FromSoftware has announced that the next Elden Ring update will roll out on Thursday, June 20, and has shared an overview of the patch notes. The update will coincide with the launch of Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, and will bring new features, bug fixes, and balance adjustments.

Elden Ring base game and Shadow of the Erdtree DLC update patch notes — an overview (June 20, 2024)

Elden Ring will undergo server maintenance for several hours on June 20 to deploy the update, after which you can expect to see the following:

New Inventory features:

• Newly obtained items will be marked with a “!“.
• A new tab called “Recent Items” has been added to review recently obtained items.

New Summoning Pool features:

• Active Summoning Pools will now be carried over to NG+.
• Individual Summoning Pools can now be enabled / disabled in the newly added Map Functions Menu. Only active Summoning Pools will be selected when using the Small Golden Effigy.

New hairstyles:

• Five new hairstyles have been added to the game. They can be selected during character creation, using the Clouded Mirror Stand or using Rennala’s Rebirth feature.

Complete patch notes detailing all the bug fixes and balance adjustments will be available nearer the time.

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FromSoftware‘s Hidetaka Miyazaki has said that the studio would love a Bloodborne PC port (or even a PS5 remake) but it’s not in his hands and it’s “not his place to talk.” One can’t help but feel a bit sorry for Miyazaki as he continues to be quizzed about the game, only for him to reiterate that there’s nothing that he can personally do.

PS5 and PC players puzzled by Until Dawn remake as Sony ignores Bloodborne requests

In a somewhat bizarre move, Sony has decided to offer PS5 and PC players a remake of Until Dawn, which we have yet to see fans request. What players have requested repeatedly, however, is either a Bloodborne remake or a sequel.

Speaking to PC Gamer, Miyazaki said he’s not the only one who would love to see Bloodborne reach more players. Apparently, FromSoftware devs are all on board. Miyazaki stopped short of saying anything else, adding that he’ll “get in trouble” for doing so. But it’s pretty obvious that IP owner Sony is the one that gets to decide the future of Bloodborne.

“I know for a fact these guys want a Bloodborne PC port,” Miyazaki said. “If I say I want one, I’ll get in trouble as well. But it’s nothing I’m opposed to.”

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Sony is polling players on their favorite PlayStation games, and the list it provided undoubtedly includes some of the best PS4 and PS5 titles. However, one game is curiously missing from the list: Bloodborne. The move certainly didn’t go unnoticed, with fans wondering what’s prompting Sony to pretend that the hit FromSoftware PS4 exclusive doesn’t exist.

Bloodborne is widely regarded as one of the best PlayStation exclusive games to date

The poll, which the official Sony Group account ran on Twitter, includes the following games from both the PS4 and PS5 generations:

• Uncharted 4
• The Last of Us Part 1
• Death Stranding
• Spider-Man: Miles Morales
• God of War Ragnarok
• Demon’s Souls (PS5)
• The Last of Us Part 2
• Horizon Forbidden West
• God of War (2018)
• Gran Turismo 7
• Returnal
• Marvel’s Spider-Man
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• Spider-Man 2
• Ghost of Tsushima
• Horizon Zero Dawn

One can argue that there are quite a few beloved games that didn’t make the list, but the absence of what is regarded as one of the best PlayStation exclusives of all times is pretty noticeable. A quick look at the responses to Sony’s tweet is evidence of this.

For now, fans continue to hold out hope for a Bloodborne sequel.

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FromSoftware‘s Hidetaka Miyazaki has said that he wants other developers to direct the studio’s future Souls type games. In a recent interview with IGN Nordic, Miyazaki said that there’s a “high possibility” he will delegate his traditional role of director to someone else going forward.

Why Miyazaki wants fresh faces to direct future FromSoftware Souls games

Miyazaki told IGN Nordic that not only does he want to delegate responsibilities of a director in the future, he also wants to step away from a supervisory role. He’s of the view that this is the best way forward for fresh talent to “flourish” when it comes to “Souls-ish” games.

“I think it’s very likely that we’ll see new directors going forward,” Miyazaki said. “And I think if we do that, I’d like to step away from that supervisory role and give them full direction and full control over those projects. I think really this is the best way and the easiest way for them to flourish within that environment and with those new projects.”

Elsewhere, Miyazaki said that FromSoftware is able to release massive, successful AAA games like Elden Ring relatively quickly because the studio is “blessed with great staff” that’s “efficient at creating games.”

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FromSoftware‘s Hidetaka Miyazaki has denied that Elden Ring 2 is in the works. In fact, FromSoftware has no plans for a sequel at present, but hasn’t ruled out the possibility of making one either. Published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, Elden Ring is FromSoftware’s most successful game to date, marked by both critical and commercial successes.

Elden Ring 2 might not be published by Bandai Namco, if it’s ever made

In an interview with IGN ahead of the launch of Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, Miyazaki said that FromSoftware wants to leave the door open for a sequel but there’s no guarantee that it’ll make one. “We don’t want to say this is the end of the Elden Ring saga for now,” he explained. “I think we said a similar thing at the end of Dark Souls 3. We didn’t want to flatten those possibilities or put a pin in them just at that time, and it’s a similar story with Elden Ring.”

Miyazaki added that FromSoftware might have “more ideas” for Elden Ring in the future. Speaking of which, a future entry might be published by FromSoftware rather than Bandai Namco. It was recently discovered that FromSoftware purchased the IP from the publishing giant, which is undergoing financial troubles at the moment.

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Elden Ring fans recently got their first look at gameplay from the upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. In addition to the official gameplay trailer, Director Hidetaka Miyazaki talked about the expansion at length in a recent interview.

