590°

FromSoftware is the most important studio of the last decade

There is a reason why you can compare literally any TPP game to Dark Souls.

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gamepressure.com
Spurg1568d ago (Edited 1568d ago )

Without a doubt.
Dark souls was the game of the last generation...the rest of the from soft games that came afterward did not achieve the same the of story and design. Sekiro came close but the story was not as well interwoven and complex as Dark souls

Spurg1567d ago

Care to explain why...better story? Better level design? Better content?

SyntheticForm1567d ago

@Spurg

People like the bizarre, darker, lovecraftian world of Bloodborne - it's interesting and it oozes atmosphere. I really enjoyed it as well, and more than any of the DS games.

Bloodborne is just a special game.

ravinash1567d ago

Demon Souls still hold that special place in my heart.

Spurg1567d ago (Edited 1567d ago )

"Better story yes"
Not even close. The lore and depth of Dark Souls is unmatched. Dark souls does so much with its story and side quest that it leaves a lasting impression and is the reason why there are 3 games in the series. A small quest from Dark souls has a better story than Bloodborne. Bloodborne starts off intriguing but disappoints in the latter half which is old Yarnham and the nightmare, two of the shortest and most boring sections of the game.
Bloodborne doesn't even have half the lore content that dark souls has to tell a compelling story with a satisfying conclusion.

"the level design is around the same quality"

They are not even close to the same in quality. The intricate and innovative level design from Dark souls has not been emulated in the other games, only attempted but not successful.

"better content"
-Pathetic magic
-Less weapons and items which means less lore
-lesser RPG elements
-Less and inferior Bosses
-No boss weapons or armor which also means less lore
-0 giant boss
-Sidequests are not satisfying

"better atmosphere"
Tombs of the giant, ash lake, Sins fortress are each uniquely different in tone but provide jaw-dropping visual and atmosphere.

Bloodborne has does what it does well but the variety in Dark souls trumps Bloodborne. There are moments on Dark souls that are like bloodborne but there aren't any moments in bloodborne that are like Dark souls.

SPEAKxTHExTRUTH1567d ago

I 100% disagree. I think Souls is better than Bloodborne.

Spurg1567d ago (Edited 1567d ago )

@pwnmaster3000

"I’m pretty sure your just being Bias, because it’s a PS4 exclusive lol."
Nah, it's the other way round. Dark souls is universally adored by fromsoft fans. It only Ps4 fans that take Bloodborne to be the holy gospel by Fromsoft.

"I also agree. I love bloodbornes combat also and the level design."

With no context to back this up.

"Facing against another Hunter like lady Maria is just pure art."
Please.....Ornstein and smough was the epitome of the artform and Artorians was the icing on the cake. And facing other NPC was made by prominent by Demon souls and given depth in Dark souls.

"The last boss in bloodborne is easily in my top 5 favorite boss fight of all time.
Bad ass and beautiful at the same time."

Nothing will ever beat fighting Sif after returning from the ending of the DLC.

"Dark souls was dope and all and I did play all of them but man Bloodbornes smooth combat and just the overall look of the game sucked me in."

The combat is the same - some improved animation only.

"I will say Darksouls 3 online is a lot better.
I hope Bloodborne’s online gets better."

This bring me to another point I miss...Bloodborne's online was none existant. Played the game 3 times in a row and only got invaded once. The whole idea just did not fit in Bloodborne and was riding on the wave set by Dark souls.

Dragonscale1567d ago (Edited 1567d ago )

@Felix, agreed. Tbh the disagree-ers probably never even played BB.

The Wood1567d ago (Edited 1567d ago )

Spurg. Have you played bloodborne or demons souls? I think demons souls opened the path for those types of games on modern consoles. Took me back to the days of super ghouls and ghosts for difficulty. . Vexation

meganick1567d ago

Spurg said Dark Souls is the game of last gen. Bloodborne is current gen. Regardless, Dark Souls is the better game. But Bloodborne is also great.

xTonyMontana1567d ago

@Spurg for me, it just felt more imaginative. The art direction was top class.

Fluttershy771567d ago

Nah, you are just saying that because it is a exclusive. Dark Souls is the one that influenced the most

goldwyncq1567d ago

Bloodborne pre-DLC < Dark Souls

Bloodborne post-DLC > Dark Souls

+ Show (10) more repliesLast reply 1567d ago
Felix_Argyle_Catbro1567d ago

Better story yes, the level design is around the same quality, better content, yes, better atmosphere

_Decadent_Descent1567d ago

I wholeheartedly disagree. The story is about the same for either but the level/world design is better in Dark Souls and being that your build variety is much greater and deeper in DS, it's also the one with better content. That said, they're both masterpieces.

