Hidetaka Miyazaki knows his games are tough, but he argues that difficulty alone has never been the goal. For the creator of FromSoftware’s biggest hits, challenge only works when it feels fair.

FromSoftware has become synonymous with punishing difficulty. With titles like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring, Hidetaka Miyazaki has secured his place among the industry’s most influential creators, delivering experiences filled with failure, persistence, and endless debate.

Many players continue to label the studio’s games as unfair, citing the precision and coordination they demand. Miyazaki, however, insists that difficulty has never been an end in itself, but a tool designed to teach players through experience.

Speaking in an interview with Game Informer, Miyazaki addressed both the rise of soulslike games and the reputation surrounding FromSoftware. “I know our games are widely recognized for their difficulty, but it’s not about simply making things harder. It’s about doing it fairly”, he explained, as reported by GamesRadar+.

According to Miyazaki, death becomes meaningful when players understand its cause. “When players die and can see why it happened, and it feels justified, it makes sense”, he said. That sense of logic is what the studio constantly strives for.

He acknowledges that frustration is an inevitable part of the process. “I’m sure many players would say, ‘What are you talking about? This doesn’t make sense!’” Miyazaki admitted. Still, FromSoftware focuses on creating learning curves and feedback loops that reward perseverance. “We believe in challenging games, but not in games that are unfairly difficult”, he added.

This design philosophy is expected to carry over into Miyazaki’s next project, The Duskbloods. The upcoming title will be a PvPvE multiplayer game exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2, featuring characters from the Twilight Bloodlines who possess superhuman abilities granted by their blood.

Planned for release in 2026, the game has already sparked mixed reactions. While some fans are wary of its multiplayer focus, others see it as a fresh challenge for FromSoftware. Miyazaki has reassured players, however, that the studio remains committed to developing single-player experiences alongside its online projects.

Source: 3djuegos