FromSoftware and Hideyuki Kikuchi: why fans think classic horror fiction could fuel the studio's next era
FromSoftware has become synonymous with challenging, atmospheric action-RPGs since Dark Souls (2011) introduced its signature design philosophy.
The developer's recent global breakout, Elden Ring (released February 25, 2022), combined FromSoftware’s gameplay with worldbuilding contributions from George R.R. Martin and has been a commercial and critical success—Bandai Namco reported Elden Ring sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
FromSoftware’s catalogue spans PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms, and select entries such as Dark Souls: Remastered are also available on Nintendo Switch via the eShop, reflecting the studio’s broad platform reach.
Rewriting a notable fan comment in journalistic language: one commenter proposed that FromSoftware should collaborate with authors like Hideyuki Kikuchi—whose works include Vampire Hunter D, Wicked City, Demon City Shinjuku, Darkside Blues, and A Wind Called Amnesia—or with Yoshiki Tanaka, suggesting those writers’ styles would suit FromSoftware’s tone and could elevate the studio’s narrative ambitions.
The commenter also recommended an adaptation of Guin Saga (a long-running fantasy series authored by Kaoru Kurimoto) and lamented that legendary manga artist Kentaro Miura (author of Berserk), who died May 6, 2021, never had the opportunity to collaborate with the studio.
There is precedent for the kind of cross-media collaboration fans envisage.
FromSoftware’s partnership with George R.R. Martin on Elden Ring demonstrated how external literary input can shape a game’s mythos while preserving the developer’s gameplay identity.
FromSoftware’s portfolio includes landmark titles such as Demon's Souls (originally 2009), Dark Souls (2011), Bloodborne (2015, PlayStation exclusive), Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019, which won multiple industry awards), and Elden Ring—titles that established the studio’s reputation for dense lore and tightly tuned combat.
Authors suggested by fans bring verified credentials: Hideyuki Kikuchi is a veteran horror and speculative fiction writer whose Vampire Hunter D franchise dates to the 1980s; Yoshiki Tanaka is known for science-fiction and fantasy works including Legend of the Galactic Heroes and The Heroic Legend of Arslan; Guin Saga was written by Kaoru Kurimoto and has influenced Japanese fantasy since its debut.
Kentaro Miura’s Berserk is widely cited as an influence on dark fantasy in games and comics.
Any formal partnership or adaptation would be a strategic negotiation involving rights holders, publishers, and creative alignment; to date, FromSoftware’s only high-profile literary collaborator publicly acknowledged is George R.R. Martin.
Fans and industry observers will continue to reference classic Japanese speculative fiction when imagining future FromSoftware projects, especially given the studio’s track record and multiplatform presence—including titles appearing on the Nintendo Switch eShop when publishers authorize ports or remasters.
FromSoftware has become synonymous with challenging, atmospheric action-RPGs since Dark Souls (2011) introduced its signature design philosophy.
The developer's recent global breakout, Elden Ring (released February 25, 2022), combined FromSoftware’s gameplay with worldbuilding contributions from George R.R. Martin and has been a commercial and critical success—Bandai Namco reported Elden Ring sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
FromSoftware’s catalogue spans PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms, and select entries such as Dark Souls: Remastered are also available on Nintendo Switch via the eShop, reflecting the studio’s broad platform reach.
Rewriting a notable fan comment in journalistic language: one commenter proposed that FromSoftware should collaborate with authors like Hideyuki Kikuchi—whose works include Vampire Hunter D, Wicked City, Demon City Shinjuku, Darkside Blues, and A Wind Called Amnesia—or with Yoshiki Tanaka, suggesting those writers’ styles would suit FromSoftware’s tone and could elevate the studio’s narrative ambitions.
The commenter also recommended an adaptation of Guin Saga (a long-running fantasy series authored by Kaoru Kurimoto) and lamented that legendary manga artist Kentaro Miura (author of Berserk), who died May 6, 2021, never had the opportunity to collaborate with the studio.
There is precedent for the kind of cross-media collaboration fans envisage.
FromSoftware’s partnership with George R.R. Martin on Elden Ring demonstrated how external literary input can shape a game’s mythos while preserving the developer’s gameplay identity.
FromSoftware’s portfolio includes landmark titles such as Demon's Souls (originally 2009), Dark Souls (2011), Bloodborne (2015, PlayStation exclusive), Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019, which won multiple industry awards), and Elden Ring—titles that established the studio’s reputation for dense lore and tightly tuned combat.
Authors suggested by fans bring verified credentials: Hideyuki Kikuchi is a veteran horror and speculative fiction writer whose Vampire Hunter D franchise dates to the 1980s; Yoshiki Tanaka is known for science-fiction and fantasy works including Legend of the Galactic Heroes and The Heroic Legend of Arslan; Guin Saga was written by Kaoru Kurimoto and has influenced Japanese fantasy since its debut.
Kentaro Miura’s Berserk is widely cited as an influence on dark fantasy in games and comics.
Any formal partnership or adaptation would be a strategic negotiation involving rights holders, publishers, and creative alignment; to date, FromSoftware’s only high-profile literary collaborator publicly acknowledged is George R.R. Martin.
Fans and industry observers will continue to reference classic Japanese speculative fiction when imagining future FromSoftware projects, especially given the studio’s track record and multiplatform presence—including titles appearing on the Nintendo Switch eShop when publishers authorize ports or remasters.