1567d ago Replies(4)
TheOptimist1567d ago

As a person who played Dark Souls wayyyy after Bloodborne, I have to say, I was literally awed at Dark Souls. Dark Souls is definitely the better game. Bloodborne is great in iyts own right.

goldwyncq1567d ago (Edited 1567d ago )

Dark Souls' level design is still the best in the series, though Bloodborne and Sekiro beat it in combat.

Vanfernal1567d ago ShowReplies(2)
1567d ago
PurpHerbison1567d ago (Edited 1567d ago )

DeS/DS1/BB are the shining stars. DS1 is probably a safe pick since way more people played it and it rocks but Bloodborne is absolutely no slouch and my personal pick for game of the DECADE. The story/lore is the best, hands down.

Do yourself a favor and check out the Bloodborne subreddit with the lore filter on. Dark Souls 1 cannot match the depth. Both great games though.

Spurg1567d ago

If you knew what you were talking about you'll know that Dark Souls has Bloodborne trumped in the story department. Dark souls has more depth than Bloodborne and that is a straight-up fact.

PurpHerbison1563d ago

Not really something I like to admit but I have spent thousands of hours in both Dark Souls 1(360,PS3,PC,PS4) and Bloodborne over the years. I know what I'm talking about.

SolidGamerX1567d ago ShowReplies(1)
LMosche1567d ago

Bloodborne is superior thanks to Sony's budget. Bandai Namco destroyed the potential of Dark Souls, on top of being limited by being multiplatform. Elder Ring has potential IF it's next gen, which I doubt knowing Japanese coders. So there's nothing worth looking at until Demon Souls Remake or Bloodborne 2.

Spurg1567d ago

"Bloodborne is superior thanks to Sony's budget."

Sony's budget...WOW.....so enlightening

SolidGamerX1567d ago Show
Edito1567d ago

What are you talking about?

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 1563d ago
ShinRon1567d ago

if not number one then top 5 at least... there are alot of great devs tho

Fluttershy771567d ago

It's also the studio that grew the most

1566d ago
carcarias1567d ago

Stop being so reasonable, factual and fair. How are people going to get angry at each other without hyperbolic article titles such as this one? :)

Unfortunately, although gaming sites like to act superior and look down on fano-boys, they do everything they can to make provocative articles to set people on each other to get clicks and comments.

on_line_forever1567d ago (Edited 1567d ago )

For me FromSoftware is the great studio of the last decade , Iam very excited right now for Elden Ring and the new Dark souls 4 , demon souls 2 , bloodborne 2 in the future and i wish square enix cooperat with them to make vagrant story remake

CaptainOmega1567d ago

Besides DarkSouls 2 FromSoft has been ontop of it.

LoveSpuds1567d ago

That narrative gets old for me, Dark Souls 2 may be the weakest Souls game, but its still a fantastic game in its own right and better than many of the games that came out in 2014.

carcarias1567d ago (Edited 1567d ago )

Yeah, I don't know why people keep banging on about DS2. They neglect the more well-rounded perspective that, like you said, it's a fantastic game in its own right, even if most people preferred the other two more. FromSoft didn't make a mess of it or anything even close.

It's like saying the guy in 3rd place at the World's Strongest Man is the 'weakest' on the winners podium. So? They're still mightily impressive and achieved a great deal to be admired.

william_cade1567d ago

Dark Souls 2 is a place holder and a janky mess. I wouldn't say it's fantastic by any stretch.

frostypants1567d ago (Edited 1567d ago )

Dark Souls 2 was fine. I don't really understand the hate it gets...I think people just rank it lower because Miyazaki wasn't very involved, but I actually liked it better than Dark Souls 3. DS3 was especially disappointing to me after playing Bloodborne...it seemed like Miyazaki's heart was more in it for Bloodborne. Parts of DS3 felt very uninspired and boring, like a rushed re-hash of DS1, and even visually it got left in the dust by Bloodborne, despite being newer.

CaptainOmega1567d ago

The connection of the world made illogical sense. (Going from a giant windmill (Upwards) to a lava castle. There being more enemies on screen as to have artificial difficulty. Enemies disappearing if you kill them enough. Enemies followed you across the map meaning you can’t just run past them if you want to skip them, you also have to worry about them following you forever. Unoriginal boss fights.. Combat that feels really stiff.. It’s the weakest ’Souls-like’ game from the company and it’s not just because 1 person wasn’t involved.

