Between the highly anticipated Elden Ring: Nightreign DLC and The Duskbloods, its upcoming title for the Switch 2, FromSoftware seems 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, this FromSoftware project 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 for the unannounced FromSoftware project are either a Dark Souls remake or a new Armored Core expansion of some kind. Dark Souls 3, for instance, was internally labeled FDP, while Armored Core 6 carried 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 another Dark Souls sequel, and a remake or expansion is where all signs seem to point.
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FromSoftware Hasn’t Made a Remake (Yet)
While the studio’s catalog contains a remaster or two, remakes are uncharted territory for FromSoftware. The Demon’s Souls remake 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 remakes these 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 2 stands out as a prime candidate, albeit an underdog. Released in 2014, and later brought to newer consoles via Scholar 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 Sin was 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 the Souls games, Dark Souls 2 makes the most sense to remake. Dark Souls 3 only launched in 2016 and its visuals still hold up. Dark Souls was remastered in 2018, so a remake might feel a bit redundant. That leaves Dark Souls 2 as the best fit, and would absolutely benefit from a makeover. One that fills in the graphical gaps the “pseudo-remaster” Scholar of the First Sin didn’t.
Why Project FMC Probably Won’t Be Bloodborne (Unfortunately)
Any conversation that has the words "FromSoftware" and "remake" in it inevitably circles back to Bloodborne. 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 recent Bloodborne fan projects seemingly 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, Bloodborne remains 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 not Dark Souls, then it seems like smart money is betting on the project having something to do with Armored Core. Armored Core 6 was a big success, and it's also already a multi-platform series. Only time will tell if FMC is a reinvention of Dark Souls 2 or an Armored Core Expansion, or something else entirely, but considering how far along leaks suggest it is, it looks like fans won't have to wait too long.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 89%
- Released
- April 2, 2015
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood and Gore, Game Experience May Change During Online Play, Mild Language, Partial Nudity, Violence
- Developer(s)
- FromSoftware
- Publisher(s)
- Namco Bandai, FromSoftware
- Franchise
- Dark Souls
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
