Shy Game Creator Behind Elden Ring Revealed

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Hidetaka Miyazaki, who’s known as one of the most influential game directors in recent years, has created some of the toughest yet successful games within the gaming industry while working at FromSoftware. His creations have even sparked an entire sub-genre of games! Yet, many are surprised to learn that the mind behind Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring is actually quite reserved.

Through numerous interviews spanning many years, Miyazaki prefers that his games garner the limelight, rather than himself. These conversations have portrayed a man who is uneasy with fame, hesitant to share his work even with his own family, and primarily focused on the quality of his games over the attention they generate for him.

Hidetaka Miyazaki has always wanted his games to be the center of attention

During the PlayStation 2 period, Hidetaka Miyazaki joined FromSoftware, leaving a significant mark with his work on “Armored Core: Last Raven.” As revealed in an interview by another FromSoftware developer with Game Informer, it was evident back then that he had an exceptional level of determination and creativity. Indeed, given the numerous successful projects he’s since produced, this seems quite plausible.

Miyazaki-san began working at FromSoftware during an era when the PlayStation 2 ruled the gaming industry… His determination to contribute to game development was palpable… It quickly became evident that he was a cut above the other developers at FromSoftware.

In a further discussion, the developer noted that despite Miyazaki’s extroverted demeanor in professional environments, he actually tends to be rather introverted. He typically struggles with managing fan encounters during events such as E3 and generally avoids being in the spotlight.

Though he gives off an extroverted vibe, he’s actually quite reserved in reality. I’ve been informed that reporters and fans have attempted to chat with him during gaming events such as E3, but he confided in me that he struggles to carry on those conversations effectively.

The humility that characterizes him runs deep in his personal affairs as well. In March 2024, Miyazaki confessed that he forbids his family from playing his games. It might seem it’s due to their complexity, but that’s not the case. Instead, he expressed, “I don’t want my family playing my games because I fear they’d see a flawed side of me… I can’t help but feel embarrassed.

It’s quite logical, isn’t it? Miyazaki’s games are known for their ominous worlds and heavy themes. Consequently, it wouldn’t be surprising if he felt apprehensive about revealing them to his family. After all, the mindset required to create such dark concepts can be quite challenging.

The future of FromSoft should be bright thanks to him

Despite the tremendous achievements of Elden Ring and his other games, Miyazaki remains grounded and unaffected by popularity or acclaim. As he stated to The Guardian in 2024, “We don’t make decisions based on the assumption that because we succeeded once, it will happen again.” For him, this mindset fosters greater creativity and better decision-making.

Currently, Miyazaki, being the president of FromSoftware, continues to be heavily engaged in game creation. Following the release and triumph of Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, the team has ventured into exploring various smaller-scale projects to afford other developers and leaders within FromSoft an opportunity to grow and gain hands-on experience.

Two forthcoming games from FromSoft, known as Elden Ring: Nightreign and The Duskbloods, have been announced. Miyazaki himself is overseeing the development of The Duskbloods, which will be designed for the anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 console. Regardless of the direction the studio chooses next, fans are eagerly awaiting whatever new releases they might see.

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2025-05-10 10:44