1567d ago
1567d ago
goldwyncq1567d ago (Edited 1567d ago )

Dark Souls 2 (the updated version at least) was damn amazing and criminally underrated. The DLCs in particular are some of the best levels FromSoftware has put out.

roadkillers1567d ago

What a stupid article that accomplishes nothing. The Souls franchise is amazing and I hear their new game is just as great. I’m happy for them and enjoy the success they have had by playing their new games.

N4G has so many “argue against this” type articles. Just give me the damn news, sorry but it is News 4 Gamers. Where the fuck is the news...

Atom6661567d ago

In the top right corner, there is a drop down menu that let's you choose just "News" articles instead of all Stories.

roadkillers1567d ago (Edited 1567d ago )

Thank you. You know Atom666, you are extremely helpful... that’s what I appreciates about you.

carcarias1567d ago

Thanks for the tip. I was just thinking how much I hate these 'let's pit gamers against each other' articles.

This article could be just as much of an interesting conversation starter with the title, 'FromSoft is one of the most important studios last decade.', but oh no, that would be too reasonable.

Fluttershy771567d ago

Yeah now that Atom666 show you how to do it, I think we won't see you anymore in the comments of articles and opinion pieces, right?

Show all comments (99)
240°

Take-Two CEO Doesn’t Think AI Will Reduce Employment or Dev Costs; “Stupidest Thing” He’s Heard

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick doesn't think AI will reduce employment or lower development costs, and calls it "stupidest thing" he's ever heard.

lodossrage1d ago (Edited 1d ago )

They already have AI trained to do coding.......

How he thinks it's stupid is beyond me, Especially since we see it happening in real time.

CS722h ago

Company A has 300 employees and lays of 200 to replace them with AI to release the same quality game.

Company B has 300 employees and keeps all 300 but instead uses AI to release a game with dramatically larger scale, scope, complexity, short dev cycle etc.

Company B would release a dramatically better product by using humans + AI and consumers would buy the better game.

I actually agree with this concept.

Huey_My_D_Long21h ago(Edited 21h ago)

This is key facet. Its how the AI is used. It's actually is impressive as is and really would make an amazing addition to alot of people in their jobs, not just tech. It also has the potential for businesses to use to lay off large amounts of people, as much as they could to save money on labor. I hope too many companies don't go with the latter. But since usually companies are worried about bottom line over people...we will see some try and hopefully fail. But yeah, if its to help workers like in your company B scenario I'm totally down...Just scared Company A may be too enticing to some ceos and businesses.

Darkegg21h ago

Value of AI and value of humans will both be increased with human-AI complex. Each, by themselves, will not be independently better than the other. Whether AI will ever be independent from humans is the fear question of humans, ironically because of our doing. At this stage, most of the doing is because of humans, not because of AI. AI is doing exactly that by our design, until we have failed ourselves with an AI development that went awry. The biggest take is that humans have only ourselves to blame when things become wrong, and we have to decide what is the ultimate goal with AI we want to accomplish. It would take a person with high morals and high ethics to make right of AI. I would not want businessman to decide what AI should do or what capabilities it can have. AI should be in the hands of people with high moral fiber, or those operating on love, kindness, and compassion.

BlackOni20h ago

AI is SUPPOSED to be used as a tool, not a replacement. It's designed to do two important things artists can take advantage of immediately.

- Make the ideation/reference imaging process much quicker and easier (basically using it as a google search)
- Make mundane and time consuming tasks faster and easier so more time is spent on creation.

Unfortunately, what many have done is used it as a way to replace rather than supplement.

Einhander197218h ago(Edited 17h ago)

CS7

In the ideal world yes.

In the real world where companies have shown little desire to innovate and spent every effort to maximize profits the end result will be the same quality games (if were lucky) made by less people and more AI.

Company Real World: Fires 200 people and makes the same game cheaper using AI and the executives get record bonuses.

Edit:

Lets look at history, specifically auto manufacturing.

In the 70's and 80's the auto unions tried to oppose automation of jobs (robots) stating that they would take peoples jobs. And the people in charge who wanted to make more money said the exact same types of things that are being said about AI. But we can look at history and see that countless types of jobs were in fact replaced by automation, that was of course even compounded upon by computers.

