Elden Ring creator and FromSoftware boss Hidetaka Miyazaki appears to have very high standards, saying the beloved role-playing game isn't quite the "ideal fantasy RPG" despite its universal acclaim.
Speaking to PC Gamer, Miyazaki said that Elden Ring — dubbed a masterpiece by IGN and countless others — is just one step on his path towards his ideal game, with the likes of Demon's Souls, the Dark Souls trilogy, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice all acting as predecessors too.
"Back when doing interviews about Elden Ring, I think I mentioned that I'm still in the process of making my ideal fantasy RPG," Miyazaki said. "While Elden Ring is not quite it, it's pretty close. It's getting close."
This likely comes as welcome news to fans of the soulslike genre created by Miyazaki and FromSoftware, who seemingly have games even better than Elden Ring to look forward to in the future.
Miyazaki didn't share what elements were missing from Elden Ring, because "it's hard to say without giving spoilers for [his] next idea or [FromSoftware's] next games," but did say the slightly tragic reality that he never gets to experience the wonder of his own games is one thing holding him back.
"I think one thing that's not necessarily missing, but makes it difficult to achieve my ideal, is that when I play it, I know everything's going to happen," Miyazaki said. "I already know everything that's going on. So in terms of enjoying the game from a player's perspective, I'd love to not know that, and for somebody else to make my ideal fantasy game, please, if possible. Then I can enjoy it just as a player."
Players will get to experience that feeling once again when Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion launches on June 21, 2024.
Just like previous FromSoftware games Dark Souls and Bloodborne, however, accessing the DLC isn't as simple as selecting it on a menu, as players must tick off a handful of obscure feats beforehand, including beating an optional boss. Thankfully, IGN has a guide on how to prepare for the Shadow of Erdtree DLC if you need to scramble ahead of the expansion's release. And make sure to check out our Elden Ring interactive map to ensure you're not missing any important collectibles.
The new map, story, bosses, and items will add more intrigue to the almost mythical status of Elden Ring, which proved somewhat of a cultural phenomenon when it launched in 2022. Many fans are therefore waiting with bated breath for the release of Shadow of the Erdtree, which will likely add hundreds, if not thousands, of new secrets and story threads to be discovered. Beware of spoilers online, however, as FromSoftware has issued a heads up to players after major story details leaked ahead of launch.
In our 10/10 review of the base game, IGN said: "Elden Ring is a massive iteration on what FromSoftware began with the Souls series, bringing its relentlessly challenging combat to an incredible open world that gives us the freedom to choose our own path."
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
