FromSoftware
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Short description|Japanese video game developer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = FromSoftware, Inc.
| logo = File:Fromsoftware logo.svg
| native_name = {{nowrap|株式会社フロム・ソフトウェア}}
| native_name_lang = ja
| romanized_name = Kabushiki gaisha furomu sofutowea
| type = Subsidiary (kabushiki gaisha)
| foundation = {{start date and age|1986|11|1}}
| founder = Naotoshi Zin
| hq_location_city = Tokyo
| hq_location_country = Japan
| key_people = {{ubl|Hidetaka Miyazaki|(Representative director and president)}}
| industry = Video games
| products = {{hlist|King's Field|Armored Core|Demon's Souls|Dark Souls|Bloodborne|Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice|Elden Ring}}
| owner = {{ubl|Kadokawa Corporation (70%)|Sixjoy Hong Kong (16%)|Sony Interactive Entertainment (14%)}}
| num_employees = 423
| num_employees_year = June 2024
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.fromsoftware.jp/ww/|FromSoftware}}
}}
FromSoftware, Inc. is a Japanese video game developer and publisher. Founded by Naotoshi Zin on November 1, 1986 as a business software developer, the company released their first video game, King's Field, for the PlayStation in 1994. Its success shifted FromSoftware to focus fully on games, with them producing two more King's Field games before the first release of the mecha shooter series Armored Core in 1997.
By the 2000s, FromSoftware's releases included the Echo Night, Shadow Tower, Lost Kingdoms, Otogi, and Another Century's Episode series. The company achieved breakout success by the 2010s with Demon's Souls and the Dark Souls trilogy of action role-playing games. Often cited among the greatest video games ever made, their emphasis on high difficulty and environmental storytelling led to the creation of the Soulslike subgenre, which also includes other later FromSoftware titles such as Bloodborne (2015), Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019), and Elden Ring (2022).
Hidetaka Miyazaki, creator and director of Dark Souls, has served as FromSoftware's representative director and president since 2014, with Zin remaining as an advisor. Miyazaki directs and designs the majority of the company's games in addition to his executive duties. FromSoftware is primarily owned by Kadokawa Corporation (70%), with minority stakes by Sixjoy Hong Kong (16%), a subsidiary of Tencent, and Sony Interactive Entertainment (14%). FromSoftware usually self-publishes in Japan, and has partnered with international publishers, including Agetec, Sony, Bandai Namco Entertainment, Sega, Capcom, Nintendo, and Koch Media.
History
= 1980s and 1990s =
File:Hidetaka Miyazaki, The Game Awards 2022 (cropped).png, company president and director of several of their games|upright=.8]]
Founded in Tokyo on November 1, 1986, by Naotoshi Zin, FromSoftware originally began as a developer of business applications before shifting focus to video games.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606010925/https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/677556.html|title=角川ゲームスとフロム・ソフトウェア「MEDIA BRIEFING 2014 AUTUMN」を開催|website=GAME Watch|date=November 25, 2014 |access-date=December 21, 2021|url=https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/677556.html|archive-date=June 6, 2021}} The company released its first game, King's Field, for the PlayStation in 1994. Despite its commercial success in Japan, the game was not released in other regions, although 1995's King's Field II was released in both North America and Europe in 1996.{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/16/the-history-of-from-software|title=The History of From Software|first=Todd|last=Ciolek|date=March 16, 2015|website=ign.com|access-date=April 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318103835/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/16/the-history-of-from-software|archive-date=March 18, 2015|url-status=live}} After releasing King's Field III in 1996, FromSoftware went on to release the horror game Echo Night and the 1998 role-playing game Shadow Tower. In 1997, FromSoftware released Armored Core, the first release in their flagship Armored Core series of mecha combat games.{{cite web|last1=Ciolek|first1=Todd|title=The History of From Software|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/16/the-history-of-from-software|website=IGN|date=March 16, 2015 |access-date=May 20, 2017|page=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318103835/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/16/the-history-of-from-software|archive-date=March 18, 2015|url-status=live}}
