RUMOR: Dark Souls 3 screenshots and information leak.

Well, this is certainly interesting.

Last week, VG247 happened to post a rumor online with “a source close to the industry” and leaked that Dark Souls 3 is in development, and is being directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki. A lot of the response to that was either negative, positive, or filled people with confusion. This was similar to how confused I was with the idea that Miyazaki was back for Dark Souls 3, shortly after Bloodborne. How could Miyazaki be directing Dark Souls 3 after his involvement with Bloodborne? How could Dark Souls 3 happen to be in any other development phase other than pre-production? Didn’t the other team at FROMSOFTWARE just finish the DLC for Dark Souls 2 and remaster the game? Isn’t Miyazaki directing the Bloodborne expansion?

The conclusion I came up with that the information was mishandled, and that Dark Souls 3 must be in pre-production with Miyazaki supervising, not directing.

However, the internet entertainment group known as The Know (who are also the same people who claimed that bogus rumor of Silent Hills is now an Xbox Exclusive and got shot down by the head of Xbox on twitter) happened to post this video about Dark Souls 3 leaks today containing the information below (each hyperlink is a separate article, click each of them for their source).

The following video contains the “leaked” information and several screenshots…:

• The game is coming to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2016. PC is also listed, but is accompanied by the word “negotiable.”
• The game will support “1-4 players,” meaning it’s possible you can summon more than one friend or there might be a player-versus-player element.
• 10 playable classes, all available from the beginning of the game.
• 45 new enemies, 15 new bosses. Characters and monsters from previous games are not included in that count.
• 100 new weapons and 40 new armor sets with returning equipment not counted in that number.
• 60 minutes of cutscenes, mostly in engine, rather than pre-rendered.
• There will be around 12 areas in the game.
• Will change the way you interact with players online. You’ll now participate in “Sacrifice Ceremonies.” You can drag bodies around, choose where to sacrifice them, perform the ritual, and visit another player’s game. Doing this makes you a target for other players. These will also change your game, such as a sacrifice creating a bonfire at the location you choose to sacrifice the body.
• Light sources and enemy layouts have been changed.
• BOss battles have a new “Heat Up” factor that “completely change” boss battles based on undescribed factors.
• The game will add “Sword Fighting Arts,” which including “Rush In” and “Circle.” The former is a sacrifice attack that allows you to dive into an opponent and take damage while delivering a huge hit, while the latter sounds like a dodge move.

Here are the following screenshots…:

As legit as the screenshots may look, you should also remember that The Know leaked this information and are also the same entertainers who “leaked” Silent Hills as an exclusive for Xbox. The red signals may be flying, but it’s definitely worth to check each screenshot. If you take a look at the HUD in some of the screens, you will notice that the Dark Souls HUD is tacked on. That is likely a placeholder.

I need to be honest though, I still think the rumor is bogus. I’m not denying Dark Souls 3 is real, it definitely is. However, will this be the end product? Will the game actually look like this, or will it not? Could these screenshots just be one big fake? Could they be real, but with mishandled information?

I just don’t happen to agree with the the idea that Miyazaki is directing, unless there was major crunch time involved with Bloodborne, Dark Souls 2 DLC, Scholar of the First Sin remaster, and that Miyazaki is directing the expansion of Bloodborne. I’m still with the idea that Miyazaki is simply supervising this game similarly to Dark Souls 2, with another director taking the game into his or her hands.

Regardless, I’m excited. Dark Souls 3 is a given. Even if this is fake and it turns out to be something else, or if this is real…I’m sure it will be stellar in all criteria. It’s a FROMSOFTWARE game, and the quality will be top notch. As the reader, you are free to agree or disagree with anything I said here. You could go ahead and argue about the credibility of the rumor and screens as well. I’m just leaning that Dark Souls 3 will be supervised by Miyazaki, not directed by him. I’ll definitely be listening during E3 for an announcement.

Feel free to leave a comment below on your opinion of this rumor. Stay with FsF for more news regarding news on the newest FromSoft games. Until then,

-Rogue.