Developer & publisher · Japan
FromSoftware
King's Field to Dark Souls and Elden Ring; Kadokawa owns it, with Sony and Tencent minority stakes.
Corporate lineage
- Part of Kadokawa Corporation since 2014
Mechanics first shipped by FromSoftware
Ideas this studio is credited with introducing to the medium, each with a full downstream history.
Multiplayer & Social · 2009
Asynchronous Invasion & Messages
Asynchronous invasion and messaging lets players leave written signs, replay ghosts and death marks in each other's wo…
Origin: Demon's Souls
Combat & Conflict · 2009
Poise and Stagger Break
Poise and stagger break give characters a second, hidden bar that absorbs the impact of blows, and emptying it leaves …
Origin: Demon's Souls
Combat & Conflict · 2009
Stamina Action Economy
A stamina action economy draws every attack, dodge, sprint and block from one shared bar that refills slowly, so commi…
Origin: Demon's Souls
Progression & Persistence · 2011
Bonfire Checkpoint & Currency Risk
Bonfire checkpoints restore supplies and respawn every enemy when used, while death drops the player's accumulated cur…
Origin: Dark Souls
Combat & Conflict · 2019
Deflect-Focused Posture Combat
Deflect-focused posture combat replaces dodging with well-timed deflection, filling an opponent's posture bar until th…
Origin: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Games developed (9)
2009
Demon's Souls 2009 3 firsts
2011
Dark Souls 2011 1 first
2015
2019
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice 2019 1 first
2022