If you are a fan of dark fantasy, challenging gameplay, and immersive storytelling, you have probably heard of Hidetaka Miyazaki. He is the visionary game director behind the critically acclaimed Souls series, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. His games are known for their high difficulty, intricate level design, and rich lore. But who is Hidetaka Miyazaki and how did he become one of the most influential game developers of our time? In this blog post, we will explore his life story, his creative process, and his impact on the gaming industry.
From Reading Books to Making Games
Hidetaka Miyazaki was born in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, in 1974. He grew up in a poor family and his only entertainment was reading books from the library. However, he had a reading disability that made him unable to comprehend the text fully. He had to piece together the information from fragments and use his imagination to fill in the gaps. This made him develop a unique way of enjoying literature and a love for fantasy and adventure.
He studied social science at Keio University, one of the most prestigious universities in Japan. After graduating, he joined Oracle Corporation, a multinational software company, as an account manager. He worked there for five years, but he was not satisfied with his career. He wanted to pursue his childhood dream of making games.
He quit his job and applied to various game companies, but he had no experience or portfolio. He was rejected by most of them, until he found FromSoftware, a second-tier game developer that was known for making niche games like Armored Core and King’s Field. He joined them as a game planner in 2004, when he was 29 years old.
The Birth of Souls
At FromSoftware, Miyazaki worked on several games as a planner and designer, such as Armored Core 4 and Chromehounds. He learned the ropes of game development and gained some recognition within the company. However, his big break came when he took over a troubled project that was supposed to be a competitor to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
The project was called Demon’s Souls, and it was a medieval fantasy action RPG that was set in a dark and gloomy world. The game was in development hell and had no clear direction or vision. Miyazaki decided to take charge and inject his own ideas into the game. He drew inspiration from his favorite books, such as Berserk by Kentaro Miura and The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. He also added elements that he personally enjoyed, such as challenging gameplay, hidden secrets, and minimalistic storytelling.
He wanted to create a game that would make the players feel like they were exploring an unknown world full of mysteries and dangers. He wanted to evoke a sense of accomplishment and discovery through overcoming hardships and finding clues. He wanted to leave room for interpretation and imagination through cryptic dialogues and environmental details.
The result was a game that was unlike anything else on the market. Demon’s Souls was released in 2009 for the PlayStation 3, and it received mixed reviews from critics and players. Some praised it for its originality, depth, and atmosphere, while others criticized it for its steep learning curve, unforgiving difficulty, and lack of guidance. The game sold poorly in Japan and was almost not released in the West.
However, Demon’s Souls slowly gained a cult following among hardcore gamers who appreciated its challenge and uniqueness. The game also attracted attention from influential figures in the gaming industry, such as Hideo Kojima, creator of Metal Gear Solid, who called it “a masterpiece”. The word-of-mouth spread and Demon’s Souls became a sleeper hit that sold over one million copies worldwide.
Demon’s Souls also spawned a new genre of games that are now known as “Souls-like”. These are games that share similar features with Demon’s Souls, such as high difficulty, stamina-based combat, bonfire checkpoints, online multiplayer features, and minimalistic narrative. Some examples of Souls-like games are Nioh , The Surge , Salt and Sanctuary , Hollow Knight , and Blasphemous .
The Rise of Miyazaki
After the success of Demon’s Souls, Miyazaki became the president of FromSoftware in 2014. He also continued to direct more games that followed the formula of Demon’s Souls but expanded on it with new ideas and settings.
The first one was Dark Souls , which was released in 2011 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It was a spiritual successor to Demon’s Souls that took place in a different world called Lordran. It featured an open-world design that allowed more freedom and exploration than Demon’s Souls. It also introduced new mechanics such as covenants , humanity , hollowing , kindling , weapon upgrades , poise , and more. Dark Souls was a critical and commercial success that sold over three million copies worldwide. It also received two DLC expansions, Artorias of the Abyss and Prepare to Die Edition , and a remastered version, Dark Souls: Remastered , that was released in 2018 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
The second one was Bloodborne , which was released in 2015 for the PlayStation 4. It was a new IP that was co-developed with Sony Computer Entertainment. It was set in a Gothic Victorian era inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft and Bram Stoker. It featured a faster and more aggressive combat system than Dark Souls, with an emphasis on dodging, parrying, and visceral attacks. It also had a more complex and intricate story that dealt with themes such as blood, disease, madness, and cosmic horror. Bloodborne was another critical and commercial success that sold over six million copies worldwide. It also received a DLC expansion, The Old Hunters , that added new areas, weapons, enemies, bosses, and lore.
The third one was Dark Souls III , which was released in 2016 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. It was the final installment in the Dark Souls series that concluded the story of the Age of Fire and the cycle of light and dark. It featured a refined and polished gameplay that combined elements from both Dark Souls and Bloodborne. It also had a more linear and straightforward level design than Dark Souls, with less backtracking and more bonfires. Dark Souls III was the best-selling game in the series, with over ten million copies sold worldwide. It also received two DLC expansions, Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City , that added new areas, weapons, enemies, bosses, and lore.
The fourth one was Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice , which was released in 2019 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. It was another new IP that was set in a fictionalized version of Japan during the Sengoku period . It featured a stealth-based gameplay that focused on one-on-one duels with enemies using a katana and a prosthetic arm that could equip various tools. It also had a more dynamic movement system that allowed the player to grapple, jump, swim, and wall-jump. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was yet another critical and commercial success that sold over five million copies worldwide. It also won several awards, including Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2019.
The Legacy of Miyazaki
Hidetaka Miyazaki is widely regarded as one of the most influential game developers of our time. His games have inspired countless other developers and gamers alike with their unique vision, style, and quality. His games have also created a loyal fanbase that is passionate about his work and eager to discover every secret and detail in his games.
Miyazaki is currently working on his next game, Elden Ring , which is a collaboration with George R.R. Martin , the author of A Song of Ice and Fire . Elden Ring is described as an open-world action RPG that will be the most ambitious game Miyazaki has ever made. It is expected to be released in 2022 for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Miyazaki has proven himself to be a master of his craft and a visionary of his genre. He has created some of the most memorable and influential games of our generation. He has shown us what it means to create games with passion, creativity, and challenge. He has shown us what it means to be a true gamer.
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