Director Hidetaka Miyazaki talks about Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

IGN reporter Mitchell Saltxman recently spoke to Miyazaki about Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Among the first questions is where the DLC takes place, and it might not be where everyone expects.

Rather than opening up a new part of The Lands Between, Shadow of the Erdtree’s map is physically separate from the rest of the world. Players will warp to the “Land of Shadow” from Miquella’s cocoon in Mohg’s Palace.

As Elden Ring fans have suspected since the first teaser image, the upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree DLC focuses heavily on the demigod Miquella. Players will retrace his footsteps through the mysterious realm, unraveling the mystery of Miquella’s plans. They will also discover what Queen Marika did that drew him there in the first place. However, the player isn’t the only one following Miquella’s trail. Some of these new characters will be potential allies, while others may become enemies.

Speaking of enemies, Miyazaki shared a little about a few of the new bosses seen in the trailer. For example, the “giant basket of flame” is an ancient weapon used in a war that wracked the Land of Shadows long ago. The “kindling” burning inside is actually the bodies of vanquished enemies. Meanwhile, the towering, red-robed figure in the trailer will be a significant character in Shadow of the Erdtree. However, he couldn’t say more for fear of spoilers.

As for the Land of Shadows itself, Miyazaki says it is laid out similarly to the base game. Players will explore wide open zones studded with dungeons of various sizes. He also revealed that the new map will be slightly larger than Elden Ring’s Limgrave area.

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Bloodborne director Hidetaka Miyazaki was recently quizzed about the possibility of a remake, to which he said that he’s “thrilled” to see how passionate fans are about the game but is unable to say anything. Developed by FromSoftware, Bloodborne remains the property of Sony Interactive Entertainment, and fans continue to be baffled by the company’s decision to leave the IP dormant.

Would a Bloodborne remake make sense on the PS6?

Speaking to Eurogamer, Miyazaki said that Bloodborne is a game that FromSoftware holds “very dear and just as much as our fans.” “It does make me very happy to see that there are still so many people passionate about it,” he added while apologizing for not being able to say anything specific.

Interestingly, Miyazaki is of the view that remakes hold more value when they are released on new hardware. While he doesn’t think that releasing remakes on upgraded consoles is the “be all and end all,” he does think new hardware allows players to appreciate those games.

So, will we get Bloodborne on the PS6 if the PS5 ship has sailed? Miyazaki, unfortunately, can’t say because the ball is in Sony’s court. However, seeing passionate fans of the game makes him and the team at FromSoftware feel “very fortunate.”

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Update: The leaked release date is now confirmed.

Original story:

Just as FromSoftware announced that it’s dropping a new trailer for Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree, a known insider leaked its potential release date alongside special editions. The developer surprised fans by tweeting out of nowhere that Shadow of the Erdtree will be revealed today, February 21, at 3 p.m. GMT / 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET.

What we know about Elden Ring DLC’s potential release date and special editions

The insider in question is none other than billbil-kun, who has an impeccable track record when it comes to leaks. According to them, a GOTY edition and a Collector’s Edition of Elden Ring with DLC included are scheduled for release on June 21, 2024.

Billbil-kun can’t say for sure if this is the exact date that Shadow of the Erdtree will release but we can finally narrow down the release window to anytime between now and June. Given the lack of news and official statements saying that FromSoftware is still working on the content, fans were worried that it wouldn’t see the light of day anyime soon.

As for the GOTY and Collector’s editions, billbil-kun states that their physical copies will be available on the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The PC will only receive Collector’s Edition in physical form. In Europe, both editions will cost 79.99 euro and 259.99 euro, respectively.

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It looks like Elden Ring developer FromSoftware has purchased the IP from publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment. Internet sleuths discovered a United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) filing for transfer of IP ownership dated April 2023, suggesting that Bandai Namco agreed to let go of the global hit.

Sony and Tencent have been investing in Elden Ring developer FromSoftware

Both Sony Interactive Entertainment and Tencent have been increasing their stake in FromSoftware and its parent company Kadokawa, with the view to enabling both to self publish their games. As of August 2022, Sony owns 14.1% of FromSoftware whereas Tencent owns 16.3%.

It’s unclear if Sony and Tencent were behind the push to purchase Elden Ring, but the news has surprised some given the game’s success. Many wonder why Bandai Namco would let go of such a prized IP.

Worth noting, however, that Bandai Namco hasn’t had a stellar financial year and recently reported a whopping 96% decrease in profit year-on-year for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2023. The company has canceled five games in development and has pledged stricter quality control going forward.

Whether Bandai Namco’s financial troubles have anything to do with its decision to sell Elden Ring is anybody’s guess.

The post Looks Like Elden Ring IP Is Now Owned by FromSoftware appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Naughty Dog has revealed that The Last of Us 2 originally sought inspiration from Bloodborne, but realized over the course of development that the idea didn’t fit with the story that the team wanted to tell. This was revealed in the latest episode of TLOU 2 development documentary, Grounded 2.

Why The Last of Us 2 abandoned its Bloodborne style direction

According to co-game director Anthony Newman, Naughty Dog wanted to make TLOU2 “as different as humanly possible” from the first game — an idea encouraged by Neil Druckmann, who was passionate about a new direction. The team toyed with the idea of making TLOU2’s combat purely melee focused, and making its open layout like Bloodborne’s.

“Bloodborne had a very open space that kept getting bigger and bigger as you explored,” explained lead game designer Emilia Schatz. “I really like that feeling that you get of mastery over the world. It starts to become almost a character in the game itself. That was also something we were looking at.” Unfortunately, however, this didn’t gel with TLOU2’s story.

In the same documentary, Druckmann revealed that he has the concept for The Last of Us 3, and he feels that the series’ story has room for “probably one more chapter.”

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