A new interview with Hidetaka Miyazaki has the company boss saying making difficult games is FromSoftware’s identity, hinting they won’t change regardless of how many other sites complain.
“We are always looking to improve, but, in our games specifically, hardship is what gives meaning to the experience. So it’s not something we’re willing to abandon at the moment. It’s our identity,” Miyazaki said to The New Yorker.
Later in the interview Miyazaki reiterated that while he isn’t particularly good at games himself, he embeds that experience into game design and explores the meaning behind death itself.
“I’ve never been a very skilled player. I die a lot,” he said. “So, in my work, I want to answer the question: If death is to be more than a mark of failure, how do I give it meaning? How do I make death enjoyable?”
Miyazaki also said he feels sorry for players who are unable to best the challenges in his games, but he still wants them to feel the satisfaction of overcoming difficulty.
“I do feel apologetic toward anyone who feels there’s just too much to overcome in my games. I just want as many players as possible to experience the joy that comes from overcoming hardship,” he said.
Lastly, Miyazaki expanded upon the core gameplay design his games usually employ – the circle of life, or perhaps, the circle of death.
“Death and rebirth, trying and overcoming – we want that cycle to be enjoyable. In life, death is a horrible thing,” Miyazaki said. “In play, it can be something else. Impossible challenges? That’s where I draw the line, and where I feel stressed out.”
New to Elden Ring? Learn how to survive the lands between with our Elden Ring guides
- Elden Ring leveling guide – how to spend runes and level up
- Elden Ring keepsake guide – picking the best starter gift
- Elden Ring Brass Shield guide – finding one of the best early shields in the game
Elden Ring is available now across Windows PC (via Steam), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. In case you missed it, you can find our thorough and spoiler-free review and video review for Elden Ring here.
