Update Dec 08 2017: It didn’t happen for E3, but The Game Awards has just shown some secretive frames by FromSoftware with the title “Shadow die Twice”.
For quite some time, we’ve had the feeling that we’ll be getting a reveal of Bloodborne 2 at E3 2017, and in an effort to purge that wriggling thought worm, we decided to write down the clues that are leading us down this path of speculation. Of course, this is all guesswork until something is officially confirmed, and after the leaks leading to the original Bloodborne’s announcement, it’s understandable that Sony is keeping things hush-hush.
This is a RUMOR article. Most of these could be hints at a new IP or a remaster, but this article addresses the “feeling” of a Bloodborne 2. Leave your guesses in the comments!
1. From + Sony’s Rumored 3 Game deal
A now banned NeoGaff user called Verendus had claimed insider knowledge that Sony and From Software had signed a 3 game deal to bring Bloodborne to reality. This same user had stated “Demon’s Souls 2” was in development in 2013, and this was possibly Bloodborne as a different name was specified. Verendus had also made several other statements that panned out, but given that some of the other predictions did not and that the user was eventually banned we have to take what was said with a healthy grain of salt. Whether the 3 game deal is true or not, it’s hard to say, but if you follow the breadcrumbs in several interviews, they reveal some interesting information that could support this theory:
According to a discussion with Eurogamer, From was concerned about making a game exclusively on a single platform, and Sony convinced them. This could mean a longer term plan was proposed as mitigation against the risk of launch-season development. We also know that Sony is “absolutely” wanting to work with From again:
You also had the Bloodborne DLC, finally. Are you hoping to work with From Software again?
Shuhei Yoshida: Absolutely. As you know, they’re a publisher as well, and also occasionally developer. Being management of From Software, I can totally understand they’re publishers, they have to manage their resources. But also they support Miyazaki-san’s creative vision. Sometimes he might want to do something risky for them – in that case, we might have a chance of working with us. That was the case for Bloodborne. It was early, from a Japanese publisher’s standpoint, to bet big on a PS4-only title. That was a quite large development effort. We’re able to work closely with them. We have great relationships, and because of the nature of them being publishers and developers, it’s a unique relationship. We wish to continue to work with them.
Given the above, and that Sony’s objectives with Bloodborne were fully met (it moved an estimated 2.70 million copies, helped migrate users to PS4, and was successfully merchandised and provided extensive branding for Playstation), commercially, a sequel would be a sure sell.
2. The Supposed Leaked E3 Conference Schedule
A now edited series of articles made the internet rounds recently, showcasing a leaked timeline for E3 events. While Fextralife is going to E3, and we know of certain things coming that everyone is going to be delighted about, we have not seen an official “conference timeline” so we doubt this one is real, particularly when the original form of this came from this NeoGaff thread…BUT, it seems the only change to the articles was the removal of Bloodborne 2 from the list.
Now, going full conspiracy mode, the only reason to remove something from a false article created for clickbait is…? Right, can’t think of anything! So either:
a) The article was real and the Bloodborne 2 listing was incorrect
or
b) The article wasn’t real but the accidental correct listing of Bloodborne 2 triggered a cease-and-desist from Sony
3. From Software Projects + Miyazaki’s Interview
We know, from interviews with Miyazaki, that one of the three confirmed titles From Software is working on is a “Dark Fantasy” RPG. Miyazaki also stated:
The second thing is that one of the new titles I’ve been working on will probably comply with the expectations from the fans in straightforward manner.
From an interview with IGN
Now this could mean a new game, or a remaster…however, we have found proof that From is likely hiring for a “Console, Dark Fantasy, Realistic” “Creature” and “Background” temporary designer. If the title was a remaster, new creature and character design would be unlikely!
The fact the position is temporary means that whatever is being developed is exceeding the permanent staff of the studio, and the fact it’s an artistic position suggests the project is in advanced stages of production, with conceptualization and the engine having been largely completed, and the dress-up part of the game now being worked on.
4. The Supposed Leaked Logo
While this could be a well-done make-believe confection, and there are online arguments about whether the TM on the logo would be placed after “Bloodborne” or “Bloodborne 2”, this logo coming to light makes the buzz a little more believable. Additionally, whoever created this logo nailed it! Yes it could be completely fan made, but this has quite the perfect vibe and branding that you would expect from a seasoned developer and publisher.
5. The Developer Buzz & Souls Timeline
Around the time that the leaks began happening, our Twitter feed filled up with subtle Bloodborne-related commentary from developers involved with the original game. This included tweets from PR Manager Yasuhiro Kitao and Game producer Yamagiwa promoting game merchandise and sales a good 2 years after release.
