14 DAY TRIAL // Miyazaki and From Software's next game, Bloodborne, was recently confirmed at E3 2014 and Sony announced that it should be released on PlayStation 4 sometime in 2015.
Even though it's a new IP, Bloodborne seems to be the spiritual successor of Demon's Souls, the game that so many fans love and hate at the same time.
Unfortunately, nothing came along with the official announcement and the debut trailer that was presented at Sony's E3 press conference, so those who want to know more details on Bloodborne should keep reading.
It appears that the next cover story from this week's issue of Famitsu magazine is all about Bloodborne. There's a huge interview with Miyazaki as well, which also sheds some light on some of the game's mechanics.
There's a whole thread on Reddit with comments from fans of Miyazaki and From Software's work, so be sure to check that out for additional information if you feel the need.
Anyway, here we go. First of all, developers are targeting spring 2015 for the release of Bloodborne on PlayStation 4. The exact date should be confirmed later this year, but for now, Q1 2015 sounds more than decent for Demon's Souls and Dark Souls fans.
Secondly, the article in Famitsu also confirms that From Software started to work on Bloodborne immediately after finishing Artorias of the Abyss.
Another important piece of information is the fact that the Bloodborne story is completely new and has nothing to do with those presented in Demon's Souls and Dark Souls, which makes perfect sense given the fact that it was announced as a new IP.
The setting is supposed to take full advantage of the PlayStation 4's power. Speaking of which, Miyazaki says that they are targeting 30fps at 1080p for Bloodborne.
The dominant theme for Bloodborne is highlighted by the words “blood” and “beast,” as everything that the player does in the game should feel like a life or death struggle.
Famitsu's Bloodborne article also mentions the fact that the game will feature character customization, but it will not have map display included.
Last but not least, the online elements are a complete mystery for now, but they are said to involve players exploring together thus implying some sort of co-op mode.
We will update the story with more details on Bloodborne as we get them, but hopefully, these ones will satisfy your thirst for information.
Update 1: More details on the game have just appeared on PlayStation Europe blog, along with some screenshots that we have already included in the story.
So, the combat is slightly different than what Demon's Souls fans are used to. According to Masaaki Yamagiwa from Japan Studio, “In Bloodborne, the combat is based on intense life-threatening battles.
One of the ways we are bringing that sense of danger to life is by keeping the deep strategic elements from Demon’s Souls, while also transitioning from the passive and block-and-attack style of Demon’s Souls to a quicker, more offensive and active combat style with close-range weapons and guns.”
He has also confirmed that From Software is working to bring new types of online experiences that would allow players to share their adventures. They are also looking for solutions to provide fans with new ways of playing and sharing using PlayStation 4's Share capabilities.
Yamagiwa has also shared more details on the background story in Bloodborne, so here are some excerpts from what he said recently: “Bloodborne takes place in an ancient, forgotten city called Yharnam, known for an old medical remedy. Over the years, many hopeless and afflicted people have made long pilgrimages to Yharnam in search of help.
As the main character, you are one of these travelers. However, you find that Yharnam is also cursed with a horrible endemic illness. You must navigate the perilous streets of this city, fighting off nightmarish creatures, malformed beasts and deranged mobs stricken with this horrific illness.”
There's also a short message from Hidetaka Miyazaki, the mastermind behind Demon's Souls and Dark Souls, which you can read below.
“Creating Bloodborne as a completely new game on the new PlayStation 4 hardware has allowed us to really push the envelope in myriad ways. That being said, in more ways than one, it also very much retains our distinct, signature style.
As has been at the core of our development philosophy since Demon’s Souls, we make true games for people who love games. Please watch for more to come on Bloodborne, and thank you very much for your support.”