In an interview with Gamespot Brazil, FromSoftware director Hidetaka Miyazaki revealed that the prospect of a sequel to the brutally challenging action-RPG, Bloodborne, is out of his hands.
When asked if Bloodborne 2 was a possibility, Miyazaki explained the decision was not up to him, saying:
“Bloodborne 2… Unfortunately, I’m not the one to decide.”
From his answer, it seems the decision about whether the game should see the light of day falls firmly on publisher Sony. Despite an unwavering and almost voracious appetite for a sequel from fans, neither developer FromSoftware nor Sony has commented on whether it could become a reality.
Reasons point to Sony’s upcoming PlayStation 5 generational transition as a barrier, as does the perception that Bloodborne’s unique formula of unsettling Lovecraftian horror and heightened difficulty level (a contentious point as we’ve seen more recently with Sekiro) doesn’t correlate with the company’s mainstream audience in the way other titles do.
FromSoftware’s prolific release habits may also play a part.
Since Bloodborne launched in 2015, the developer has launched no fewer than four titles, including Dark Souls III and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, with the highly anticipated collaboration between the company and Game of Thrones novelist George R. R. Martin, Elden Ring, expected next year.
FromSoftware may quite simply not have the resources to embark on the development of Bloodborne 2 currently.
In the interview, Miyazaki also confirmed that among his stellar catalog of games, Bloodborne is his favorite. He explains the game has left the most lasting impression on him despite facets of the game he feels could have been improved upon, notably the Chalice Dungeons and Blood Gem weapon stat boosts.
Miyazaki’s soft spot for Bloodborne is clear for all to see. Let’s hope the stars align, and Sony considers the merits of a sequel in a serious light, possibly as a PlayStation 5 exclusive.