The rumored Bloodborne 2 E3 2018 announcement is now looking highly unlikely, with the original game’s director Hidetaka Miyazaki taking the reins of the newly revealed Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. This new action RPG is being developed by Miyazaki’s From Software team, who were previously responsible for the PS4 exclusive Bloodborne. There was speculation that Bloodborne 2 would be unveiled during Sony’s conference, though it seems that From Software have been working on a new multiplatform release instead.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is coming to Xbox One, PS4, and PC, with it first being unveiled during the former’s E3 2018 presentation. It’ll be the latest From Software game since Dark Souls 3, and the first new IP from the studio since Bloodborne. Many had expected that From Software would transform Bloodborne into a series, similar to its work with the Souls franchise. Though this may still be the case, Bloodborne 2 isn’t on its way just yet.
With Bloodborne being so close to the Souls series thematically, what with its gothic setting and Lovecraftian, monstrous enemies, the move to a feudal Japan setting could mean that this is the next From Software game to be transformed into a series, and that Bloodborne will be left behind. This certainly looks more distinct from Dark Souls than Bloodborne, and with Dark Souls 3 moving to a more fast-paced style of combat similar to Bloodborne, From Software may be looking for a wholly original angle for its next series.
Unless From Software pops up again during Sony’s E3 2018 press conference to explain how Bloodborne 2 is on its way, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is likely the only game we’ll be getting from the Souls developers during E3 2018. Considering how great it looked, that’s hardly a bad thing, though those looking for the pure Eldritch horror of Bloodborne may be left a little disappointed by this news.