Tomorrow is one of the biggest video game launch days in recent history. In addition to the intensely hyped Titanfall for Xbox One and PC, the sequel to beloved hardcore action RPG Dark Souls will launch tomorrow, gluing gamers to their previous-generation consoles as they collectively uncover the game’s secrets.
Though Dark Souls II is highly anticipated by a devoted subset of gamers, the marketing from the title has been odd. Trailers and screenshots from the game in development often did not portray the game’s visuals in the best light and the blacksmith-forged Dark Souls IIarmor cosplay debuted last summer looked similarly weird.
The launch trailer, released today, is a different story. Aside from a rather peculiar choice of music, the trailer provides everything Dark Souls fans could want: imposing bosses, an oppressive atmosphere of danger, and lots of death.
Despite From Software referring to the PC as the lead platform for Dark Souls II, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 version of the game will still be launching first, on March 11. Now From has revealed just how long PC gamers will have to wait for their better-looking verison.
Dark Souls II will hit the PC on April 25, more than six weeks after the console versions are released.
Though PC gamers will have to work hard to avoid spoilers for the game they will be rewarded for their patience. The PC version of Dark Souls II will allow for higher resolutions and framerates than the console versions. From Software also promises that it is working to make the game’s controls work with a mouse and keyboard set-up, though gamers will probably still be best served using a gamepad.
“We’re conscious of the high expectations from PC gamers and are working with From Software in ensuring that the PC version of Dark Souls II offers the best experience possible,” said Mathieu Piau, EMEA marketing director at Namco Bandai Games Europe. “After an amazing first opus, Dark Souls II promises an even more engaging, richer and challenging adventure that should please all gamers, regardless of their platform of choice.”
In addition to the PC release date, Namco Bandai today released a new trailer for Dark Souls II. The video previews a portion of the game’s opening prologue cut-scene:
The release of Dark Souls II (for consoles) is now just weeks away. Fans of the series have no doubt already pre-ordered the game and Namco Bandai is now finalizing its marketing push for the sequel to one of the most highly-praised games of the past half-decade. Today the publisher released a new trailer for Dark Souls II featuring huge axes, busted armor, and a gigantic dragon.
Oddly enough, about half of the trailer is footage taken from the original Dark Souls. The theme of the trailer seems to be that the Dark Souls series isn’t just about death. This could be a reaction to recent Fox News revelation that the so-called Craigslist serial killer was a fan of Dark Souls. The new video attempts to re-frame the series as being about overcoming challenges, all while providing knowing winks to fans with iconic images from the first game:
In a way, the narrator of the video is right. Though Dark Souls was heavily marketed around its infamous difficulty (the PC version of the game was subtitles “Prepare to Die Edition”), the game itself was not about death itself. Instead, each of the many time new players saw the words “You Died” was a learning experience urging them on to complete tasks and defeat enemies that, at first, seem ridiculously overpowered.
With less than two months to go before the release of Dark Souls II, Souls fans are gearing up for their first arduous journey through the next game’s brutal world.
Namco Bandai this week turned up the hype on Dark Souls II with a brand new trailer filled with plenty of the twisted monsters players will encounter during the game. In the publisher’s video description it calls Dark Souls II “the hardest game you’ll ever love” and promises “a vast breathtaking world filled with mythical monsters and murderous bosses.
The video itself begins with a bit of a story tease, but quickly segues into a fast-paced action montage. All of the features Souls fans would want are seen in the trailer, including gigantic bosses, bonfires, invasion battles, and death:
After the bungled announcement of the Dark Souls II beta for PlayStation 3, North American Souls fans could be forgiven for believing developer From Software was more focused on the European market. Today’s announcement will do nothing to dispel that notion.
Namco Bandai Europe today announced the details of a special collector’s edition available, so far, only in Europe. The Dark Souls II Collector’s Edition will include a foot-tall statue of the “Warrior Knight” featured in the art and video previews of the game. It also comes with an art book, a soundtrack, and a cloth map of the game world. The game will come in metal game case.
