Summary
In an unexpected turn, the persistent co-op issues ofElden Ringand all of FromSoftware’s Soulsborne games prior to it have been addressed by studio president and director Hidetaka Miyazaki. Since the release ofDemon’s Souls, FromSoftware’s RPGs (theDark Soulsseries,Bloodborne, andElden Ring) have incorporated cooperative play in a way that many players see as unnecessarily limited and cumbersome, making full co-op playthroughs of anySoulsgame difficult to manage. While these obtuse multiplayer systems have come to be seen as part of the series' identity, future games by FromSoftware might incorporate changes from an unexpected source.
In a new interview conducted byPCGamer, Miyazaki has noted that FromSoftware is open to changing how co-op play functions in future titles, making it more similar to the popular Seamless Co-Op mod forElden Ringcreated by Nexus Mods userLukeYui. The game’s current co-op system, Miyazaki says, stems from FromSoftware wanting a “more loose, casual style - drop in, defeat a boss, drop out.” In reference to the more in-depth functionality of the Seamless Co-Op mod, though, he clarifies that “It’s definitely not something we actively oppose,” and thatFromSoftware may “consider ideas like that for our future games.“Though nothing is confirmed, the most popularElden Ringmod might prove to be an unexpected source of influence for FromSoftware going forward.
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Why Seamless Co-Op Is Elden Ring’s Most Popular Mod
Fewer Restrictions On Playing With Friends
Though it draws its fair share of criticism,Elden Ring’s co-op system has been a staple of theSoulsseries since its inception, and has functioned mostly similarly in each game. Though the exact conditions for engaging in multiplayer change from game to game, the basic idea of summoning other players for temporary assistance with tough areas or bosses has remained constant throughoutDemon’s Souls,Dark Souls,Bloodborne, andElden Ring, and is arguably a large contributor to the unique flavor of these games.
However, there are some notable and common criticisms of the system, the most prominent of which is thatit makes playing co-op throughout an entire playthrough tedious for various reasons. Travel and resting restrictions, separate progression for co-op players, and the fact that defeating a boss immediately ends a multiplayer session makes a co-op playthrough of any FromSoftware Soulsborne tedious to attempt - which is whySeamless Co-Op isElden Ring’s most popular mod, sitting at nearly two million unique downloads on Nexus Mods.
The longstanding invasion system of FromSoftware’s games has served as another barrier to co-op play, as many players don’t enjoy engaging in the kind of forced PvP that the invasion system provides. Among the many changes provided by Seamless Co-Op, the mod also completely disables invasions.
So, for players who enjoy playing cooperatively with friends, it’s very good news that FromSoftware’s future games may take influence from the mod, freeing up multiplayer and allowing them to easily play through entire games together. It might be less welcome news for players who enjoy the series' unique invasion system, but it still remains to be seen how FromSoftware may implement cooperative play in whatever game it releases after the studio has finished withElden Ring.
Elden Ring
Elden Ring is a popular game released by From Software, creators of games such as Armored Core, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne. Players assume the role of a Tarnished, a being once exiled to the Lands Between and has returned to repair the Elden Ring after the events of “The Shattering.” “The Shattering” occurred when the offspring of Queen Marika battled to claim the shards of the Elden Ring, known as Great Runes. Their war has brought lawlessness, destruction, and chaos to the land, and the player will challenge them with the assistance of a Maiden known as Melina as they travel towards the great Erd Tree to face their destiny and to become the one true Elden Lord. Players can tackle the game how they choose and can adventure across realms as they build their character how they want - be it a powerful magic caster or a brutal swordsman - they will have complete control over their build.
