TOKYO — Hidetaka Miyazaki, the president of FromSoftware and creative force behind Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro, and Elden Ring — arguably the most acclaimed run of games in the medium's history — has confirmed in an exclusive interview with Weekly Famitsu that his studio's next project is a full sequel to Elden Ring rather than another expansion. The news ends months of speculation and positions Elden Ring 2 as the most anticipated game in development.

Miyazaki revealed that Elden Ring 2 will be set in a new open world — "one defined by water rather than land, by archipelagos and storms and the things that lie beneath the surface." The seafaring theme introduces sailing and underwater exploration as core mechanics, with a dynamic weather system that transforms both the environment and the creatures within it. "In the world of Elden Ring 2, the weather is not cosmetic — it is ecological," Miyazaki said. "A storm might reveal a hidden island. A drought might expose a submerged dungeon. The world is alive in a way we've never attempted before."

The cooperative multiplayer system has received a complete overhaul, addressing the biggest complaint about Elden Ring's multiplayer: its convoluted summoning system. Players can now adventure together seamlessly through the entire open world, with difficulty scaling dynamically based on party size. Miyazaki confirmed that George R.R. Martin has contributed new worldbuilding material for the sequel, though the extent of his involvement remains undisclosed. FromSoftware and publisher Bandai Namco are targeting a 2028 release across PS6, next-gen Xbox, and PC.