Video game developer · Japan · Active
FromSoftware
Founded in November 1, 1986
- 98
- games developed
- 10
- games published
- 1
- in development
- 456
- employees
History of FromSoftware
FromSoftware was founded in Tokyo in November 1986 as a business software company. It moved into video games in 1994 with King's Field, a dark and demanding first-person role-playing game for the original PlayStation that already hinted at what would make the studio famous two decades later.
Through the 1990s and 2000s it built its catalogue with original series such as Armored Core, with its customisable mech combat, and Shadow Tower, alongside plenty of work for other publishers.
The turning point was Demon's Souls (2009), made for PlayStation 3 together with Sony's Japan Studio and directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki. Its difficulty, its storytelling through the world itself and its messages between players shaped a style the studio carried into Dark Souls (2011), Bloodborne (2015), Dark Souls III (2016) and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019). In 2014 the Kadokawa group bought the studio, and it is still its parent company; Miyazaki became president that same year.
Elden Ring (2022), an open world whose mythology was written with George R. R. Martin, became the studio's biggest commercial success and won the major game of the year awards. Since then it has released Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon (2023), the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion (2024) and Elden Ring Nightreign (2025), and it is working on The Duskbloods for Nintendo Switch 2. In 2022 Sony Interactive Entertainment and the Tencent group took minority stakes in the company.
Milestones
1986
Founded in Tokyo as a business software company.
1994
King's Field, its first video game, on PlayStation.
1997
The Armored Core series begins.
2009
Demon's Souls, the origin of the soulslike style.
2011
Dark Souls turns the formula into a worldwide phenomenon.
2014
The Kadokawa group buys the studio and Hidetaka Miyazaki becomes president.
2019
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice wins Game of the Year at The Game Awards.
2022
Elden Ring, its biggest hit, wins Game of the Year at The Game Awards.
In development
Announced games with a future release date.
The Duskbloods
Switch 2
Planned for 2027
Its best-known games
Elden Ring
2022 · Series X|S · PS4 · Switch 2
Dark Souls III
2016 · PS4 · PC · XONE
Bloodborne
2015 · PS4
Dark Souls
2011 · PS3 · PS4 · PC
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
2019 · Stadia · PS4 · PC
Dark Souls II
2014 · PS3 · PC · X360
Dark Souls: Remastered
2018 · PS4 · PC · XONE
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin
2015 · PS3 · PS4 · PC
Demon's Souls
2009 · PS3
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
2023 · Series X|S · PS4 · PC
Elden Ring Nightreign
2025 · Series X|S · PS4 · PC
Ninja Blade
2009 · PC · X360
Every game it has developed (98)
2026
- G-Mode Archives+: Armored Core Mobile 3 PC, Switch
2025
- G-Mode Archives+: Armored Core Mobile 2 PC, Switch
- Elden Ring Nightreign Series X|S, PS4, PC, PS5
- G-Mode Archives+: Armored Core Mobile Mission PC
- Armored Core: Master of Arena PS4, PS5
- Armored Core: Project Phantasma PS4, PS5
- Armored Core PS4, PS5
2023
- Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon Series X|S, PS4, PC, PS5
2022
- Elden Ring Series X|S, PS4, Switch 2, PC
2019
- Metal Wolf Chaos XD PS4, PC, XONE
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Stadia, PS4, PC, XONE
2018
- Déraciné PSVR
- Dark Souls: Remastered PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
2016
- Dark Souls III PS4, PC, XONE
2015
- Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Palico Village DX 3DS
- Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin PS3, PS4, PC, X360
- Bloodborne PS4
2014
- Dark Souls II PS3, PC, X360
2013
- Armored Core: Verdict Day PS3, X360
2012
- Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor X360
- Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn PS3
- Armored Core V PS3, X360
2011
- Dark Souls PS3, PS4, PC, X360
- Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airu Village G PSP
- Another Century's Episode Portable PSP
2010
- Monster Hunter Diary: Poka-poka Airu Village PSP
- Another Century's Episode: R PS3
- Armored Core: Last Raven Portable PSP
2009
- Armored Core: Silent Line Portable PSP
- Tenchu 3 Portable PSP
- Armored Core 3 Portable PSP
- Yatsu Hakamura NDS
- Demon's Souls PS3
- Ninja Blade PC, X360
- Inugamike no Ichizoku NDS
2008
- Tenchu: Shadow Assassins Wii, PSP
- Shadow Assault: Tenchu X360
- Armored Core: For Answer PS3, X360
- Armored Core Mobile 4 Mobile
2007
- Another Century's Episode 3: The Final PS2
- Hello Kitty no Oshare Party: Sanrio Character Zukan DS NDS
- Cookie & Cream NDS
- Iraroji VOW NDS
- Nanpure VOW NDS
2006
- Armored Core 4 PS3, X360
- King's Field: Additional II PSP
- King's Field: Additional I PSP
- Chromehounds X360
- Another Century's Episode 2 PS2
- Enchanted Arms PS3, X360
2005
- Echo Night: The First Voyage PSP
- Armored Core: Formula Front - Extreme Battle PSP
- King's Field Mobile II Mobile
- Armored Core: Last Raven PS2
- Kaikiken PSP
- Hako no Naka PSP
- Another Century's Episode PS2
- Yoshitsune Eiyuu-den: The Story of Hero Yoshitsune PS2
2004
- Metal Wolf Chaos XBOX
- Armored Core: Formula Front PSP, PS2
- Armored Core: Nine Breaker PS2
- Murakumo Mobile
- Tenchu: Fatal Shadows PSP, PS2
- King's Field EX Mobile
- Kuon PS2
- Armored Core: Nexus PS2
- Echo Night: Beyond PS2
- King's Field Mobile
- Tenchu: Ayame's Tale 3D Mobile
2003
- Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors XBOX
- Shadow Tower: Abyss PS2
- Lost Kingdoms II NGC
- Thousand Land XBOX
- Silent Line: Armored Core PSP, PS2
2002
- Otogi: Myth of Demons XBOX, XONE
- Murakumo: Renegade Mech Pursuit XBOX
- Lost Kingdoms NGC
- Armored Core 3 PSP, PS2
2001
- King's Field: The Ancient City PS2
- Forever Kingdom PS2
- Armored Core 2: Another Age PS2
2000
- The Adventures of Cookie & Cream PS2
- Armored Core 2 PS2
- Evergrace PS2
- Sword of Moonlight King's Field Making tool PC
- Eternal Ring PS4, PS2
1999
- Echo Night 2: Nemuri no Shihaisha PS3, PS1, PSP
- Frame Gride DC
- Spriggan: Lunar Verse PS1
- Armored Core: Master of Arena PS3, PS1, PSP
1998
- Echo Night PS3, PS1, PSP
- Shadow Tower PS3, PS1, PSP
1997
- Armored Core: Project Phantasma PS3, PS1, PSP
- Armored Core PS3, PS1, PSP
1996
- King's Field: Pilot Style PS1
- King's Field II PS3, Vita, PS1, PSP
1995
- King's Field PS3, PS1, PSP
1994
- King's Field PS3, PS1, PSP
Games it has published without developing them (10)
- Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven 2003
- Tenchu: Return From Darkness 2004
- Fu-un Bakumatsu-den 2005
- Tenchu: Time Of The Assassins 2005
- Tenchu: Dark Secret 2006
- Nano Devil 2006
- Tenchu Z 2006
- Onore no Shinzuru Michi wo Yuke 2009
- 3D Dot Game Heroes 2009
- Tenchu Kurenai Portable 2010