With the upcoming and highly anticipated release of Elden Ring, fans of FromSoftware are once again left to wonder about the future of the Japanese company and where its attention will turn to next. The popular developer will ultimately be faced with the choice to either continuing to create new content, or potentially make a sequel to one of its existing games for which the demand is already quite high; namely Bloodborne or Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Considered by many as one of FromSoftware's best titles, the first Bloodborne reaped praise for its impressive combat system and rich storyline. Numerous factors continue to dull fans’ anticipation for a sequel, despite rumors constantly flaring up regarding a Bloodborne sequel said to be in development. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is also widely considered one of the best games of 2019, and despite its relatively recent release, players have also hoped for confirmation of a sequel. Ultimately, it is impossible to know definitely whether or not a sequel is coming, but fans should err on the side of caution and assume that it is quite unlikely.
FromSoftware's History of Sequels
FromSoftware is not exactly unfamiliar with creating sequels, as some of the developer’s oldest franchises include multiple spin-offs and direct continuations. However, since Miyazaki took the helm of the studio's most popular titles, it has tended towards forging original games that act as spiritual sequels as opposed to direct continuations. Recently, FromSoftware has opted for entirely new games in new settings.
The outlier here is, of course, Dark Souls. However, Dark Souls 2 was not headed by FromSoftware's usual creative director, and it could be argued that Dark Souls 3 was created to correct the wrongs of the second game and provide closure to the franchise. Unfortunately for fans of both games, direct sequels are not something Miyazaki tends towards; the outlook for a second Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice or a follow-up to Bloodborne is not particularly promising.
While discussing Bloodborne in the past, Miyazaki previously said that he did not think it would be the right choice "to continue indefinitely creating Souls and Bloodborne games." This certainly makes sense in the case of Dark Souls, but fans of Bloodborne have grounds to disagree given that it's a standalone title. Such a case could similarly be argued for a Sekiro 2, which some fans consider a new Bloodborne 2 in the sense that it seems a sequel isn't possible. However, Miyazaki does have a strong argument against this, stating "I believe that FromSoftware has to create new things...We have to keep creating quality games and be aggressive about doing new things."
Despite the success and popularity of both games, FromSoftware is simply not interested in turning its games into extended series like the aforementioned Dark Souls trilogy. Instead, it has found great success by taking the strongest features from its previous titles and reimagining, reworking, and reformulating them. Each game released by FromSoftware since the original Dark Souls, including the upcoming Elden Ring, has evolved upon the Dark Souls formula as a spiritual successor.
Each title builds upon the Soulslike genre while making just enough changes to make each new game feel fresh. Working on new projects allows developers to experiment and take creative gambles, not only in terms of gameplay but in lore and world-building, too. Rather than iterating on existing content, FromSoftware has ensured that each new launch is unique while still retaining an air of familiarity. These spiritual successors guarantee that it has a reliable market for each new game, but also offer something fresh and innovative, which is perhaps its greatest strength.
Bloodborne 2 is Not In Miyazaki's Hands
Fortunately for Sekiro fans over Bloodborne fans, a sequel to the Samurai adventure is perhaps more likely. A continuation of the Sekiro story would be up to FromSoftware directly and not its publisher, as is the case with Bloodborne. The decision to make a Bloodborne 2 is not as simple as FromSoftware deciding to start developing the game, as it is Sony who owns the intellectual property. In order to make a sequel, Sony would have to be the one to set things in motion.
As of now, a sequel continues to look unlikely, despite the fact that FromSoftware has clearly not forgotten the title. Déraciné contained multiple Bloodborne Easter Eggs, which Miyazaki stated were placed in the game simply because he loved Bloodborne. He also stated that out of all the games he has created Bloodborne remains the one which has stayed closest to his heart. In this sense, regardless of whether he personally wanted to expand upon the gothic RPG or not, the decision ultimately lies elsewhere, and there has been very little indication Sony has plans to revisit Bloodborne any time soon.
It is possible that at some point in the future, Bloodborne or Sekiro will receive the sequels fans so ardently want. The demand for sequels to both games remains extremely high, and with Elden Ring approaching, now seems as good a time as any to consider the pros and cons of a sequel. For better or worse, original projects appear to be FromSoftware's greatest priority. It is far more likely that Bloodborne and Sekiro will remain standalone titles with spiritual successors that continue to evolve upon the Soulslike genre and build on the Dark Souls legacy, rather than direct follow-ups.
Elden Ring is in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.