= 2000s =
With the launch of the PlayStation 2 in 2000, FromSoftware released the role-playing games Eternal Ring and Evergrace. In 2003, FromSoftware published Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven, a stealth game that combines action and adventure elements.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fromsoftware.jp/ww/company_history.html|title=History {{!}} FromSoftware|website=www.fromsoftware.jp|access-date=April 8, 2020}} In 2004, FromSoftware bought the rights to the series, excluding the first two games, from Activision.{{Cite web |last=Fahey |first=Rob |date=July 7, 2004 |title=From Software buys Tenchu rights |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/from-software-buys-tenchu-rights |access-date=November 23, 2024 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hirohiko Niizumi |date=2004-07-06 |title=From Software acquires Tenchu brand |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/from-software-acquires-tenchu-brand/1100-6101941/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213171322/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/from-software-acquires-tenchu-brand/1100-6101941/ |archive-date=2023-12-13 |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}} The company also released King's Field IV and Shadow Tower Abyss, in addition to the Lost Kingdoms series for the GameCube. The company also made a few games exclusive to the Xbox around this time, such as Murakumo: Renegade Mech Pursuit, Otogi: Myth of Demons, Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors, Metal Wolf Chaos, and Chromehounds. In 2005, FromSoftware would start to produce a series of licensed games based on the various anime properties under the banner Another Century's Episode. The same year, the company hosted the video game industry's first internship that let students experience game development through a game creation kit, Adventure Player, for the PlayStation Portable. In May 2008, FromSoftware underwent a stock split.
= 2010s =
FromSoftware achieved breakout success in the 2010s, spurred by the release of Demon's Souls (2009) and Dark Souls (2011), the latter being the first entry in a trilogy whose success led to the creation of a subgenre of action role-playing games known as Soulslike games.{{cite news |last1=Wildgoose |first1=David |title=Painfully Difficult: From Software's 30+ Year Journey From PS1 to Elden Ring |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/painfully-difficult-from-softwares-30-year-journey-from-ps1-to-elden-ring |access-date=March 8, 2022 |work=IGN |date=March 7, 2022}} These include Dark Souls II (2014),{{cite web |last1=Nunneley-Jackson |first1=Stephany |title=Dark Souls 2 wins Game of the Year at Golden Joystick Awards |url=https://www.vg247.com/dark-souls-2-golden-joystick-winners |website=VG247 |date=October 24, 2014 |access-date=December 21, 2022}} Bloodborne (2015),{{cite news |title=Eurogamer's Game of the Year 2015|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/eurogamers-game-of-the-year-2015 |newspaper=Eurogamer.net |date=January 2016 |access-date=December 20, 2022}}{{cite magazine|title=Edge Presents: The 100 Greatest Video Games of All Time|magazine=Edge|date=August 2017}} Dark Souls III (2016),{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/overwatch-and-dark-souls-3-win-big-at-this-years-golden-joystick-awards/|title=Overwatch and Dark Souls 3 win big at this year's Golden Joystick Awards|work=PC Gamer|date=November 18, 2016|accessdate=February 13, 2017}} Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019),{{cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |title=The Game Awards 2019 Winners: Sekiro Takes Game Of The Year |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-game-awards-2019-winners-sekiro-takes-game-of-/1100-6472169/ |work=GameSpot |date=December 13, 2019 |access-date=December 13, 2019}}{{cite web |last=Hussain |first=Tamoor |title=Game Of The Year 2019 – Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/game-of-the-year-2019-sekiro-shadows-die-twice/1100-6472249/ |work=GameSpot |date=December 17, 