In addition to the collector’s edition, all Dark Souls II pre-orders will be upgraded to the “Black Armor Edition” of the game. That version comes with only the metal case and the extra soundtrack disc.
Along with the collector’s edition announcement, Namco Bandai also put out a new trailer for Dark Souls II. Titled “Aching Bones,” the video doesn’t show off much that hasn’t been shown before. Souls fans, however, will appreciate the heavy emphasis on gameplay combat:
Just two weeks ago, Namco Bandai Games announced that a beta will be held for Dark Souls II. The beta is only for PlayStation 3 consoles, and the test will take place in both North America and Europe. Today the publisher finally announced that sign-ups for the beta are live – but there’s a catch.
Namco announced the sign-ups with a lengthy Facebook post about the beta. It included the facts that the first beta test will begin on October 12, and that a second will be held starting October 27. A link for fans to register for a beta ticket was also provided in the post, but those outside of the EU who clicked on the link were shown an error page instead.
The post hadn’t specified that the sign-ups are currently for Europe only. This, predictably, led to more than 2,500 comments filled with questions, anger, and a debate about the ethics of creating fake European PlayStation Network accounts.
Though it took about half the day, the Dark Souls Facebook page has finally provided an update for North and South American fans. Though the actual statement is a rather vacuous more-info-to-come non-announcement, the subtext of the post is clear: Souls fans are being asked to demonstrate the same patience they consistently display within the games themselves.
Though Dark Souls was most well-known for its high difficulty curve, fans of the series know that the weapons and armor in the game are some of the biggest stars of the game. Each weapon in the game had a specific move set, and the detail on some armors was extremely intricate. As this summer’s shield design Facebook contest demonstrated, the upcoming Dark Souls II will also have intricately designed gear.
Now, Namco Bandai Games has gone the extra mile, promoting the game’s signature look by having real armor forged. The publisher gave reference art to the blacksmiths at Armedia, a 40-year old forge located in France that creates period armor and weapons for TV and movies. The master blacksmith at the forge took months painstakingly re-creating developer From Software’s vision, hammering out a breastplate and linking chain mail by hand. The helm alone took six weeks to complete.
The entire process is documented in a video Namco Bandai released today. The forging is made more interesting by the combination of modern technology and time-honored techniques used by Armedia:
Dark Souls II is still set for a March 2014 release for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. A beta for the PlayStation 3 version of the game has been announced for October.
Namco Bandai Games, the publisher of Dark Souls in the west, today announced that it will be holding a closed beta test for the upcoming Dark Souls II. The test will begin on October 5 in Europe and North America, and is only for the PlayStation 3 version of the game.
Dark Souls fans can get into the beta through the Dark Souls Facebook page, which will provide details on signing up for the beta starting September 5. The beta will encompass what Namco Bandai called “one of the most treacherous areas of the Dark Souls II world.” From the publisher’s announcement:
The depth of the Dark Souls II Closed-Beta experience will truly test players’ skill, intestinal fortitude, and their sheer will to survive. The Dark Souls II Closed-Beta will delve into one of the most treacherous areas of the Dark Souls II world; players will not only get an opportunity to explore an entirely new area of the game, but also experience overwhelming enemy encounters, diabolical challenges, and the unrelenting difficultly that only the developers at FromSoftware can deliver.
Dark Souls II is still set for a March 2013 release for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. The latest Dark Souls II teaser was released just last week, and shows what appears to be some live-action Dark Souls cosplay:
Since its release in 2011, Dark Souls has gathered a cult following for its tight gameplay, high difficulty curve, and obscure lore. Its release on PC last summer only increased the game’s popularity.
So, when Dark Souls II was announced last December, fans of the series were both excited and worried. Questions about the game’s difficulty and accessibility have been met with mixed commentary from the game’s developer, From Software. It was only at E3 this month that the Dark Souls community’s fears were assuaged and fans settled in for the long wait until the game’s March 2014 release date.