The real mystery tweet though, is a picture of a sushi dinner from February with Shuehi Yoshida, president of SCE Worldwide Studios and FromSoftware’s Hidetaka Miyazaki.
“Today I had a fantastic conversation. I learned a lot~!”
（´-`）.｡oO (今日は何か凄いお話を聞いています。勉強になるな〜。) pic.twitter.com/d9216mZ45b
— Shuhei Yoshida (@yosp) February 2, 2017
Is Bloodborne 2 Coming to E3 2017?
Given From Software’s production cycle, and the fact that Bloodborne development began in 2013 for an early 2015 release, it’s entirely possible that Bloodborne 2 has been in the works and would be announced at E3 2017 with a release date of March 2018. It fits the development cycles to date, which has made the Souls series a near yearly affair.
Given all of the above, it is clear that From Software has been careful not to cannibalize it’s own market by pacing announcements and releases, while also providing multi-platform alternatives to accompany exclusive releases. For example, the “Prepare to Die” PC edition released as Artorias of the Abyss DLC for consoles, and Scholar of the First Sin released on all platforms a month before Bloodborne graced the PS4 crowd.
Now that Dark Souls is said to be “finished”, even though the developers have specifically said they would be open to remasters, it is understandable that players are expecting to see a Bloodborne 2 announcement at E3 2017. As we have explored in this write-up, the signs are there, now we need to see if they turn into reality! May we be granted eyes this June. If it does get announced, here’s a list of things we’d love to see in the sequel.
What are your conclusions? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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74 responses to “5 Reasons Bloodborne 2 Will Be At E3 2017”
Never been into Uncharted, or Infamous and I am hesitant to play Horizon, one because of what it looks like the combat is like, and because of weird character designs are to my aesthetic and the weird thing in a trailer where she like murders the shit out of a robot dinosaur and is all like, “Sorry little one,” which just really rubbed me the wrong way.
Buuuut Gravity Rush is super cute, and super fun. I’d watch and anime with the main character just having fun and interacting with people. Then again, I love K-On.
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I definitely got my money out of Ratchet and Clank, yeah it was short, and lacked the features of previous games, but damn the combat was, to me, the best in the series, and it was an overall fantastic experience. I think I replayed it over 10 times at least, on max difficulty on challenge mode.
Also, Infamous, Uncharted 4, and Horizon: Zero Dawn. The other great PS4 exclusives.
Plus Gravity Rush 1 and 2 are pretty good, and I haven’t gotten Nier: Automata yet, but I played the demo. Seems legit. The new PS4 Ratchet and Clank was fun, but too short for a R&C game. Could have done with a full release. My point being this PS4 has turned into a solid purchase.
Yeah, uh, Bloodborne is literally my favorite game, and I bought a PS4 for this game specifically, and it was worth that price
Me too
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Yeah, uh, Bloodborne is literally my favorite game, and I bought a PS4 for this game specifically, and it was worth that price so… like yeah. If it was cross platform that’d be nice, but I’d rather they make a sequel to this game than to have even made Dark Souls 3. It’s the only one i could imagine having a sequel without ruining the philosophy of the first game, *cough*dark souls 2*cough*
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I play my PS4 with a monitor, because that was cheaper than buying a TV. Looks better, too.
That reminds me, Sony is doing that thing where they have the service that lets people play certain Playstation games on a computer, aren’t they? What they need to do is prioritize putting all their shiny, shiny exclusives on there, so the people who so desperately want to play them but can’t afford a console could, you know, afford to buy and play them.
Bleh, more console exclusives, so glad the console war isn’t choking the life out of people being able to play their favorite game series :/
At least we’ve got the board game, but still….. I’d much rather they scrap Bloodborne as a franchise and make their next game multi-platform so everyone could actually play it instead of gating it behind a $300 console and requiring a TV.
Here’s hoping we get Isz, so I can get “cosmic” Jamiroquai style and then “outa dis world” like Adre 3000 and don’t forget “intergalactic” Beastie Boy hunting.
I think maybe I’m all mixed up.
One chalice indicates the name of the Pthumerian Capital and Queen was ”Ihyll.” Makes sense given the chalice progression. Another says the tradition is that the queen takes a classic name, not necessarily always the capital.
Perhaps the simplest answer is correct. Yharnam is the queen of Yharnam and fled to the dungeons of antiquity.
Hard to look up more at the moment (on my phone) but that’s what I found so far
So both Loran and Isz chalices say “land of [insert chalice name]”, which doesn’t necessarily name the city just the area in which the city resides. Great Pthumeru ihyll chalice out right says “Pthumeru Ihyll was the title of both the Pthumerian monarch and its capital.” Since Yharnam bares the name of a Pthumeru Ihyll monarch, I assume the cities/land are related…
The possibility for 2 unknown cities connected to Isz and Loran is plausible, but would either of these cities have a Hunter presence? We know the Choir used the Isz chalice to convene with Ebrietas, but did they create a strong hold in the land of Isz? “Trace remains of medical procedures…” suggests the church’s presence in Loran but is not explicit. Some other faction could have conducted these procedures. Which asks this question, if we were to find ourselves in Isz or Loran, would we even be a Hunter of the Church? Or something entirely different?
