It has been a few months sinceFromSoftwarelaunched its newest title,Elden Ring. This game has been a dream forDark Soulsfans, expanding the formula into a well-designed open world that offers similar storytelling and gameplay to priorFromSoftwareefforts.Elden Ringis already topping some fans’ list ofSoulstitles, and it is on-track to be FromSoftware’s best-selling game. Thanks to the efforts of Hidetaka Miyazaki and his team, as well as some narrative planning by George R. R. Martin, this dark-fantasy epic has been a runaway success.
Some fans are still working through the massive Lands Between, while others are experimenting with online multiplayer and repeat playthroughs. What’s coming next for FromSoftware is not at the forefront of anyone’s mind yet, though it is an interesting question to consider.Even while patchingElden Ring, the developers at FromSoftware are not likely to rest on their laurels. There are probably multiple ongoing projects concerning a variety of games. By assembling rumors, leaks, and educated guesses, a likely picture of what FromSoftware is working on may take shape.
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Elden Ring DLC Seems Likely
The most obvious choice is more content forElden Ring. The game is receiving updates that affect balance, squashing bugs, and adding more NPCs and quest phases. Some updates feel like they’re adding a lot, but fans suspect there is something larger on the horizon. Every FromSoftwareSoulsgame afterDemon’s Soulshas received some kind of major post-launch support.Sekirogot a free update that added a boss rush, while theDark Soulstrilogy andBloodbornereceived substantial expansionswithin a year of launch. Even thoughElden Ring’s open format means new areas will take longer than past DLC expansions to develop, the track record that Bandai Namco and FromSoftware have built together suggest something is coming.
The nature of that DLC is up for debate, but players have noticed several areas that seem ripe for something new. In particular, there arethree colosseums spread throughoutElden Ring’s map, and all of them have either an invader or notable NPC right outside. The one found in Limgrave even has a PvP-related item sitting on its doorstep, suggesting a multiplayer function.Dark Soulsfans have seen DLC arenas added to all three games, suggesting these colosseums will serve the same function. In addition, dataminers have found that they have antechambers resembling the DLC teleporter rooms inDark Souls 2. Considering the many similaritiesElden Ringhas toDS2, they may serve the same function here.
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There is room in the Lands Between for more areas to be found. One suspected site for DLC is the center of the map, which hosts an impenetrable fog. Dataminers have found that the center of this area, which should be covered in water, has a large empty square atop it. This seems ideal for DLC, as does the far-east side of the map which is mostly water. As for the lore, the only Great Rune players haven’t found is Ranni’s original shard, and the only royal family member they do not fight is Miquella. It’s possible the DLC will restore a cut quest about infiltrating characters' dreams, ending with the player discovering that they have been acting as anagent of the sleeping Miquella. There could be a new ending caused by bringing all the old Elden Ring’s shards together, so perhaps the DLC could tie up these loose threads.
Armored Core Could Make a Comeback
Elden Ringis on everyone’s minds at the moment, but another rumor has indicated that FromSoftware may be working on another game. Recently, a ResetEra user came forward with details on a survey thatalluded to a newArmored Core. Several blurry promotional images and a general description also came out to corroborate this. Mecha action and some manner of dark-fantasy game have been FromSoftware’s two main “series” since the company was founded. The mecha side of the company has been languishing ever sinceDark Soulsbecame its most successful game, but it appears the end ofDark Soulscould bring the beginning of a newArmored Coreproject.
What this title is will not be entirely clear until it’s properly revealed, but the leaked synopsis makes it sound like it is a soft reboot. The game will supposedly take place on the planet Bashtar, which has been ravaged by a cosmic event involving a new energy source called Melange. As usual, players will take control of mercenaries with giant robots to carve out their place in the world amid rival pilots and sinister mega-corporations. This newArmored Coremay take cues fromDark Soulsand provide a more involved melee system, but will otherwise be the heavily customizable mecha franchise thatACfans love.
Aside from moreElden RingandArmored Core, it isn’t clear what else FromSoftware could be working on. The company has promised to address the security issues found in PC versions of theDark Soulstrilogy, though no updates have been given for several months. If the community’s guesswork regardingElden RingDLC and a newArmored Coreproject are correct, there isn’t much room for anything else on FromSoftware’s schedule. The major trade shows and conventions held over the summer may clarify whatFromSoftwareis planning, as theArmored Coreleaks suggest that the game is deep in production. WithElden Ringaround, at least fans won’t get bored during the wait.