The net effect was that the rich got richer less jobs were needed so wages were forced down by competition for the jobs that were left.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 17h ago
Number1TailzFan21h ago

You can already make your own SFX with text prompts now as well, of course it will lower development cost and time

1Victor21h ago(Edited 21h ago)

WARNING WARNING ‼️ SARCASM AHEAD
Sure Strauss and robots didn’t take jobs from car factories.
Edit:Sad thing is he believes it and unfortunately he won’t be replaced for a long time by AI

senorfartcushion20h ago(Edited 20h ago)

He doesn't, he's just lying. These people lay people off so they can get bonuses. If AI takes jobs, their bonus goes bigger and the workforce goes smaller.

porkChop18h ago

Because he sees AI as a tool to aid development. He wants to use AI to help make bigger and better games in the same timeframe. Other CEOs want to replace devs with AI to cut costs and make lifeless games faster for a quick buck. Strauss has the right idea, this is how AI should be used. To extend and expand the capabilities of devs.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 16h ago
jambola1d ago

Ceo says stupid thing
Part 5837384

Zeref22h ago(Edited 22h ago)

I think maybe sometimes we give people in these positions too much credit when it comes to intelligence.

DarXyde2h ago

I think you mean candor, not intelligence.

If you take him to mean what he's saying at face value, sure.

I don't. And I think he's clearly lying.

romulus2322h ago

As long as it doesn't effect his inflated executive salary or his ridiculous bonuses I'm sure he's fine with it.

RNTody21h ago

Hahaha yeah trust the CEO suit over the actual developers making the games. Good one.

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100°

Every PlayStation Studios game available now on Windows PC

Windows Central writes: "Many PlayStation Studios games that are ported to PC get dedicated PS5 DualSense support, which allows users to experience haptic feedback and adaptive trigger support without actually having to own a PS5.

According to Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios, it's still the company's intent to launch the bigger single-player games on PS5 first, before later bringing the games to PC. This might not be the case for multiplayer games however, which are considered okay to launch simultaneously on console and PC."

Read Full Story >>
windowscentral.com
ocelot072d ago

My guess is after god of war. Probably last of us 2 that's a almost 4 year old game now and by the time it's released on pc it will be more than 4 years old or close to 5.

Elda2d ago

Every old Playstation game that is now on PC.

shinoff21831d 15h ago

Right. I definitely see what a headlined from a website named windows central was trying to do though. It's cute little wordplay to help out the green box

Flewid6381d 13h ago

Are PlayStation games no longer good or worth playing once they are old?

Elda1d 13h ago

I'm guessing my comment went over your head.

XiNatsuDragnel1d 23h ago

Good at least they can sell hardware

220°

Former Activision studio Toys for Bob partners with Xbox to publish its first game as an indie

Former Activision studio Toys for Bob partners with Xbox to publish its first game as an indie. This is something of a homecoming, as Microsoft owns Activision.

Read Full Story >>
engadget.com
Obscure_Observer2d ago

Very very early in development. Still, fantastic news!

Let´s GO!!!

Lightning772d ago

I guess.

How come they didnt either let them go or sell Tango and others to another publisher? Not saying Ubisoft, EA would be any better. (Capcome would of treated them right )

At least it wouldn't be MS of all ppl destroying them.

MS really should let go Tango go like they did TFB here.

darthv722d ago (Edited 2d ago )

one was under Bethesda (Tango) the other under Activision (TFB). Clearly each one handled the separations of their subordinates differently.

Obscure_Observer2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

"How come they didnt either let them go or sell Tango and others to another publisher? Not saying Ubisoft, EA would be any better. (Capcome would of treated them right )"

Perhaps because Zenimax and ABK handles such matters differently based on their own internal policies as "independent" publishers.

Whoever, chances are it´s simply because MS didn´t wanted Tango or Austin to be acquired by competitors and develop new bangers for them, giving MS a bad rep in a possible future. Which could also be the reason why they ensured an exclusive partnership with TFB and its new game, before anyone else.

Sad and disgusting. But it is what it is.

Lightning772d ago (Edited 2d ago )

"Whoever, chances are it´s simply because MS didn´t wanted Tango or Austin to be acquired by competitors and develop new bangers for them, giving MS a bad rep in a possible future."

MS has a bad rep now because those studios are no more. I rather them sell the studio continue to make multiplatform releases, while MS continues to focus on whatever they're doing. If they didn't want Tango around they should separated from them or sell them to, like they did TFB.

It's inexcusable, they have options on how to handle studios they don't want anymore with killing jobs. Not just MS but the rest of the industry also.

Sad and disgusting sure how many will get shut down next year or this year even?

I don't trust MS decisions and motivations at this point. You have to admit they make one dumb move after another.

