FromSoftware’s Elden Ring has dominated gaming circles since its launch on February 25 and it doesn’t look to be losing steam anytime soon. They’re calling it the hardest Souls game yet, but is it possible for a game to be too difficult?
Game creator Hidetaka Miyazaki isn’t making any apologies but he admits feeling some sympathy for frustrated gamers who can’t get past Elden Ring‘s roster of challenging bosses. In an interview with the New Yorker, Miyazaki shared his thoughts on working with George R. R. Martin, his artistic ambitions, and of course, the crushing feeling of dying in videogames over and over again.
For making such an arduous series of games, Miyazaki is humble and admits that he fails a lot too. “I’ve never been a very skilled player, I die a lot,” he shares, “If death is to be more than a mark of failure, how do I give it meaning? How do I make death enjoyable?”
It’s a bit of a heavy question to pose for a videogame, but it’s reflections like this that make some games great. The famed game designer explained his approach, saying that he wants victory to seem “attainable” yet hard-fought in his games. In the interview, Miyazaki was adamant that the difficulty of his games is what has made them so popular, but didn’t shy away from folks’ criticism. “I feel apologetic toward anyone who feels there’s just too much to overcome,” he said, but still expressed willingness for “as many players as possible to experience the joy that comes from overcoming hardship.”
On the topic of his collaboration with George R. R. Martin, Miyazaki revealed that he has since developed a friendship with the prolific author. A lifelong fan of the Game of Thrones creator, Miyazaki selected Martin to write the story and lore of Elden Ring which has received critical praise for its immense world-building and atmosphere.