Hidetaka Miyazaki has become a household name for many gamers, particularly over the course of last year with the stunning success of Elden Ring.
Miyazaki has also seemingly become a well-known in the halls of Time, as he’s been named one of Time’s ‘100 Most Influential People’ for 2023, and he’s only the second video game developer to have ever been given the honour.
Each entry on the list is accompanied with a short blog which describes in part why they’re being granted this distinction, and Miyazaki’s was written by none other than Naughty Dog’s own Neil Druckmann.
“The first time I played one of Hidetaka Miyazaki’s games, I was miserable.” writes Druckmann. “I kept dying on the first enemy over and over again. But when I slowed down my approach, paying attention to the details, it all of a sudden clicked.
I managed to defeat the enemy and advance further into the game. I earned my progress and felt a sort of rush! And as I moved forward in the game, I was much more deliberate, careful in how I explored this world.
And in return the world rewarded me with tension, beauty, and surprises. That’s why Elden Ring – his massively popular 2022 hit – is a great ambassador for video games and the unique feelings they can effect in the player, feelings that a passive medium like TV can never re-create.
Miyazaki’s games make the player feel accomplished and smart – and its all thanks to his team’s uncompromising approach.
He refuses to overexplain the mechanics or the lore, but rather puts his trust in the player to figure it out on their own.”
While the next FromSoftware game won’t be any kind of sequel to Elden Ring, with Armored Core VI: Fires Of Rubicon on deck, we do know that Elden Ring’s first official DLC, Shadow Of The Erdtree is on its way.
Source – [Time]