- FromSoftware games are known for their challenging nature.
- The Elden Ring director states that his team has no intentions of making its games any easier.
- He also states that lowering the difficulty would ruin the whole fun of Elden Ring.
Few studios can rival FromSoftware’s high-quality bar. The team has become synonymous with quality, but the developer is also famous for creating brutal and punishing games.
Elden Ring is perhaps its most successful and challenging release to date. The team has also launched Shadow of the Erdtree, an expansion that has become equally successful while claiming the title of gaming’s best DLC.
Discussing this success and the subject of mass appeal, FromSoftware states that it will continue to stick to challenging gameplay. The team does not want to lower its bar for difficulty for the sake of a broader audience.
Why it matters: Whether it be Elden Ring, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, or Dark Souls, the team has constantly challenged gamers in numerous ways.
FromSoftware pioneered the Souls-like genre, which is famous for its punishing nature. Players must struggle to achieve their objectives and carefully analyze enemy moves to earn victory.
However, this has also led to a growing demand for more accessibility. Everyone acknowledges the strengths of these titles, but many are deterred from the challenges presented by the experience.
In an interview with The Guardian, director Hidetaka Miyazaki commented on the topic. He acknowledged that there is a demand to tone down the difficulty of games like Elden Ring but also clarified that this won’t happen.
If we really wanted the whole world to play the game, we could just crank the difficulty down more and more.
-Hidetaka Miyazaki
His statement confirms that mass appeal is not what FromSoftware is after. In fact, the team has previously said that it was surprised by Elden Ring’s success because it didn’t change its approach to development.
Hidetaka Miyazaki also stated that Elden Ring would break if the difficulty was lowered. This confirms yet again that difficulty is inherent to these titles and can’t be toned down by a simple toggle or slider.
For those who have played a Souls-like, it’s no secret that the satisfaction of beating a boss is unparalleled. This satisfaction drives the experience, motivating players to improve and thrive for greater skill.
Those looking for an easier experience can always turn to guides and optimized builds. Hidetaka Miyazaki has recently admitted that using guides is no big deal despite the negative stigma surrounding this tactic.
Players can also resort to mods to lower difficulty, but this typically ruins the fundamental design elements of Souls-like titles.
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[News Reporter]
Bawal is an MBBS student by day and a gaming journalist by night. He has been gaming since childhood, growing fond of the creativity and innovation of the industry. His career as a gaming journalist started one year ago, and his journey has allowed him to write reviews, previews, and features for various sites. Bawal has also been cited in reputed websites such as Screenrant, PCGamesN, WCCFTech, GamesRadar, and more.
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