Why Bloodborne 2 Would Be So Much Better Than An Elden Ring Sequel

Summary

• Bloodborne 2,
  as FromSoftware’s next big project, would provide a unique aesthetic.
• Avoiding
  Elden Ring 2,
  given potential lore obstacles with George R. R. Martin, would be the best approach.
• Sekiro
  and
  Dark Souls
  sequels are less likely due to complete narratives and satisfying endings.

With Shadow of the Erdtree on the horizon, the gaming industry is wondering where FromSoftware will go with its soulsborne titles. Shadow of the Erdtree is set to be the only expansion for Elden Ring, but in terms of what the next big project will be for Fromsoftware, it is all up in the air. With all the IPs that the studio has, a sequel seems likely, with Dark Souls 4 or Bloodborne 2 being distinct possibilities.

After no longer having to share the IP rights to Elden Ring with Bandai Namco, FromSoftware’s long-time publisher for releases outside Japan, it stands to reason that the developer wants to do more with this title. Although soulsborne games have always had a cult following, they have, historically, been talked about more than they have been played. Elden Ring‘s open world changed this perception, making the game the biggest FromSoftware has ever made thanks to it being approachable, but that does not mean a sequel is the best move for the developer’s next project over Bloodborne 2.

Why FromSoftware Shouldn’t Make Elden Ring 2 Yet

Much of Elden Ring‘s lore was made through a collaborative effort between FromSoftware and legendary author George R. R. Martin, best known for the A Song of Ice and Fire series, which could present a problem. Martin is a busy man, working on the next book in his series, as well as several HBO shows set in his world, such as House of the Dragon and AKnight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight. Finding time to continue working on Elden Ring with the author could prove to be quite an obstacle.

Elden Ring is one of the biggest games to come out this decade, having won 2022’s Game of the Year award over the equally excellent God of War Ragnarök at The Game Awards. Producing a sequel so soon may prove detrimental to the series’ staying power, even if there are many lands that can still be explored. An Elden Ring sequel needs to be huge, thanks to the structure of its open world, and creating such a world straight after working on the first title’s DLC could strain the developer, creatively.

Another issue would be the over-saturation of medieval fantasy RPGs coming in the next few years. Avowed, Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, Crimson Desert, a new Witcher game, an unnamed Game of Thrones MMO, The Elder Scrolls 6, and a Final Fantasy 16 port for PC are all announced for release within the decade. If an Elden Ring sequel releases at this time, which it should if it’s the next title, it could come into a genre that players are beginning to grow bored with.

A Bloodborne Sequel Should Be Next

Bloodborne has a passionate following and somewhat of an underground reputation thanks to being a PlayStation exclusive, but this is exactly why a second game in the series could be the perfect title for FromSoftware to work on. Bloodborne is a well-known name in the gaming industry, even if many have not played it, and a title released on PC would garner a lot of interest. Players have been asking for a Bloodborne remaster or port for PC for a while, and if that isn’t a possibility, a new game could be even better.

A large part of what makes Bloodborne so fondly remembered is its unique aesthetic. Rather than the dark fantasy setting of Dark Souls, Demon’s Souls, and Elden Ring, Bloodborne is set in a Gothic, eldritch world that has inspired many copy cats. Its use of guns, its Gothic Revival architecture, and famous outfit designs have made it popular beyond just its player base. It’s also aided by its dizzying lore that leans into Lovecraftian elements, which has seen a surge in popularity of late.

Although similar to other soulsborne titles, Bloodborne‘s gameplay is faster, favoring strafe dashing over dodge rolls. The speed of the gameplay is different enough to give the game an entirely different feel, which could pull in players who have been getting a little tired of the slower Dark Souls-style gameplay specifically. The faster pace of Bloodborne also allows FromSoftware to do more with its boss designs, since there are a few cases in which bosses have been too quick for their game, like Sister Friede in Dark Souls 3 or Malenia in Elden Ring.

Bloodborne
is backward compatible for those that own a PS5, but it will still run at 30 fps.

Dark Souls & Sekiro Need To Stand Aside

Sekiro is the most novel of FromSoftware’s titles, to the point where some debate whether it is a soulsborne game, and its narrative is the reason why it likely won’t (and shouldn’t) get a sequel. The story feels very one and done, where the player is taking control of a pre-existing character, rather than one they can control itself. Being set in a fictionalized version of feudal Japan, it isn’t as though the setting of Sekiro is unique, even if the take on it is.

Dark Souls is a spiritual successor to Demon’s Souls, and the titles have very similar settings and gameplay. Dark Souls 3 was really meant to be the end of the series, since the countless cycles of Linking the Fire have come crashing together, and it offered a satisfying ending with the Ringed City expansion. Slave Knight Gael was the perfect final boss for the series, and even if there is a new world being painted, it doesn’t mean that this “cold, dark, and very gentle place” would make a fitting setting for the harsh Dark Souls series.

Ultimately, that leaves Bloodborne or a brand-new IP. With its following, a setting that allows for great, creative expression, and a new player base to introduce the title to, it seems like Bloodborne 2 would be the perfect project after Shadow of the Erdtree. Since Elden Ring was a new IP, why bother making another one when Bloodborne provides the ideal setting for another title to chase gaming’s most illustrious awards?