Summary
Right now, it isn’t clear whatFromSoftware’s next project is going to be.Elden Ring’s anticipated Shadow of the Erdtree expansion has a June 2024 release date, and that’s all fans know about. Some rumors have surfaced regarding the Japanese developer’s next game, andArmored Core 6could get an expansion mirroring its predecessors’ half-step sequels, but no concrete details exist. It seems thatFromSoftwarehas entered another period of silent development between announced projects, though at least fans aren’t waiting years for another teaser trailer follow-up like what happened withElden Ring.
For a community as passionate as FromSoftware’s, finding fulfilling substitutes until the next fresh, expertly-designed Soulslike experience launches can be difficult. Luckily, FromSoftware’s titles are made with replayability in mind.Repeated New Game Plus runswith different build and narrative choices are only the beginning, as Soulslikes often include online cooperative and competitive elements that players may revisit as much as they wish. And when every official option is used, the fans themselves have built a growing library of gameplay overhaul mods that are thorough enough to feel like new FromSoftware releases in and of themselves.
Major Mods Can Serve Similar Roles to Full FromSoftware Releases
While randomizers and cosmetic mods can add replay value to any title, capturing the experience of a brand-new game is tougher. It takes a lot of time and effort to build mods on that scale, and that goes double for any emulating FromSoftware’s distinct, detail-oriented style. However, it’s FromSoftware’s consistent style that also provides mods with a foundation and blueprint. There isn’t always a large leap in gameplay or graphics in FromSoftware games, a complaint directed towardsElden Ringfollowing up theDark Soulstrilogy, but that simultaneously takes pressure off of their mods to do the same while making deviations stand out even more.
Dark Souls: Archthrones Already Feels Like It Could Be A FromSoftware Game
An immediate example isDark Souls: Archthrones, which released its first demo in March 2024 to an impressed public. Based on the structure ofDemon’s Souls,Archthronesoffers five such thrones for traveling to different reimagined parts of theDark Soulsuniverse. An entire game’s worth of new enemies, equipment, areas, gameplay mechanics, and even multiplayer servers are planned, and the demo has demonstrated thatArchthrones’ development team is capable of achieving their lofty ambitions. Despite being made onDark Souls 3’s engine,Archthroneslooks and feels likeDark Souls 4, and should be a great Soulslike to jump over to the next time FromSoftware is in-between projects.
Other Noteworthy FromSoftware Soulslike Overhaul Mods
ProducingArchthroneswould be a credit to FromSoftware’s fandom if that’s all it did, butArchthronesis far from the only project of its kind.Dark Souls: Nightfallis another team effortwith a public demo, this one having been dropped beforeElden Ringwas released. It’s positioned as a full-on sequel toDark Souls 1’s Dark Lord ending, and involves everything from new geography and voice acting to deep structural changes like aMajora’s Mask-like time loop and a combat stance system. After the major boss, lore, and quest changes made in its creators’ last mod,Dark Souls: Daughters of Ash, there’s good reason to treat this mod with the same gravity asArchthrones.
There are too many Souls overhaul mods to make a comprehensive list, but some other highlights from the community’s efforts include:
Whether it’s enjoyingRemastest’s remake ofDS1’s multiplayer or the drip feed of new dungeons andplaythrough options inElden Ring ReforgedandThe Convergence, there are plenty of playthrough-changing mods that can takeFromSoftwarefans’ minds off of the wait for its next game.
From Software
Based in Japan, FromSoftware is a development company best known for the Souls series and Armored Core franchise. Other popular games from From Software include Elden Ring, Sekiro, Bloodborne, and the King’s Field series.
