Summary
Recent rumors and high-profile streams of a certain other FromSoftware title notwithstanding, the impending release of the PS5 Pro and the anticipated launch of the next generation of hardware in 2028 puts another game in the studio’s catalog in the spotlight. It may be hard to believe, butDark Souls 3will hit its 10th anniversary just a year afterBloodbornedoes, making it a prime candidate for the remake/remaster treatment much in the same way that many fans are hopeful for regarding FromSoftware and Sony’s gothic horror masterpiece. LikeBloodborne,Dark Souls 3is still an exemplar of game design, but imagining what a remaster or remake of the title could entail is an enticing prospect.
Dark Souls 3was originally released on June 18, 2025, exactly a year afterBloodborne’s July 14, 2025 release date. And while fans are hopeful that rumors about Sony’s Tokyo Game Show presentation (as well as eyebrow-raising requests for players to submitBloodbornereviews and removed listings for a PS5 version ofThe Old Hunters DLC) will inevitably lead to somethingBloodborne-related, nothing has been confirmed as of yet. ButBloodborneis far from the only game in FromSoftware’s impressive library that could be considered for a remaster or remake, withDark Souls 3just as deserving a title.
Dark Souls 3’s Deadliest Enemy is its Camera
As a conclusion to one of the most celebrated and important game franchises of the modern era,Dark Souls 3is regarded by many as a triumphant finale to the series and its pinnacle in terms of level and enemy design. Not only that,Dark Souls 3also benefits from a greater sense of speed in its combat and movement, imparted thanks to Miyazaki’s return following the director’s work on thefast and fluid combat inBloodborne. One area whereDark Souls 3is starting to show its age as a last-gen relic, though, is in its sporadic camera and inconsistent frame rate.
BothDark Souls 2andDark Souls 3would improve the player’s mobility when locking onto enemies, allowing them to dodge omnidirectionally followingthe originalDark Souls' restrictions to moving in four directions when locked on. However, that freedom of movement comes at the cost of the camera’s stability, turning tense encounters into a battle on two fronts where players need to contend with both the camera and an enemy with a razor-thin margin for error. An update to the game on modern hardware could place improvements to the camera and frame rate front and center as its selling point to pull in returning players.
A Remaster, and Not a Remake, Would Suit Dark Souls 3
When Sony decided to do something with theDemon’s SoulsIP, it made a lot of sense from both a business and design perspective. The core elements and mechanics ofDemon’s Soulsstill held up as the foundation for FromSoftware’s meteoric rise to prominence, but the original version’s 2009 visuals and PS3 exclusivity practically begged for the title to receive a dramatic update. Despite FromSoftware not being directly involved,theDemon’s Soulsremakewould end up being one of the premier launch titles for the PS5, and the close relationship between Sony and FromSoftware (including Sony’s ownership of 15% of the studio) almost guarantees that FromSoftware’s games will continue to have an important place in Sony’s hardware plans.
Rather than a full-blown remake,Dark Souls 3could greatly benefit from a remaster that polishes up its visuals and fixes minor grievances with its camera. Not only is the coreDark Souls 3experience still some of the best work FromSoftware has ever produced, but the title still has roughly 8,000 concurrent daily players on Steam alone, indicating that there’s still a healthy player base that is continuing to enjoy the original game. Fans are hungrier for aBloodborneremasterthanks to that title’s PS4 exclusivity, but that shouldn’t discount the option forDark Souls 3to receive the same treatment.
