There’s a ton of things I’m itching to experience inFromSoftware’s next Soulsborne project (be that a Bloodborne sequel or Elden Ring): from a fresh world filled with hidden places to brand-new weapons with killer moves. What’s got me hyped the most, however, is the likelihood that their next entry will be next-gen-only, which unlocks a ton of possibilities.
And before you say it: yes, Demon’s Souls is a PS5 exclusive, butits design is very much faithful to the original, and rather dated, 2009 game, and while the original is a FromSoft game, the studio wasn’t involved in the creation of the Remake. Elden Ring, great though it is, was built to work on last-gen as well as current-gen consoles, restricting it on a technical level.
No Game Makes Me Feel As Small As Elden Ring Did
Sorry, Final Fantasy 16, I know you tried.
While it’s unlikely that the upcomingShadow of the Erdtree expansion will bring anything groundbreakingbeyond some extraElden Ringcontent for starving fans like me (which is totally cool, given how great this game is), it’s clear that some major changes are necessary to keep things fresh and exciting the next time. So what lies ahead beyond Shadow of the Erdtree, when FromSoft finally unleashes the full potential of current-gen consoles?
Wake Up, Next-Gen Arrived Three Years Ago
Elden Ring is a stunning game. Remember that feeling when you first laid eyes on the Lands Between in all its glory? The breathtaking sight of Liurnia of the Lakes with Raya Lucaria Academy standing tall in a mist-shrouded soggy valley, symmetrically flanked by massive golden Erdtrees, all bathed in soft light — such views stick with you.
The game does have its technical limitations. These range from static, uneven lighting, especially noticeable indoors, with plenty of light leaks and poor shadows that detract from the atmosphere when exploring dark temples, tombs, or caves. Additionally, outdoor environments suffer from rough environmental geometry, particularly in rock formations, along with poor texture and material quality up-close, and even occasional pop-in at a distance. In comparison to competitors that have moved on from last-gen consoles, such as Demon’s Souls, Lies of P and Lords of the Fallen, Elden Ring falls behind.
Bloodborne’s Chalice Dungeons Are Still FromSoftware’s Weirdest Experiment
Hand-crafted levels are the best thing these games have to offer, so what happens when you strip that away?
Not only both of FromSoft’s latest titles, Elden Ring andArmored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, were also released on PS4 and Xbox One, but Shadow of the Erdtree will likely follow suit to keep Elden Ring’s massive audience intact. In my opinion, it’s high time to leave those decade-old machines behind and fully embrace the new hardware and all its capabilities. Just look atDemon’s Souls Remake— don’t you wish the next FromSoft game would at least match that level of technical prowess, but on a much grander scale? And let’s not forget that it was a PS5 launch title, with the full capabilities of a given generation’s hardware only maximised in later years.
Switching entirely to new hardware, FromSoft could potentially overhaul its engine, leading to significantly improved graphics with support for numerous modern features, including fully dynamic ray-traced lighting, shadows, and reflections, as well as much better capabilities for lossless texture streaming, eliminating the annoying pop-in effect. Moreover, there’s the opportunity to rework many core aspects of their soulslike games, which have remained largely unchanged for the past decade due to the same old engine. Things like manual targeting with ranged weapons, the familiar UI, and the unchanged inventory system could certainly benefit from some much-needed enhancements. And perhaps thosefrustrating platforming sections could finally be ditchedfor good.
Boss Battles Perfected
But more than just fancy graphics, I’m eager to see the next generation of bosses in the studio’s games. After all, they’re the heart and soul of titles like Elden Ring. Recently, I’ve been on a marathon of FromSoft’s past creations, taking down over 300 bosses inBloodborne,Dark Souls 3, and Elden Ring. Through this journey, I’ve seen firsthand how their boss designs have evolved over time. With almost 15 years of experience under their belt, the team has gone from creating one-off gimmicky foes to crafting epic standoffs with bosses that you can approach however you like, be it melee, ranged, or magic build.
Just compare the dragon bosses from its earlier games, where you fought, well, ordinary dragons, to the remarkable battles in Elden Ring against thecolossal two-headed Dragonlord Placidusax, capable of launching thunderbolt nukes at you, or the equally menacing ancientcorrupted four-winged Lichdragon Fortissax. This is a whole new level, and yet it’s still tailored for last-gen.
The bosses in Elden Ring are already a massive leap forward from previous games, delivering peak face-to-face battles. From their intricate designs and diverse attack patterns to the lore surrounding these awe-inspiring figures, the special arenas where the fights unfold, and the emotional music that accompanies them — every detail, no matter how small, is pure perfection. That’s precisely why I’m incredibly excited to see how the studio will raise the bar even higher in its next project.
I Still Say Dark Souls 2 Is Better Than Dark Souls 3
It’s time the middle child got some love.
Whenmulti-handed Godrick the Graftedscreams in agony as you sever one of his arms, only to ‘borrow strength’ from a nearby dragon’s corpse, attaching its lifeless head in place of his lost limb and unleashing fire breath across the battlefield, you’re able to’t help but marvel at how FromSoft sets the bar for the entire gaming industry here. Surpassing something as iconic as this is undeniably a tough task, one that only themselves could pull off.
The market is flooded with soulslikes, but when it comes to boss battles, nobody does it quite like the creators of this genre. The studio is light years ahead of the competition. While other recent titles likeLies of PandLords of the Fallenmay have their occasional surprises, such as throwing four bosses at you simultaneously, for the most part, their bosses are limited to menacing dudes with oversized swords — reminiscent of FromSoft’s efforts from several years ago.
Other games simply lack the creative spark of its best offerings, like Bloodborne’s Ludwig the Accursed, whose appearance as a disproportionate, almost melted horse, leaves a lasting impression. OrStarscourge Radahn,deemed one of the best bosses in gaming by our own Rob Zak; or thehissing Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy, who merges with a giant serpent that devoured him. These legendary beings are not only terrifying in appearance, but also incredibly challenging due to the impressive variety of combat tricks up their sleeve. Nothing even comes close to Elden Ring yet — until FromSoft’s next project.
Elden Ring’s Success Is Just A Beginning
With the studio yet to reveal the release date for the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, it might be some time before FromSoft releases a true new soulslike exclusively for current-gen consoles, especially if they decide to stick with the open-world formula, which requires more time and resources. Optimistically, we might not see Elden Ring’s successor until 2026 at the earliest. Therefore, the team should prioritize investing in its technical capabilities right away to stay competitive.
Following the massive success of Elden Ring andBandai Namco’s official plans to expand this promising franchise, there’s little doubt that developers will revisit the Lands Between sometime after Shadow of the Erdtree is released. Just the thought of this exciting future gives me goosebumps, and I’m sure I’m not the only one.
Elden Ring: 15 Optional Bosses You Need To Beat
Elden Ring is packed with tough boss fights, but beyond the main story ones, most are completely optional. This list breaks down the absolute best.
Elden Ring
WHERE TO PLAY
The 2022 action RPG by From Software joins the Souls-like subgenre by presenting one of the most punishing games in the field with grotesque, memorable bosses to keep you up at night. Inside a world built by Hidetaka Miyazaki and Game of Thrones writer George R.R. Martin, Elden Ring’s gothic landscape, unforgiving combat, and top-tier exploration will keep you invested well into the year.