Today, Japanese game publication Famitsu has released uncut gameplay videos of Dark Souls II seen at E3. Each video shows a different play style – warrior, sorcerer, temple knight, and dual-weilding. Though the videos might seem like simple fighting to other gamers, to Dark Souls fans these glimpses at combat might showcase more about the game than all previous trailers combined (particularly the duel-wielding showcase). Also, the videos might contain small enemy and location spoilers, but no bosses or story points are seen:
When Dark Souls II was announced during Spike TV’s VGAs, many fans thought this was an admission that the game would be dumbed down to appeal to a more casual audience. Those fears persisted well into the present day, but a new trailer and gameplay video should hopefully put your fears to rest.
First up is a new trailer for Dark Souls II showing some of the environments players will explore in the game. It’s obvious that Dark Souls II has received a pretty major facelift as the environments look way better than past games. There also seems to be a lot more fear and desolation going around if the environments are any indication.
If you want to see the game in action, check out IGN’s 12-minute gameplay reveal in which the director gives us a tour of an area in the game:
Dark Souls II will launch on the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC later this year.
It’s taken a while, but game publishers have finally come back around to the realization that gamers really are gluttons for punishment. Where early games such as Mega Man and Metroid were difficult and took many hours to master and beat, newer games generally provide players a clear run to the ending with plenty of nice content to experience along the way.
Demon’s Souls, however, brought back the frustration of early gaming. The game won many awards and glowing reviews despite its high level of difficulty. And though its successor, Dark Souls, has claimed the recent spotlight, many gamers still consider Demon’s Souls to be the superior game.
With that in mind, Atlus today announced that Demon’s Souls will soon be available for download through the PlayStation Network. Starting Tuesday, January 8, U.S. PlayStation 3 owners will be able to purchase the digital version of the game for $20.
As a celebratory gesture, Atlus is holding what it calls the “Pure White World Tendency” event from January 8 to 14. The event “slightly reduces the difficulty of the game and opens up a few things that can only be accessed in the Pure White state.” Lowering the difficulty, even just a little, doesn’t seem to be in the spirit of the Souls games, but it could certainly ease-in newcomers who have been coddled by the blockbuster games released this past holiday season.
Speaking of the holiday season, Valve’s Steam Holiday Sale is still going strong, and Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition is half-off until 1 pm EST tomorrow, January 4.
Over the weekend, Namco Bandai used the Spike Video Game Awards as the venue for announcing the sequel to 2011’s most frustrating-yet-rewarding game, Dark Souls.
Dark Souls II looks to have everything fans of the original game could want. The teaser trailer has been released and it features bleak landscapes, dark caverns, fierce battle, and dragons.
The only thing that can’t be conveyed in a teaser trailer is whether the game will be as difficult as its predecessor. Dark Souls was infamous for its difficulty curve, which caused many a rage quit. Namco knows that this was part of the game’s appeal, though, and will almost certainly use Dark Souls II try to challenge players on a level not seen since the days of the Nintendo Entertainment System.
Dark Souls has the reputation of being an unforgiving game, with multiple deaths being inevitable during gameplay, and after a successful turn on the console market, the game is making its way to the PC with the “Prepare to Die” edition. While there’s already been a trailer for the game, Namco Bandai wasn’t going to allow E3 to go without giving potential consumers even more reason to want the game.
To do so, the publisher has released a gameplay trailer, giving those who haven’t played an idea of what they can expect:
Over at PrepareToDie.com, there’s a list of what the “Prepare to Die” edition will contain:
New Bosses – Including Artorias of Abyss, Chimera of Tomb, and more
PVP Online Matchmaking System – Quick matching for co-op or PVP
New Areas – Including Oolacile Tomb, Old Ruins and more
New Enemies – Including Abyss Guard, Chained Prisoner and more
New NPCs – Including Hawkeye Gough and more
New Weapons and Armor – Equip some from the new bosses, enemies, and NPCs
Not only is the expanded edition available for PC players, the extra content will also be available for console players, along with additional DLC called Artorias of the Abyss. According to a Namco Bandai press release, posted by GamersHell.com, Artorias of the Abyss will be available for the Xbox and the PS3 this winter, along with a retail version of the Prepare to Die edition.
