Bloodborne 2 and Dark Souls 4 are unlikely to happen as developer From Software is concerned about overexposing the ‘Souls’ brand, series director Hidetaka Miyazaki has said.
Speaking with GameSpot, Miyazaki-san said that the Japanese studio needs to focus on creating new gaming experiences, which would tie in with previous rumours that the company is working on a PlayStation 4-exclusive JRPG. However, it also contradicts previous statements from the Dark Souls director that the upcoming third instalment in the franchise would not be the last.
“It’d be a lie if I said I have no concerns about that,” he said. “I don’t think it’d be the right choice to continue indefinitely creating Souls and Bloodborne games. I’m considering Dark Souls 3 to be the big closure on the series.
“That’s not just limited to me, but From Software and myself together want to aggressively make new things in the future. Dark Souls 3 will mark the last game where the development project began before I became president. The next title will be a game that was conceived while I was president.
“I believe that From Software has to create new things. There will be new types of games coming from us, and Dark Souls 3 is an important marker in the evolution of From Software… I just believe that [moving on] is necessary in order for players to continue enjoying our games. We have to keep creating quality games and be aggressive about doing new things."
Elsewhere, Miyazaki-san also said that he’s a big fan of Hearthstone and "really looks up" to Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls series.
Bloodborne was released in March for PS4 and will be receiving an expansion, The Old Hunters, later this month alongside a Game of the Year Edition re-release that includes a copy of the game and the upcoming DLC. Dark Souls 3 meanwhile is scheduled for release in the U.S. and Europe in April 2016 on PS4, PC, and Xbox One.