Demon's Souls (2020 video game)

Lore & Background

Development began after Bluepoint Games completed its 2018 remake of Shadow of the Colossus. Japan Studio's Internal Development Department led the project, with Gavin Moore serving as creative director. The team aimed to remain true to the original while adjusting for modern hardware, using original art assets, music, and level design as a blueprint. The score was redone with a full orchestra and choir, and voice acting was re-recorded with many original cast members returning. The game shipped with two visual modes: cinematic mode at native 4K and 30 frames per second, and performance mode with dynamic 4K at 60 frames per second. Despite prior statements, the game does not support ray tracing.

Reader's Guide

Demon's Souls (2020) is significant as a showcase for the PlayStation 5's capabilities and as the final game from Japan Studio's Internal Development Department before its integration into Team Asobi, as well as Bluepoint's final game before its shutdown in 2026. The remake introduced new items called 'Grains' for temporary resistance, a 'Fractured World' mirror mode, a photo mode that pauses the game, and updated character creation. It retained the original's difficulty, with Bluepoint deciding not to add an Easy Mode. The game received universal acclaim on Metacritic and was recommended by 99% of critics on OpenCritic. Its legacy includes influencing the later Dark Souls series, as noted by Game Informer, and serving as a technical and creative achievement for its developers.

Did You Know?

• The remake features a 'Fractured World' mirror mode that reverses the layout of environments.
• The original score was redone with a full orchestra and choir, as the original was recorded digitally.
• The game does not support ray tracing, despite statements made prior to release.
• Bluepoint considered an 'Easy Mode' but decided it was not their place to add something that would fundamentally alter the game's balance.