2019 |access-date=December 17, 2019}} and Elden Ring (2022),{{cite web |date=September 15, 2022 |title=Elden Ring takes top honors at the Japan Game Awards |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2022/09/15/digital/japan-game-awards-elden-ring/ |website=Japan Times}}{{cite web |last1=Loveridge |first1=Sam |title=Here are all the Golden Joystick Awards 2022 winners |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/golden-joystick-awards-2022-winners/ |website=GamesRadar+ |date=November 22, 2022 |access-date=November 24, 2022}}{{Cite web |last=Plant |first=Logan |date=December 8, 2022 |title=The Game Awards 2022 Winners: The Full List |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-game-awards-2022-winners |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209041855/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-game-awards-2022-winners |archive-date=December 9, 2022 |access-date=December 9, 2022 |website=IGN |language=en}} all of which have received several awards and are often listed among the greatest video games of all time.{{cite web |last1=Kain |first1=Erik |title='Dark Souls' Inspired The Design Of Sony's PlayStation 4 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/11/22/dark-souls-inspired-the-design-of-sonys-playstation-4/ |website=Forbes |date=November 22, 2013 |access-date=October 5, 2018 |archive-date=October 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005155401/https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/11/22/dark-souls-inspired-the-design-of-sonys-playstation-4/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|last=Polygon Staff|title=The 500 Best Video Games of All Time|url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/11/27/16158276/polygon-500-best-games-of-all-time-500-401|website=Polygon.com|access-date=December 1, 2017|date=November 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303210843/https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/11/27/16158276/polygon-500-best-games-of-all-time-500-401|archive-date=March 3, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-most-influential-games-of-the-21st-century-dar/1100-6466811/ |title=The Most Influential Games Of The 21st Century: Dark Souls |magazine=GameSpot |last=Hussain |first=Tamoor |date=May 14, 2019 |access-date=May 21, 2019 |archive-date=May 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514172416/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-most-influential-games-of-the-21st-century-dar/1100-6466811/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Donnelly |first1=Joe |title=Why Dark Souls has been crowned the best video game of all time |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/why-dark-souls-is-the-best-game-of-all-time/ |website=GamesRadar+ |date=November 23, 2021 |access-date=December 20, 2022}} In April 2014, Kadokawa Corporation announced its intention to purchase the company from former shareholder Transcosmos.{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/28/from-software-acquired-by-japanese-publisher-kadokawa-games/|title=From Software acquired by Japanese publisher Kadokawa Corporation|access-date=April 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429181341/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/04/28/from-software-acquired-by-japanese-publisher-kadokawa-games/|archive-date=April 29, 2014|url-status=dead}} Following other restructuring, Souls creator Hidetaka Miyazaki would be promoted to company president the following month and later given the title of representative director.{{cite web|last1=Duwell|first1=Ron|title=Dark Souls' Hidetaka Miyazaki Promoted to President of From Software|date=May 23, 2014 |url=http://www.technobuffalo.com/2014/05/22/dark-souls-hidetaka-miyazaki-promoted-to-president-of-from-software/|publisher=Techno Buffalo|access-date=March 25, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402192158/http://www.technobuffalo.com/2014/05/22/dark-souls-hidetaka-miyazaki-promoted-to-president-of-from-software/|archive-date=April 2, 2015}} In January 2016, FromSoftware established a studio in Fukuoka that focuses on creating computer-generated imagery (CGI) assets for their games.{{cite web|url=http://gematsu.com/2015/09/from-software-open-new-studio-fukuoka|title=From Software to open new studio in Fukuoka|date=September 12, 2015|website=Gematsu|access-date=September 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916034650/http://gematsu.com/2015/09/from-software-open-new-studio-fukuoka|archive-date=September 16, 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=FromSoftware to Establish New Studio in Fukuoka in October 2015|url=http://fromsoftware.jp/pc_en/news/pressrelease/20150912_fukuokastudio_pressrelease.html|publisher=FromSoftware|access-date=June 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601104053/http://www.fromsoftware.jp/pc_en/news/pressrelease/20150912_fukuokastudio_pressrelease.html|archive-date=June 1, 2016|url-status=live}}
