FromSoftware

FromSoftware, Inc. is a Japanese video game developer based in Tokyo. Founded in 1986, the company is known for designing challenging action role-playing games that emphasize atmospheric world-building, meticulous level design, and combat that rewards timing and strategy. Its early work includes the King's Field and Armored Core franchises, establishing the studio's presence in both RPG and mech genres.

The studio rose to international prominence with Demon's Souls (2009) and the Dark Souls series (2011–2016), which popularized a "Soulslike" approach characterized by punishing difficulty, minimal handholding, environmental storytelling, and interconnected worlds. Bloodborne (2015) expanded the design language with a Gothic horror setting and faster-paced combat, while Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019) introduced a more skill-based, posture-driven combat system and a focus on narrative inferred through environmental cues. Elden Ring (2022) combined FromSoftware's design sensibilities with an expansive open world, earning numerous awards and widespread acclaim.

In 2022, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced its plan to acquire FromSoftware, and the acquisition was completed in 2023, integrating the studio as a subsidiary of Sony. The company continues to develop titles across various settings, including the Armored Core mecha series revival with Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon (2023). FromSoftware titles are published by various publishers depending on the region and title, with Bandai Namco Entertainment featuring prominently for several releases, though publishers vary by game.