FromSoftware, Inc.(stylized asFROM SOFTWARE) is a Japanesevideo game developmentand publishing company. It was founded by Naotoshi Zin inTokyoon November 1, 1986. Initially a developer ofbusiness software,the company released their first video game,King's Field,for thePlayStationin 1994. Its success shifted FromSoftware to focus fully on games, with them producing two moreKing's Fieldgames before the first release of themechashooter seriesArmored Corein 1997.
 | |
Native name | Kabushiki gaisha フロム・ソフトウェア |
|---|---|
Romanizedname | Kabushiki gaisha furomu sofutowea |
| Company type | Subsidiary(kabushiki gaisha) |
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | November 1, 1986 |
| Founder | Naotoshi Zin |
| Headquarters | , Japan |
Key people | |
| Products | |
| Owner |
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Number of employees | 423 (June 2024) |
| Website | FromSoftware |
By the 2000s, FromSoftware's releases included theEcho Night,Shadow Tower,Lost Kingdoms,Otogi,andAnother Century's Episodeseries. The company achieved breakout success by the 2010s withDemon's Soulsand theDark Soulstrilogy ofaction role-playing games.Often cited among thegreatest video games ever made,their emphasis onhigh difficultyand environmental storytelling led to the creation of theSoulslikesubgenre that includeBloodbornein 2015,Sekiroin 2019, andElden Ringin 2022.
Hidetaka Miyazaki,creator and director ofDark Souls,has served as FromSoftware'srepresentative directorand president since 2014, with Zin remaining as an advisor. Miyazaki directs and designs the majority of the company's games in addition to his executive duties. FromSoftware is owned primarily byKadokawa Corporation,with minority stakes byTencentsubsidiary Sixjoy Hong Kong andSony Interactive Entertainment.FromSoftware usually self-publishes in Japan and has partnered with publishers such asAgetec,Sony,andBandai Namco Entertainmentinternationally.
History
edit1980s and 1990s
edit
FromSoftware was founded in Tokyo by Naotoshi Zin on November 1, 1986, as a developer ofbusiness applications.[1]The company released its first game,King's Field,for the PlayStation in 1994. Despite its commercial success in Japan, the game was not released in other regions, although 1995'sKing's Field IIwas released in both North America and Europe in 1996.[2]After releasingKing's Field IIIin 1996, FromSoftware went on to release the horror gameEcho Nightand the 1998 role-playing gameShadow Tower.In 1997, FromSoftware releasedArmored Core,the first release in their flagshipArmored Coreseries of mecha combat games.[3]
2000s
editWith the launch of thePlayStation 2in 2000, FromSoftware released the role-playing gamesEternal RingandEvergrace.[3]In 2003, FromSoftware publishedTenchu: Wrath of Heaven,astealth gamethat combines action and adventure elements.[4]In 2004, FromSoftware bought the rights to the series, excluding the first two games, fromActivision.[5][6]The company also releasedKing's Field IVandShadow Tower Abyss,in addition to theLost Kingdomsseries for theGameCube.[3]The company also made a few games exclusive to theXboxaround this time, such asMurakumo: Renegade Mech Pursuit,Otogi: Myth of Demons,Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors,Metal Wolf Chaos,andChromehoundsIn 2005, FromSoftware would start to produce a series of licensed games based on the variousanimeproperties under the bannerAnother Century's Episode.[3]The same year, the company hosted the video game industry's first internship that let students experience game development through a game creation kit,Adventure Player,for thePlayStation Portable.[4]In May 2008, FromSoftware underwent a stock split.[4]
2010s
editFromSoftware achieved breakout success in the 2010s,[4]spurred by the release ofDemon's Souls(2009) andDark Souls(2011), the latter being the first entry in a trilogy whose success led to the creation of a subgenre of action role-playing games known asSoulslikegames.[7]These includeDark Souls II(2014),[8]Bloodborne(2015),[9][10]Dark Souls III(2016),[11]Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice(2019),[12][13]andElden Ring(2022),[14][15][16]which have all received several awards and are often listed among thegreatest video games of all time.[17][18][19][20]In April 2014, Kadokawa Corporation announced its intention to purchase the company from former shareholder Transcosmos.[21]Following other restructuring,Soulscreator Hidetaka Miyazaki would be promoted to company president the following month and later given the title of representative director.[22]In January 2016, FromSoftware established a studio inFukuokathat focuses on creatingcomputer-generated imagery(CGI) assets for their games.[23][24]
2020s
editIn August 2022, Sixjoy Hong Kong (a subsidiary ofTencent) andSony Interactive Entertainmentrespectively acquired 16.25% and 14.09% of FromSoftware, leaving 69.66% to Kadokawa.[25]A November 2022 report byGamesIndustry.bizclaimed that FromSoftware was paying their employees at sub-standard rates.[26]The company had 423 employees as of June 2024[update].[27]In October 2024, the developer announced a salary increase of approximately 12% for its employees.[28]