Obscure_Observer2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

"MS has a bad rep now because those studios are no more. I rather them sell the studio continue to make multiplatform releases, while MS continues to focus on whatever they're doing. If they didn't want Tango around they should separated from them or sell them to, like they did TFB."

Imo, MS separated from TFB because they didn´t had a game associated with Xbox yet, unlike Tango.

"I don't trust MS decisions and motivations at this point. You have to admit they make one dumb move after another."

Fair enough. It was indeed an epic dumb move from them to close Tango.

Still, all to be forgotten, like always have. This is not the first time a big publisher shuts down a beloved and/or successful studio out of nowhere and certainly won´t be the last. Do you remember Lionhead? Do you remember Evolution Studios? Yeah... both were beloved studios and yet, those companies kill those studios in q blink of an eye and got away with it.

anast2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

The studio boss made some money from this transaction. Once the game releases, the studio will get chopped up.

-Foxtrot2d ago

Manages to buy their freedom especially after all the shit Microsoft has been doing with its studios lately

...

Goes right back to them as partners.

Okaaaaaay...

darthv722d ago

Id venture a guess that TFB working directly with MS was a better outcome than working through Activision to get to MS.

VersusDMC2d ago

From the article...

"Toys for Bob spun out as an indie back in February after Microsoft instituted sweeping layoffs that impacted 86 employees, which was more than half of the staff"

I doubt those 86 employees enjoyed the Microsoft experience over Activisions.

Inverno2d ago

MS shuts down studios because of lack of resources and then helps these guys by giving em resources. Also MS is what forced them to buy their freedom in the first place? What kind of logic 😂

Chevalier2d ago

The best thing is that the company that is worth $3 trillion and owns the company instead of Xbox lacks resources. How the hell does a company worth $3 trillion making a measly $70 billion purchase they 'can't' support. Lol

romulus231d 20h ago

Stockholm syndrome, maybe?

BlindMango1d 15h ago

The reason they would need to "partner with Microsoft" is simply to make a game that's part of a franchise that Microsoft owns. Meaning they're probably going to make a new Spyro game - they're still an independent studio, but are making a game in a franchise that Microsoft owns. It's kind of like Remedy partnering with Rockstar to be able to make the Max Payne remakes.

shinoff21831d 15h ago

It was probably the deal to get released from Ms

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1d 15h ago
Sciurus_vulgaris2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Xbox’s gaming division seems to still function as 3 semi-autonomous sub-divisions, Xbox Studios, Bethesda and ABK. The three main sub-divisions can seemingly shut down or build studios and set up partnerships independently. This would explain why Bethesda can recently shutdown studios, while ABK spins off one studio, while building a new one. Plus, Toys for Bob could be spun off by ABK, only to immediately re-partner with Microsoft.

Chevalier2d ago

That's absolutely 💯 BS. Any sane 'autonomous' company would NOT put their games on Gamepass day 1 like COD will lose probably billions.

Also they're all under Xbox game studios so any autonomy is an illusion.

PhillyDonJawn1d 21h ago

No, I'm sure MS can and does step in when they want something done specifically but I'm also sure they let them also work independently

shinoff21831d 15h ago

I highly highly doubt this. Ms controls all. The guys aren't gonna be allowed to just shut something down like that without approval. No way

Elda2d ago

Either a kiddie game or something uninteresting.

Obscure_Observer2d ago

Don´t worry. You won´t be playing it anyway since their next game will possible be a next gen Xbox console game.

Elda2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Don't worry about my comments.

PhillyDonJawn1d 21h ago

Right probably something like astrobot

romulus231d 20h ago

Nah he said "uninteresting", lots of people are interested in Astro Bot.

Elda1d 18h ago

Never Astro Bot. Astro Bot looks better than any exclusive released on XB this entire generation & believe there hasn't been much.

Asplundh1d 18h ago

Crash 4 was good, so I'm hopeful.

PhillyDonJawn1d 16h ago

Hey you said that about SOT and looks like many ppl on PS is playing it. You also found bugsnax interesting ffs your opinion hold no weight lol.

Elda1d 16h ago (Edited 1d 16h ago )

Bugsnax is BS, tried it & quickly deleted it. It's a game that fits right on Gamepass. PS5 owners that are probably playing the boring SOT you could count on one hand. LMAO!!...don't try to come for me.

PhillyDonJawn1d 14h ago

So you admit bugsnax interested you enough to try? 😂 someone gotta call you out on the foolishness.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1d 14h ago
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