How Does Miyazaki Feel About Elden Ring?
Hidetaka Miyazaki, the president of FromSoftware and the mastermind behind Elden Ring, holds a complex but ultimately positive sentiment towards the game. He expresses happiness with its commercial success and the critical acclaim it has received. More importantly, he views Elden Ring as a pivotal point in FromSoftware’s growth, a culmination of past experiences and a springboard for even more ambitious and challenging future projects. He sees it as a validation of the team’s evolution and a catalyst for further creative exploration, allowing them to create games even more aligned with their unique style. While he likely won’t personally play the game due to his development perspective, Miyazaki deeply respects Elden Ring’s impact and potential.
Miyazaki’s Perspective on Elden Ring: More Than Just a Game
Miyazaki’s feelings about Elden Ring are layered and deeply intertwined with his role as a creator and leader. It’s not just a game to him; it’s a representation of his team’s journey and a testament to their collective growth. He’s publicly stated that Elden Ring was only possible because of what had preceded it. This includes the lessons learned from earlier titles like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Each of these games contributed to the studio’s technical expertise, design sensibilities, and narrative approach.
Miyazaki emphasizes that the growth of the team was crucial. FromSoftware has fostered a culture of continuous learning and improvement, and Elden Ring reflects this. The game’s massive scope, intricate world design, and challenging gameplay are all products of a highly skilled and dedicated team. He’s not simply taking credit for Elden Ring’s accomplishments; he is acknowledging the collective effort that brought it to life.
Furthermore, Miyazaki sees Elden Ring as a stepping stone. He hopes it will lead to more challenging future endeavors. This suggests that he is not content to rest on the game’s success. Instead, he wants to push the boundaries of game design and create even more innovative and ambitious experiences. He wants to deliver games that stay true to FromSoftware’s unique vision.
Miyazaki has expressed that the sales and acclaim Elden Ring has garnered will lead to a more fulfilling development process for him and his team. Successful projects typically instill confidence and provide resources, enabling developers to take greater risks and pursue more ambitious ideas. This seems to be the case for FromSoftware, with Elden Ring’s triumph paving the way for even grander designs.
Why Miyazaki Won’t Play Elden Ring Himself
It might seem unusual that the creator of such a beloved game wouldn’t play it, but Miyazaki has a valid reason. He stated he probably wouldn’t play it because it wouldn’t have a fresh feeling for him. Having been intimately involved in every aspect of its creation, from the initial concept to the final polish, playing the finished product would likely lack the sense of discovery and wonder that other players experience.
He has stated that it was his “personal policy” to not play games that he’s created. This allows him to maintain a detached perspective and avoid becoming overly critical or attached to certain design choices. It also ensures that his future work is not influenced by his personal experience playing his own games.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about Miyazaki’s perspective on Elden Ring and related topics:
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Does Miyazaki like Elden Ring? Yes, Miyazaki is happy with Elden Ring’s success and sees it as a crucial step in FromSoftware’s growth, though he won’t personally play it.
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Who is Miyazaki’s favorite Elden Ring character? Miyazaki’s favorite boss from Elden Ring is Starscourge Radahn. He finds him fascinating as a character and enjoys the Radahn Festival.
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Is Elden Ring popular in Japan? Yes, Elden Ring is extremely popular in Japan. It won the Grand Award at the Japan Game Awards.
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Is Elden Ring inspired by Studio Ghibli? While Hidetaka Miyazaki has discussed the influences for Elden Ring, Ghibli was not specifically mentioned. Even without direct confirmation, some believe Ghibli may have subtly influenced the team at From Software. You can often find inspiration in games with art design. The Games Learning Society has a good blog post about art design in games.
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What anime inspired Elden Ring? Berserk is a notable anime and manga series that has influenced Elden Ring, sharing several common themes and tropes.
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Why won’t Miyazaki play Elden Ring? Miyazaki won’t play Elden Ring because it wouldn’t have a fresh feeling for him, having been deeply involved in its development.
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Who inspired Hidetaka Miyazaki? Miyazaki was inspired by games like Ico, the early Dragon Quest games, The Legend of Zelda, and King’s Field.
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What game is most like Elden Ring? Dark Souls 3 is considered the closest experience to Elden Ring in terms of gameplay and combat, though it is less open-world.
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Is Elden Ring banned in any country? Elden Ring is banned from streaming platforms in China due to stricter enforcement of video game censorship laws.
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Is Elden Ring ok for a 13 year old? Elden Ring’s suitability for a 13-year-old depends on their maturity level. It has minimal gore but requires patience and a tolerance for challenging gameplay.
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What inspires Miyazaki? Several characters from Miyazaki’s films were inspired by his mother Yoshiko. Miyazaki has noted that some of his earliest memories are of “bombed-out cities”.
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Why did Miyazaki make Elden Ring? Miyazaki wanted to create an open-world game as a mechanical evolution of Dark Souls, known for its high level of difficulty.
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Is Elden Ring popular in China? Elden Ring has been popular in China, averaging over 17 million cumulative daily viewers before the ban on streaming platforms.
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What is Miyazaki’s favorite boss fight? Speaking to Xbox Wire Japan (and independently translated by IGN), Miyazaki was asked what his favourite boss in Elden Ring is and was also asked to explain himself over the infamous, terrifying Spider Hand enemy found in Caria Manor. “It’s tough to decide”, Miyazaki said about the bosses, “but I’d have to say Radahn.
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Is Elden Ring like Ghost of Tsushima? Elden Ring offers a beautifully designed, expansive open-world experience similar to Ghost of Tsushima, with multiple character builds and challenging combat. Ghost of Tsushima fans craving more slash-em-up fun should try Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty for an emphasis on parrying and supernatural enemies.
In conclusion, Miyazaki’s relationship with Elden Ring is one of pride, hope, and forward-thinking vision. He sees the game as a significant milestone in FromSoftware’s history, setting the stage for future innovations and challenges. His perspective highlights the importance of team growth, continuous improvement, and the pursuit of creative excellence in game development. You can learn more about the role of games in learning and the importance of community in gaming on the GamesLearningSociety.org website.