I’m not in a position to say what kind of decision the company made at the time…

Hidetaka Miyazaki is without a doubt one of the most renowned directors in the gaming industry. He has consistently delivered to fans the best Dark Fantasy titles over the last few years, and there has been only one single hiccup in his whole career.

The release of Dark Souls II has always been considered one of the most controversial moves by FromSoft. This title was unfortunately not directed by Miyazaki as he instead chose to supervise the production, prompting another member of the studio to step in and assume the role in his place.

In an interview via 4gamer, Hidetaka Miyazaki was asked why the decision to remove him from the lead development role was taken. The production should have naturally been treaded more carefully as the success of Dark Souls II was the key to determining the success of the franchise as a whole. He answered by saying-

” I understand what you’re saying. I’m not in a position to say what kind of decision the company made at the time, but my personal thought on that matter was that the Dark Souls II project could be a huge chance for even someone other than myself. I had already received plenty of chances, and if someone else in the company could take that same chance and make good on it, then From Software could grow as an organization.“

Miyazaki shared his thoughts on how he saw the development of this particular title as the perfect opportunity to give someone else a chance to showcase their talent. This would help not only the chosen director but also FromSoft as a company in the long run as it continues to grow.

This is also not the first instance where Miyazaki has showcased his humble nature. Previously, he has shown optimism towards other studios taking mechanics from his games, seeing it as an opportunity to gain a fresh perspective. Another example of the same would be how he has refused to take full credit for the studio’s latest release, Elden Ring.

Elden Ring is a game that has sold millions of copies ever since its release, and is sure to sell even more with its upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree DLC lined up. Miyazaki in an interview has revealed how his opinion is not absolute when it comes to deciding elements of the storyline, ultimately refusing to take full credit for the phenomenal success of the game.

A perfect example of seeing the director’s opinion not being followed to the tooth is how he once was willing to save a character from their unfortunate end in Bloodborne. The idea was unfortunately rejected by the studio, failing Miyazaki’s plan to alter the storyline.