Hidetaka Miyazaki has once again spoken about The Duskbloods, the studio’s upcoming PvPvE multiplayer title exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2. In a fresh interview with IGN, the director addressed how he views the current multiplayer gaming landscape and how working with Nintendo has changed the way FromSoftware approaches online games. The conversation also brings back memories of the studio’s complicated publishing history with Sony, and why this latest collaboration feels different.
Hidetaka Miyazaki on Multiplayer Trends and Creative Freedom
Hidetaka Miyazaki | Credit: Nintendo Creator’s Voice Blog
When asked how he views the current state of multiplayer gaming, where new live-service titles often launch and die within months, the director replied with a refreshing answer:
“I would say, in terms of trends and the direction of the industry in general, it’s not really something that I look at too much, if at all. At the end of the day, I’m just focused on making what I’ve been wanting to make, regardless of how viable that is from a business standpoint. I’ll have a vision for a game, and I’m not super great at determining if this is going to be the most successful thing.“
The director says industry trends barely factor into his decision-making, adding that he builds games around what he wants to create rather than chasing what is considered commercially safe. He also admitted that he isn’t always the best judge of a project’s market viability, which is precisely why he values the studio’s arrangement with Nintendo on this project, since it lets his team concentrate on gameplay and vision while leaving the business side in Nintendo’s hands.
He also touched on what makes multiplayer experiences different from FromSoftware’s traditionally single-player-focused catalog, noting that playing alongside real people carries an emotional weight that differs from solo adventures. Looking at other online games the industry has to offer, he said his team is often inspired to add its own spin on existing ideas instead of simply imitating them.
FromSoftware Finally Got to Enjoy a Different Kind of Publisher Relationship
The studio’s latest collaboration is with Nintendo | Credit: FromSoftware
The director’s comments start carrying extra weight once you take into consideration FromSoftware’s history with PlayStation. Former Sony Interactive Entertainment executive Shuhei Yoshida has previously revealed that Sony hoped to publish a sequel to Demon’s Souls, but the studio turned the offer down after feeling let down by how the original game had been supported.
That decision led the studio to Bandai Namco for Dark Souls, a partnership that helped turn FromSoftware into one of gaming’s most respected developers. Sony and FromSoftware eventually came together again for Bloodborne, but the episode remains a notable part of the studio’s publishing history.
With all this context, Miyazaki’s enthusiasm for Nintendo is understandable. He has previously credited the partnership with helping FromSoftware improve The Duskbloods‘ onboarding, an area that the studio has historically struggled with, and has said Nintendo showed genuine excitement for the concept from the start.
What do you think about the FromSoftware X Nintendo collaboration? Let us know your opinions in the comments below!
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