When you’ve suffered several consecutive defeats at the hands of a particularly tough boss in a game like Elden Ring, there’s no shame in consulting a guide for some tips. That’s something From Software president Hidetaka Miyazaki is aware of, and in a new interview, he explained how the studio doesn’t aim to create a cottage industry for guides writers or in-depth lore historians with its games. Instead, From Software aims to make games that players can progress through organically.
“Of course, players are going to consult guides, and there’s going to be a wealth of information on the web and in their communities where they have access to the secrets and the strategies. We expect that,” Miyazaki said to PC Gamer. “We obviously understand [players use guides], but we don’t make or plan anything with that as a prerequisite. If anything, we try to cater to the player who is completely blind and wants to go through organically. If they can’t do it, then there’s some room for improvement on our behalf, and we’d like to try to embrace those players more in the future.”
With Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion releasing on June 21–something two-thirds of Steam players aren’t ready for yet–Miyazaki said that From Software is confident that players will be able to overcome the new challenges awaiting them. And if you do need a guide, Miyazaki said the studio respects anyone who consults the sacred walkthrough texts. “We just want to let you know it’s not our prerequisite, designing the game in their favor,” Miyazaki said about the decision to play with a guide in hand.
If you are planning to return to Elden Ring and you want to be as prepared as possible, you can check out GameSpot’s video on the quickest ways to get ready for Shadow of the Erdtree. If you’re still looking to try out the game, you can also read through our vast library of Elden Ring guides.