Games
edit| Year | Title | System | International publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | King's Field | PlayStation | — |
| 1995 | King's Field II | PlayStation | |
| 1996 | King's Field III | PlayStation | ASCII Entertainment |
| 1997 | Armored Core | PlayStation | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Armored Core: Project Phantasma | PlayStation | ASCII Entertainment | |
| 1998 | Shadow Tower | PlayStation | Agetec |
| Echo Night | PlayStation | Agetec | |
| 1999 | Armored Core: Master of Arena | PlayStation | Agetec |
| Spriggan: Lunar Verse | PlayStation | — | |
| Frame Gride | Dreamcast | — | |
| Echo Night 2: The Lord of Nightmares | PlayStation | — | |
| 2000 | Eternal Ring | PlayStation 2 | |
| Evergrace | PlayStation 2 | ||
| Armored Core 2 | PlayStation 2 | ||
| The Adventures of Cookie & Cream | PlayStation 2 |
| |
| 2001 | Armored Core 2: Another Age | PlayStation 2 | |
| Forever Kingdom | PlayStation 2 | Agetec | |
| King's Field IV | PlayStation 2 | ||
| 2002 | Armored Core 3 | PlayStation 2,PlayStation Portable | |
| Lost Kingdoms | GameCube | Activision | |
| Murakumo: Renegade Mech Pursuit | Xbox | Ubisoft | |
| Otogi: Myth of Demons | Xbox | Sega | |
| 2003 | Silent Line: Armored Core | PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable | Agetec |
| Thousand Land | Xbox | — | |
| Lost Kingdoms II | GameCube | Activision | |
| Shadow Tower Abyss | PlayStation 2 | — | |
| Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors | Xbox | Sega | |
| 2004 | Echo Night: Beyond | PlayStation 2 | |
| Armored Core: Nexus | PlayStation 2 | Agetec | |
| Kuon | PlayStation 2 | ||
| Armored Core: Nine Breaker | PlayStation 2 | ||
| Armored Core: Formula Front | PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2 | ||
| Metal Wolf Chaos | Xbox,PlayStation 4,Windows,Xbox One | Devolver Digital | |
| 2005 | Yoshitsune Eiyūden | PlayStation 2 | — |
| Another Century's Episode | PlayStation 2 | Banpresto | |
| Armored Core: Last Raven | PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable | ||
| 2006 | Enchanted Arms | Xbox 360,PlayStation 3 | Ubisoft |
| Another Century's Episode 2 | PlayStation 2 | Banpresto | |
| Chromehounds | Xbox 360 | Sega | |
| King's Field: Additional I | PlayStation Portable | — | |
| King's Field: Additional II | PlayStation Portable | — | |
| Armored Core 4 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | ||
| 2007 | Nanpure VOW | Nintendo DS | — |
| Iraroji VOW | Nintendo DS | — | |
| Another Century's Episode 3: The Final | PlayStation 2 | Banpresto | |
| 2008 | Armored Core: For Answer | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Ubisoft |
| Shadow Assault: Tenchu | Xbox 360 | — | |
| 2009 | Inugamike no Ichizoku | Nintendo DS | — |
| Ninja Blade | Xbox 360,Windows | Microsoft Game Studios | |
| Demon's Souls | PlayStation 3 | ||
| Yatsu Hakamura | Nintendo DS | — | |
| 2010 | Another Century's Episode: R | PlayStation 3 | Banpresto |
| Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village | PlayStation Portable | Capcom | |
| 2011 | Another Century's Episode Portable | Namco Bandai Games | |
| Dark Souls | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows | Namco Bandai Games | |
| 2012 | Armored Core V | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Namco Bandai Games |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn | PlayStation 3 | Namco Bandai Games | |
| Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor | Xbox 360 | Capcom | |
| 2013 | Armored Core: Verdict Day | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Namco Bandai Games |
| 2014 | Dark Souls II | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows | Bandai Namco Games |
| 2015 | Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin | PlayStation 3,PlayStation 4,Windows, Xbox 360,Xbox One | Bandai Namco Games |
| Bloodborne | PlayStation 4 | Sony Computer Entertainment | |
| Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village DX | Nintendo 3DS | Capcom | |
| 2016 | Dark Souls III | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows | Bandai Namco Entertainment |
| 2018 | Déraciné | PlayStation 4 (PlayStation VR) | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| 2019 | Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice | PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One,Stadia | Activision |
| 2022 | Elden Ring | PlayStation 4,PlayStation 5,Windows, Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S | Bandai Namco Entertainment |
| 2023 | Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | Bandai Namco Entertainment |
References
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- ^Ciolek, Todd (March 16, 2015)."The History of From Software".ign.Archivedfrom the original on March 18, 2015.RetrievedApril 7,2018.