= 2020s =
In August 2022, Sixjoy Hong Kong (a subsidiary of Tencent) and Sony Interactive Entertainment respectively acquired 16.25% and 14.09% of FromSoftware, leaving 69.66% to Kadokawa.{{Cite web |date=August 31, 2022 |title=Tencent and Sony Interactive Entertainment collectively acquire 30.34 percent of FromSoftware |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/08/tencent-and-sony-interactive-entertainment-collectively-acquire-30-34-percent-of-fromsoftware |access-date=August 31, 2022 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}} In November 2022, a report by GamesIndustry.biz claimed that FromSoftware was paying their employees at sub-standard rates.{{Cite web |date=November 29, 2022 |title=How much does From Software crunch? |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/how-much-does-from-software-crunch |access-date=January 27, 2023 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}} The company had 423 employees {{as of|2024|6|lc=y}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.fromsoftware.jp/ww/company_about.html|title=About|access-date=July 24, 2024|website=fromsoftware.jp}} In October 2024, the developer announced a salary increase of approximately 12% for its employees.{{Cite news |date=2024-10-04 |title=Elden Ring developer FromSoftware announces salary increase of 12% |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/elden-ring-developer-fromsoftware-announces-salary-increase-of-12 |access-date=2024-10-04 |work=Eurogamer.net |language=en}} In April 2025, FromSoftware announced The Duskbloods, a multiplayer-focused soulslike game directed by Miyazaki for the Nintendo Switch 2.{{Cite web |title=From Software Announces The Duskbloods, A New RPG Exclusive To Switch 2 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/from-software-announces-the-duskbloods-a-new-rpg-exclusive-to-switch-2/1100-6530560/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}
Games
| class="wikitable sortable" width="auto"
|+ List of games developed by FromSoftware ! Year ! Title ! System ! International publisher |
| 1994
| {{N/A}} |
|---|
| 1995
|PlayStation | {{Video game release hlist|NA|ASCII Entertainment|EU|Sony Computer Entertainment}} |
| 1996
|PlayStation | ASCII Entertainment |
| rowspan="2" | 1997
|PlayStation | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Armored Core: Project Phantasma
|PlayStation | ASCII Entertainment |
| rowspan="2" | 1998
|PlayStation | Agetec |
| Echo Night
|PlayStation | Agetec |
| rowspan="4" | 1999
| Armored Core: Master of Arena |PlayStation | Agetec |
| Spriggan: Lunar Verse
|PlayStation | {{N/A}} |
| Frame Gride
| {{N/A}} |
| Echo Night 2: The Lord of Nightmares
| PlayStation | {{N/A}} |
| rowspan="4" | 2000
| {{Video game release hlist|NA|Agetec|EU|Ubisoft}} |
| Evergrace
|PlayStation 2 | {{Video game release hlist|NA|Agetec|EU|Ubisoft}} |
| Armored Core 2
|PlayStation 2 | {{Video game release hlist|NA|Agetec|EU|Ubisoft}} |
| The Adventures of Cookie & Cream
|PlayStation 2 | {{Video game release hlist|NA|Agetec|EU|Empire Interactive}} |
| rowspan="3" | 2001
|PlayStation 2 | {{Video game release hlist|NA|Agetec|EU|Metro3D}} |
| Forever Kingdom
|PlayStation 2 | Agetec |
| King's Field IV
|PlayStation 2 | {{Video game release hlist|NA|Agetec|EU|Metro3D}} |
| rowspan="4" | 2002
|PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable | {{Video game release hlist|NA|Agetec|EU|Metro3D}} |
| Lost Kingdoms
| GameCube |
| Murakumo: Renegade Mech Pursuit
| Xbox | Ubisoft |
| Otogi: Myth of Demons
| Xbox | Sega |
| rowspan="5" | 2003
| PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable | Agetec |
| [https://www.fromsoftware.jp/ww/detail.html?csm=025 Thousand Land]
| Xbox | {{N/A}} |
| Lost Kingdoms II
| GameCube |
| Shadow Tower Abyss
