hard at work on theElden RingDLCShadow of the Erdtree, but its future plans beyond that are a mystery.
FromSoftware Has Yet to Release a Next-Gen Only Game
It’s unclear why FromSoftware has decided to continue releasing cross-generation games, but it’s possible that the sales of the newer consoles have played a role. It’s no secret that the PS5 is failing to match the PS4’s sales pace, and the Xbox Series X/S consoles haven’t exactly sold like hotcakes. Considering themassive install base of the PS4, it makes a lot more sense to continue releasing cross-gen games for now. Companies that have released their games exclusively on PS5 and Xbox Series X have struggled somewhat, but that may no longer be an issue by the time FromSoftware releases a next-gen only game.
As for what FromSoftware’s next game is, that remains to be seen. It’s possible that the studio will produce a sequel to one of its established franchises, but it’s also possible it will create a brand-new IP entirely. FromSoftware fans can look forward to returning toElden Ring’s Lands Betweenwhile they wait for news on the company’s future projects.
Elden Ring
WHERE TO PLAY
ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
