AfterElden Ring, FromSoftware’s next project in the Soulslike genre they famously created currently remains unknown. WhateverFromSoftware’s next Souls game afterElden Ringis, be it a sequel or a new IP, it should arguably leave one of the studio’s most obscure features behind. Specifically, future FromSoftware Souls games should consider doing away with their co-op multiplayer barriers and forced PvP.
While Soulslike games are typically known for their steep difficulty curves,Elden Ringnotably introduces plenty of new features that help to make the game’s difficulty more subjective and accessible. However, the barriers to co-op multiplayer inElden Ringthat have been passed down from the studios’ previous games stick out like a sore thumb now more than ever because of this. It might be worth adopting a more mainstream approach to co-op multiplayer in FromSoftware’s future Soulslike games.
The Case for FromSoftware to Retire Invasion Multiplayer from Future Souls Games
From Software Should Take Notes from Elden Ring’s Modding Community
In order to play co-op inElden Ring, players are forced to open up their game to PvP Invaders, which can be a pretty risky trade-off. This has been a recurring feature in FromSoftware’s Soulslike games that came beforeElden Ring, so it’s generally become a normalized convention of the genre by now, at least among longtime fans of Soulslike games. However, many players have turned to community mods forElden Ringto circumvent this feature, as well as other restrictive barriers set in place whenplayingElden Ringco-op— specifically, by using the Seamless Co-op mod.
Currently, the Seamless Co-op mod created by LukeYui is the all-time most popular mod forElden Ringon Nexus Mods, with over 3.5 million total downloads and 37 thousand endorsements. So considering how popular thiscommunity mod forElden Ringhas become, FromSoftware should consider making changes to how co-op multiplayer and invasion PvP works in future Soulslike games.
The Seamless Co-op mod ultimately does many things, though primarily it allows players to access features and locations that are normally unavailable while playing co-op and also prevents players from being invaded without permission.
Elden Ring’s Forced PvP Sticks Out Like a Sore thumb
Elden Ring’s invasion PvP can lead to some exciting battles, funny encounters, or both, though this doesn’t justify the game forcing players into PvP in what’s otherwise a single-player or cooperative game. Originally, one ofElden Ring’s NPC questlinesrequired players to participate in invasion PvP to progress. However, the forced PvP in this questline was later made optional. So in hindsight, it’s time that this change came toElden Ring’s invasion PvP altogether.
While the past FromSoftware games might have relied on invasion multiplayer to maintain the game’s PvP community,Elden Ringseemingly doesn’t have to do this anymore because of the game’s overall popularity. Given that there’s already a dedicated community that supports the other forms of PvP inElden Ring, it might be for the best to retire invasion PvP going forward, or otherwise make it an optional feature for players who prefer the original experience.
Dying in the Lands Between is typically only ever a minor setback, considering that players canfarm runes inElden Ringto make up for any lost progress. Still, though, PvP isn’t for everyone, let aloneElden Ring’s invasion PvP, which can be an unwelcome surprise that pits players against uneven opponents. Future FromSoftware games don’t have to entirely remove invasions, but making them optional could improve players' experience inElden Ringwithout having to rely on community mods.
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ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