| PlayStation 2 | {{N/A}} |
| Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors
| Xbox | Sega |
| rowspan="6" | 2004
| PlayStation 2 | {{Video game release hlist|NA|Agetec|EU|Indie Games Productions}} |
| Armored Core: Nexus
|PlayStation 2 |Agetec |
| Kuon
|PlayStation 2 | {{Video game release hlist|NA|Agetec|EU|Indie Games Productions}} |
| Armored Core: Nine Breaker
|PlayStation 2 | {{Video game release hlist|NA|Agetec|EU|505 Games}} |
| Armored Core: Formula Front
| PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2 | {{Video game release hlist|NA|Agetec|EU|505 Games}} |
| Metal Wolf Chaos
| Xbox | {{N/A}} |
| rowspan="3" | 2005
| Yoshitsune Eiyūden: The Story of Hero Yoshitsune | PlayStation 2 | {{N/A}} |
| Another Century's Episode
| PlayStation 2 |
| Armored Core: Last Raven
| PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable | {{Video game release hlist|NA|Agetec|EU|505 Games}} |
| rowspan="6" | 2006
| Ubisoft |
| Another Century's Episode 2
| PlayStation 2 | Banpresto |
| Chromehounds
| Xbox 360 |Sega |
| [https://www.fromsoftware.jp/ww/detail.html?csm=050 King's Field: Additional I]
| PlayStation Portable | {{N/A}} |
| [https://www.fromsoftware.jp/ww/detail.html?csm=051 King's Field: Additional II]
| PlayStation Portable | {{N/A}} |
| Armored Core 4
| PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | {{Video game release hlist|NA|Sega|EU|505 Games}} |
| rowspan="3" | 2007
| [https://www.fromsoftware.jp/ww/detail.html?csm=057 Nanpure VOW] | {{N/A}} |
| [https://www.fromsoftware.jp/ww/detail.html?csm=058 Iraroji VOW]
| Nintendo DS | {{N/A}} |
| Another Century's Episode 3: The Final
| PlayStation 2 | Banpresto |
| rowspan="2" | 2008
| PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Ubisoft |
| Shadow Assault: Tenchu
| Xbox 360 | {{N/A}} |
| rowspan="4" | 2009
| [https://www.fromsoftware.jp/ww/detail.html?csm=068 Inugami-ke no Ichizoku] | Nintendo DS | Nintendo |
| Ninja Blade
| Xbox 360, Windows |
| Demon's Souls
| PlayStation 3 | {{Video game release hlist|JP|Sony Computer Entertainment|NA|Atlus|PAL|Namco Bandai Partners}} |
| [https://www.fromsoftware.jp/ww/detail.html?csm=072 Yatsuhaka-mura]
| Nintendo DS | {{N/A}} |
| rowspan="2" | 2010
| Another Century's Episode: R | PlayStation 3 | Banpresto |
| Monster Hunter Diary
| rowspan="2" | PlayStation Portable | Capcom |
| rowspan="2" | 2011 |
| Dark Souls
| PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows |Namco Bandai Games |
| rowspan="3" | 2012
| PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |Namco Bandai Games |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
| PlayStation 3 |Namco Bandai Games |
| Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor
| Xbox 360 | Capcom |
| 2013
| PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Namco Bandai Games |
| 2014
| PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows |
| rowspan="2" | 2015
| Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One |Bandai Namco Games |
| Bloodborne
| PlayStation 4 | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2016
| PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows |
| 2018
| Déraciné | PlayStation 4 (PlayStation VR) |
| 2019
| PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, Stadia |
| 2022
| PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2 | Bandai Namco Entertainment |
| 2023
| Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S |Bandai Namco Entertainment |
| 2025
| PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | Bandai Namco Entertainment |
| 2026
| Nintendo |
| class="wikitable sortable" width="auto"
|+ Expansion packs / downloadable content ! Year ! Title ! Game |
| 2012 |
|---|
| rowspan="3" | 2014
| rowspan="3" | Dark Souls II |
| Crown of the Old Iron King |
| Crown of the Ivory King |
| 2015 |
| 2016
| rowspan="2" | Dark Souls III |
| 2017 |
| 2024 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
{{FromSoftware games}}
{{Dark Souls series}}
{{Kadokawa Dwango}}
{{Sony Interactive Entertainment}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2014 mergers and acquisitions
Category:Golden Joystick Award winners
Category:Japanese companies established in 1986
Category:Kadokawa Corporation subsidiaries
Category:Software companies based in Tokyo
Category:Sony Interactive Entertainment
Category:Video game companies established in 1986
Category:Video game companies of Japan