The PC version will be available to consumers on August 24.
We heard Sunday that Dark Souls was coming to the PC thanks to a leak from a German magazine. The announcement was made official today at a Namco Bandai Games presser.
As previously reported, the PC version of the game will be called, “Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition.” It will feature new bosses, but not much else. The announcement was made via Namco Bandai’s community manager Rich Bantegui.
Namco Bandai Games Europe also released the official trailer for the PC port. It contains footage of the two new bosses that are exclusive to the PC version. Check it out, it’s pretty awesome.
The fans have taken to Twitter to express their delight at the announcement.
@tomcopeland Tom CopelandSo now that the Prepare to Die Edition is officially a thing, it looks like I’ll be buying Dark Souls for a second time. I must hate myself.2 minutes ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@kobunheat Chris KohlerDark Souls PC should be free-to-play. They give you the game then they sell you replacement keyboards whenever you smash one4 minutes ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
There was a much stronger voice drowning out the tweets of jubilation though. It was announced that Dark Souls for PC would be using Games for Windows Live for its online component. If you’re not a PC gamer, that probably doesn’t make much sense to you, but trust me when I say that GFWL is only second to GameSpy as the least user friendly online service for PC gaming.
@Andypk9 AndypkOh god WHY?!?!? Dark Souls for PC is great, but GFWL?!?!? WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY ALL 140 CHARACTERS USED JUST FOR THAT EXTENDED WHY!!!!9 minutes ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
Even with the awful GFWL making up the online component for the game, that shouldn’t detract from what is an amazing title being enjoyed by more people. Dark Souls will launch on PC in the U.S. and Europe on August 24. It will be available digitally and at retailers.
PC gamers get the short end of the stick a lot. That’s not to say that there is a lack of great experiences to be had on the PC, but a lot of great console experiences have never made their way to the PC. That’s beginning to change, however, with developers making efforts to bring PC gamers unique versions of console games that take advantage of their preferred platform. Dark Souls was one of those console games that PC gamers clamored for, and it seems that their dreams are about to come true.
DSOGaming found the announcement on the cover of this month’s issue of German magazine, “PC Action.” On the front cover, it shows the news that Dark Souls is coming to the PC in August. Now this is a German magazine and it only means that Dark Souls is hitting Germany, and probably the rest of Europe, in August. We can assume that a U.S. release is going to happen shortly before or after.
Now remember when I said that more developers are beginning to put more effort into their console ports? That’s exactly what’s happening here with the Dark Souls team at From Software making this version the “Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition.” All the news we have so far says that it will feature new bosses. There’s sure to be more revealed as we approach the release, but just know that From Software isn’t the type of developer to just throw together a PC version. They’re doing something special with it that I’m sure PC gamers are going to love.
If you’re new to this whole Dark Souls thing, here’s the lowdown. From Software made a game for Sony on the PS3 called Demon’s Souls. It gained quite the reputation for being a ridiculously hard action RPG that punished players who didn’t play by the rules of the world. Players had to move methodically and play strategically if they were to survive. It was a rousing success for Atlus, the publisher that brought the game over to the U.S.
After seeing the success that Demon’s Souls brought to the market, Namco Bandai helped to publish the spiritual successor, Dark Souls. The new game had a much more refined design and challenged players even more to play with their wits instead of just swinging their sword around. In essence, Dark Souls is like a PC RPG from ages past. It’s the kind of game PC gamers yearn for with its challenge and respect for the player’s skill.
Namco Bandai has yet to officially make the announcement as magazines tend to reveal things before a publisher intends to. That being said, the publisher has a literal wall on Facebook that’s being broken apart by fans on the Dark Souls page. It’s thought that the Facebook reveal will also be the PC announcement. If you want to check out the Facebook wall, head over here and give your like to help break the wall.
With the magazine reveal just happening, there’s sure to be an official announcement right around the corner. Keep your eyes peeled and we’ll update you when Namco Bandai makes it official.
