FromSoftware's Conservative Approach Drives Success and Innovation in Elden Ring Expansion

FromSoftware is one of the most reliable studios in the gaming world today. Not only does it deliver critical banger after critical banger, but it also makes games pretty quickly. Less than a year after Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, we have the Elden Ring expansion to enjoy.

With FromSoftware's reputation built up over the years, you might think there's a lot of pressure to keep producing hits. However, each release is treated as its own thing without worrying about similar acclaim to what came before.

Elden Ring was in a league of its own in terms of the success and critical acclaim that it has seen, but what they try to do as a company is never assume that will happen again with their future games. No decision is based on an assumption that, since it happened once, it's going to happen again. Allowing for this rather conservative forecast gives them room to fail - and that, in turn, results in better games and better decisions. In a roundabout way, the assumption of not making another hit, that conservative outlook, is fueling and aiding their game design.

FromSoftware has once again earned heaps of critical praise for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, but fans have found the expansion too difficult regarding boss encounters.