- ^abcdCiolek, Todd (March 16, 2015)."The History of From Software".IGN.p. 1.Archivedfrom the original on March 18, 2015.RetrievedMay 20,2017.
- ^abcd"History | FromSoftware".fromsoftware.jp.RetrievedApril 8,2020.
- ^Fahey, Rob (July 7, 2004)."From Software buys Tenchu rights".GamesIndustry.biz.RetrievedNovember 23,2024.
- ^Hirohiko Niizumi (July 6, 2004)."From Software acquires Tenchu brand".GameSpot.Archivedfrom the original on December 13, 2023.RetrievedNovember 23,2024.
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- ^Nunneley-Jackson, Stephany (October 24, 2014)."Dark Souls 2 wins Game of the Year at Golden Joystick Awards".VG247.RetrievedDecember 21,2022.
- ^"Eurogamer's Game of the Year 2015".Eurogamer.net.January 2016.RetrievedDecember 20,2022.
- ^"Edge Presents: The 100 Greatest Video Games of All Time".Edge.August 2017.
- ^"Overwatch and Dark Souls 3 win big at this year's Golden Joystick Awards".PC Gamer.November 18, 2016.RetrievedFebruary 13,2017.
- ^Makuch, Eddie (December 13, 2019)."The Game Awards 2019 Winners: Sekiro Takes Game Of The Year".GameSpot.RetrievedDecember 13,2019.
- ^Hussain, Tamoor (December 17, 2019)."Game Of The Year 2019 – Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice".GameSpot.RetrievedDecember 17,2019.
- ^"Elden Ring takes top honors at the Japan Game Awards".Japan Times.September 15, 2022.
- ^Loveridge, Sam (November 22, 2022)."Here are all the Golden Joystick Awards 2022 winners".GamesRadar+.RetrievedNovember 24,2022.
- ^Plant, Logan (December 8, 2022)."The Game Awards 2022 Winners: The Full List".IGN.Archived fromthe originalon December 9, 2022.RetrievedDecember 9,2022.
- ^Kain, Erik (November 22, 2013)."'Dark Souls' Inspired The Design Of Sony's PlayStation 4 ".Forbes.Archivedfrom the original on October 5, 2018.RetrievedOctober 5,2018.
- ^Polygon Staff (November 27, 2017)."The 500 Best Video Games of All Time".Polygon.Archivedfrom the original on March 3, 2018.RetrievedDecember 1,2017.
- ^Hussain, Tamoor (May 14, 2019)."The Most Influential Games Of The 21st Century:Dark Souls".GameSpot.Archivedfrom the original on May 14, 2019.RetrievedMay 21,2019.
- ^Donnelly, Joe (November 23, 2021)."Why Dark Souls has been crowned the best video game of all time".GamesRadar+.RetrievedDecember 20,2022.
- ^"From Software acquired by Japanese publisher Kadokawa Corporation".Archived fromthe originalon April 29, 2014.RetrievedApril 28,2014.
- ^Duwell, Ron (May 23, 2014)."Dark Souls' Hidetaka Miyazaki Promoted to President of From Software".Techno Buffalo.Archivedfrom the original on April 2, 2015.RetrievedMarch 25,2015.
- ^"From Software to open new studio in Fukuoka".Gematsu.September 12, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on September 16, 2015.RetrievedSeptember 15,2015.
- ^"FromSoftware to Establish New Studio in Fukuoka in October 2015".FromSoftware.Archivedfrom the original on June 1, 2016.RetrievedJune 25,2016.
- ^"Tencent and Sony Interactive Entertainment collectively acquire 30.34 percent of FromSoftware".Gematsu.August 31, 2022.RetrievedAugust 31,2022.
- ^"How much does From Software crunch?".GamesIndustry.biz.November 29, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 27,2023.
- ^"About".fromsoftware.jp.RetrievedJuly 24,2024.
- ^"Elden Ring developer FromSoftware announces salary increase of 12%".Eurogamer.net.October 4, 2024.RetrievedOctober 4,2024.
