“I Absolutely Suck at Video Games.” Elden Ring Developer Admitted He Has Trouble Beating His Own Games
FromSoftware studio's games are so difficult that even their creator, Hidetaka Miyazaki, has problems with them. However, the level of difficulty is not an obstacle to success, as Shadow of the Erdtree has already reached 5 million players.
The release of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has once again sparked lively discussions about the level of difficulty in FromSoftware's games. The most determined players defend it and spend even tens of hours on one boss - for example, streamer Kai Cenat fought the final opponent for almost 70 hours. Others, however, believe that the developer has gone too far this time, and the game has become downright unpleasant as a result.
The developers apparently took the words of the latter group to heart, because the game has already been made a bit easier. Interestingly, even its director - Hidetaka Miyazaki - has trouble with his own games.
I absolutely suck at video games
Just like most players, Miyazaki has prepared his character before the expansion's premiere by going through the entire base game. In an interview for The Guardian, he stated that he uses all available mechanics. Yes, it seems that even Miyazaki himself uses the infamous summons.
[…]I absolutely suck at video games, so my approach or play style was to use everything I have at my disposal, all the assistance, every scrap of aid that the game offers, and also all the knowledge that I have as the architect of the game.
Miyazaki admitted that Elden Ring's open world could indeed lower the entry threshold, of which he himself might be the biggest beneficiary. However, it is worth noting that the DLC turned out to be so difficult for many players that they are unable to complete it even when using all the available mechanics. Miyazaki apparently realizes this, as he stated that the expansion "pushed the envelope in terms of what we thought the player could endure."
Maybe it's too easy after all?
As I mentioned above, for some, a high difficulty level is not an obstacle. This is evidenced by an online creator known as LastDarkHope , who has already started making a playthrough of SotE on level 1 and without upgrading weapons. GinoMachino has further upped his challenge and doesn't even use the blessings available in the DLC. He posted a video on X in which he defeats one of the bosses in this way, without getting hit. You have to admit, it's impressive.
Sales success
It's also worth mentioning the considerable success that Shadow of the Erdtree achieved in less than a week. The developers announced that the expansion has already sold 5 million copies. It means that it was purchased by approx. 20% of owners of the base game, which sold 25 million copies.
