Miyazaki on FromSoftware’s influence and the Future of Gaming

The Chill Mind Behind the Chaos: How Hidetaka Miyazaki Built a Multiplayer Masterpiece

Behind the legendary, demanding world of FromSoftware games, one might expect a brooding, villainous genius. Instead, Hidetaka Miyazaki, the president of FromSoftware and director of titles like Elden Ring and Bloodborne, is far more of a laid-back thinker. His focus remains on honing his creative vision, even if he admits he isn’t the greatest action game designer himself.

This creative drive led to the development of The Duskbloods, a new PvPvE exclusive for the Switch 2 that successfully translates a pile of ambitious, often unused multiplayer ideas into a tight, compelling experience. It’s a game that manages to blend the familiar Souls gameplay with fresh competitive dynamics, seasoned with elements that hint at board game strategy.

When exploring the genesis of the game, Miyazaki revealed that the driving force wasn’t a single inspiration, but rather a desire to find an outlet for ideas that didn’t quite fit the confines of single-player design. He spoke of wanting to implement unique online elements—like the Covenant system and Invasions—that felt perfect for multiplayer, but which had previously been sidelined in the context of single-player titles.

This quest for an outlet led him to look at board games. He found specific inspiration in systems that deal with managing relationships and victory points. The Virtue system, acting as victory points, and the Sigil system, which mirrors the RPG elements of character development and relationships, provided the foundation for the game’s unique structure.

The process of bringing these complex concepts to life required a strategic partnership. Miyazaki noted that the decision to collaborate with Nintendo was key. The partnership provided the necessary support and forward-thinking vision needed to navigate the complexities of creating such a multifaceted system.

One of the biggest challenges was ensuring that such complex systems were digestible for players. The team recognized that conveying rules and intricate mechanics in a multiplayer environment requires a different approach. This is where the relationship with Nintendo proved invaluable, helping to ensure that the onboarding tutorials and game systems could be explained in a way that is intuitive and engaging.

Designing for a mixed audience—those who love intense PvP and those who prefer PvE or character focus—was a significant undertaking. The development focused on giving players multiple ways to engage. Through character customization and the emphasis on companion characters, players who prefer a more narrative or supportive role still have meaningful ways to contribute to the endgame.

The narrative itself was also woven into the gameplay. Instead of traditional cutscenes, the game utilizes the Bloodlines system, where character relationships and backstory are revealed through in-match events and unexpected discoveries. This means players can uncover lore and character connections organically while immersed in the action, turning the multiplayer match into a dynamic story experience.

As with any evolving game, the conversation extends to the future. While the current focus is on refinement and stability, the team is keenly interested in player feedback, particularly regarding systems like the Sigil mechanic, to see how players engage with them. They are also exploring concepts, like a custom PvP mode similar to the Invasions system, to cater to the competitive itch while still embracing the depth of the PvE experience.

Ultimately, the motivation behind The Duskbloods is simple: to create a game that Miyazaki genuinely wants to experience. It is a testament to how a desire to explore new, complex ideas, combined with the right partners, can result in a truly unique and deeply rewarding multiplayer world.