Between the highly anticipatedElden Ring: NightreignDLC andThe Duskbloods, its upcoming title for the Switch 2,FromSoftwareseems like it’s never been busier. That isn’t even considering Project FMC, its codenamed, unannounced title, which has been the recent subject of massive speculation among players and fans. According to the leaks, thisFromSoftwareproject is likely to be a multi-platform release, and it may even be playable within the next year.
Based on the history of FromSoftware’s code names, the most likely outcomes forthe unannounced FromSoftware projectare either aDark Soulsremake or a newArmored Coreexpansion of some kind.Dark Souls 3, for instance, was internally labeled FDP, whileArmored Core 6carried the name FNR. Patterns would suggest that the F in FMC is tied to one of these franchises. Pair that info with Hidetaka Miyazaki’s previous comments that suggested he doesn’t plan to direct anotherDark Soulssequel, and a remake or expansion is where all signs seem to point.
FromSoftware Hasn’t Made a Remake (Yet)
While the studio’s catalog contains a remaster or two, remakes are uncharted territory for FromSoftware. TheDemon’s Soulsremake was the work of Bluepoint Games. Still, Miyazaki has hinted at the viability of an in-house remake. In an interview from February 2024, Miyazaki suggested that remakes are valuable because modern hardware can add to old games, both in terms of visual fidelity and accessibility. A month earlier,Miyazaki said FromSoftware had “multiple projects” in development.
Some fans have linked these two sentiments into an individual, albeit quiet, endorsement of remakes.The gaming industry has completely normalized remakesthese days, so it wouldn’t be a surprising move from FromSoftware either. Studios like Capcom and Naughty Dog have reaped the rewards of successfully remade classics. FromSoftware arguably has more to gain than most, considering how dated some of its widely-loved, foundational titles now seem.
Dark Souls 2 Could Be Due for a Remake
If Project FMC is a remake,Dark Souls 2stands out as a prime candidate, albeit an underdog. Released in 2014, and later brought to newer consoles viaScholar of the First Sin, it arguably remains the most visually unspectacular of the trilogy. The gameplay systems took a notable detour from the franchise’s core design, and although the world-building and lore were still very high quality, its mechanics were certainly divisive. A full remake offers FromSoftware the opportunity to update the game’s graphics and modernize what is considered by many the weakest entry in the series.
Dark Souls 2:Scholar of the First Sinwas almost entirely made up of gameplay additions and performance improvements. It did nothing to improve the graphical fidelity of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 ports.
Of all theSoulsgames,Dark Souls 2makes the most sense to remake.Dark Souls 3only launched in 2016 and its visuals still hold up.Dark Soulswas remastered in 2018, so a remake might feel a bit redundant. That leavesDark Souls 2as the best fit, and would absolutely benefit from a makeover. One that fills in the graphical gaps the “pseudo-remaster”Scholar of the First Sindidn’t.
Why Project FMC Probably Won’t Be Bloodborne (Unfortunately)
Any conversation that has the words “FromSoftware” and “remake” in it inevitably circles back toBloodborne. The 2015 Gothic action RPG remains stranded on the PlayStation 4 and locked at 30 FPS. Fans have begged for years for a remaster, only to be met with silence. Miyazaki has explicitly stated that FromSoftware does not own the IP, putting the ball squarely in Sony’s court.Aggressive takedowns of recentBloodbornefan projectsseemingly suggest Sony wants to preserve the IP, but it has yet to do anything meaningful with it.
That inaction has become almost meme-worthy. Despite its status as a commercial success and a critical darling,Bloodborneremains one of Sony’s most underutilized assets. If a remake does come about, it’s likely to be at another studio entirely. Still, the timing of recent legal moves suggests the IP isn’t dormant. Whether that turns into anything substantial remains to be seen.
If notDark Souls, then it seems like smart money is betting on the project having something to do withArmored Core.Armored Core 6was a big success, and it’s also already a multi-platform series. Only time will tell if FMC is a reinvention ofDark Souls 2or anArmored CoreExpansion, or something else entirely, but considering how far along leaks suggest it is, it looks like fans won’t have to wait too long.