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Yeah, that’s the part that suddenly confused me about five seconds after posting that. It’s like the labyrinth just does not care about the proper order of cause and effect.
I believe they indicate tradition was to name the Queen after the City.
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Errmm… well, I’m assuming Loran used to be Loran, as the chalice says, and Isz was Isz? Not much room for speculation, there. Hintertombs says it’s an extension of Pthumeru dug by the watchers, who are constantly digging and expanding the labyrinth. Pthumeru is, as it says, old Pthumeru.
Yharnam isn’t currently part of the labyrinth just yet, but I assume it would end up that way if it ever fell to the beast plague or ended up doing whatever happened to Isz (total kin overload?). If the pattern holds, a sequel to Bloodborne might have an Old Yharnam Chalice, though I don’t know what kinds of creatures it’d have. Loran already has beasts, Isz already has kin, and Hintertombs already has poison and dead things, Pthumeru is pretty much a mix-and-match of all the above, and I don’t think there are any other monster categories in the game.
I mean, I could be wrong. Clearly there’s some degree of time travel involved if you can kill the currently pregnant Queen Yharnam even though she’s already given birth in the main game, and her chalice description does say she was named after something or other (potentially the city of Yharnam). So, I haven’t a clue, really. That’s still like three different kinds of paradox, but that’s par for the course with chalice dungeons.
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Oh, I like that possibility. If we assume Pthumeru are the dungeons that Yharnam is related to, then what cities might Isz, Hintertomb and Loran be connected to?
I have a document for a little Bloodborne 2 fan fiction I was working on. Never got far, but I would like to share it for anyone interested. Though, I don’t know how to share word documents.
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Ailing Loran Chalice:
“A chalice that breaks a labyrinth seal.”
“Loran is a tragic land that was devoured by the sands.”
“The tragedy that struck this ailing land of Loran is said to have its root in the scourge of the beast.”
“Some have made the dreaded extrapolation that Yharnam will be next.”
Ailing Loran Root Chalice:
“Root chalice that breaks multiple labyrinth seals.”
“Root chalices, used in rituals to break old labyrinth seals, are said to change the labyrinth’s form each time.”
“There are trace remains of medical procedures in parts of ailing Loran. Whether these were attempts to control the scourge of the beast, or the cause of the outbreak, is unknown.”
Going by this, I’d assume a sequel to Bloodborne would take place in a different city, with Yharnam having fallen to the beast plague and become part of the labyrinth.
Please, please, please let them announce BB2!
The possibility of BB2 has me thinking about how/when/where a sequel would take place. BB is very different from Dark Souls in the matters of time and space. The Dark Souls cycle of fire allows for so many variations within the same world construct. Kingdoms rise and fall, the flame dwindles then reignites, perpetually through time. It can be dressed anyway you like it. Bloodborne on the other hand, is very site specific and compared to DS, very time specific. The city of Yharnam, the founding of the Healing church / infection of the beast blood are not components of a cyclic narrative that can be played out at any point in time. The Hunter’s dream and Nightmare realms offer certain departures, but how much substance can be gleaned from a dream? There would need to be something in the waking world worth doing, and Yharnam doesn’t have much more to offer…
Would we find ourselves in a new city to which the beast curse has spread? Find ourselves in the past, at the height of the church’s power, and witness the devastation and downfall first hand? Cross dimensions to the celestial realms of the Old Ones, for some reason yet unknown? What in the nightmarish hell would we be doing?
Bloodborne was my favorite game of all time, and that’s going all the way back to Atari 2600. I’m not letting myself get caught up in the hype. As of now, I don’t believe there will be sequel, but if there is, then I will be beyond ecstatic.
Time to get that PS4 I guess.. : (
From may be headed towards self-publishing, now that they have some international fame and a dedicated fan base. If that is the case, many of the clues here could be for a “spiritual successor” type of game with a from owned new ip. Would be interesting to see if they can compete with such conditions!
Lol, sorry.
Eternal Ring. My first PS2 game actually. Decent but not spectacular game. Good ideas
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What game is that? I can’t find anything.
Interesting tidbit, an old From PS2 IP is slated for PS4 release on Tuesday.
It doesn’t have much to do with Bloodborne, but it is a somewhat obscure game. Could be nothing but they reached that part of the library, but maybe a sign Sony and From are talking
Grumble… grumble console exclusives…
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