FromSoftware is a Japanese game developer based in Tokyo. It was founded in 1986 and specializes in action role-playing and mecha third-person shooter video games. The studio is best known for its work on the Dark Souls trilogy and its various spiritual successors, as well as the Armored Core franchise.
In relation with Sony Interactive Entertainment, the company had one of its games, King's Field II, published by Sony in Europe. FromSoftware also collaborated with Japan Studio to create Demon's Souls, the 2009 precursor to the multiplatform Dark Souls series. Two further collaborations resuled in 2015's Bloodborne and 2018's Déraciné. In 2020, a remake of Demon's Souls was released, developed by Bluepoint Games with blessing from FromSoftware.
Since 2014, FromSoftware is owned by Kadokawa Corporation. In 2022, Sony Interactive Entertainment and Tencent subsidiary Sixjoy collectively acquired 30% of FromSoftware from Kadokawa, who remains the majority holder.
While the studio's earlier titles were largely obscure, FromSoftware saw growing recognition and reputation following the releases of Demon's Souls and its spiritual successors. The studio is credited with the creation of the Soulslike genre of action and role-playing games, and its influence on game design since the 2010s.
History[]
1986 - 1994: Early years and first project[]
1994 - 2007: Obscurity and expansion[]
2007 - 2014: Demon's Souls, Dark Souls success[]
2014 - 2022: Acquisition by Kadokawa, Bloodborne and other titles[]
2022 - current: Elden Ring success, Sony and Tencent investment[]
Studio culture and design philosophy[]
Relationship with other studios[]
PlayStation Studios[]
Bluepoint Games[]
Defunct[]
Japan Studio[]
Games published by Sony[]
Developed with Sony[]
| Game title | Release | Platform | Additional notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demon's Souls | 2009 | PlayStation 3 | Published by Atlus and Bandai Namco Games outside of Japan |
| Bloodborne | 2015 | PlayStation 4 | n / a |
| Bloodborne: The Old Hunters | 2015 | PlayStation 4 | n / a |
| Déraciné | 2018 | PlayStation 4 (PlayStation VR) | n / a |
Publishing only[]
| Game title | Release | Platform | Region | Additional notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King's Field II | 1995 | PlayStation | Europe | n / a |
| Armored Core | 1997 | PlayStation | Worldwide | n / a |
Other projects[]
| Game title | Release | Platform | Development role | Additional notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demon's Souls | 2020 | PlayStation 5 | Original concept and design | Remake of 2009's Demon's Souls; developed by Bluepoint Games and Japan Studio |