Bloodborne is one of those odd occurrences in video gaming. It’s somewhat of a spiritual successor, so when Bloodborne‘s release was approaching, many fans of From Software’s previous works had an idea of what to expect. However when it finally released, it still managed to surprise people in all the right ways.
Bloodborne‘s dark, yet amazingly beautiful, gothic setting along with its unforgiving brutal action made it an instant shoe-in for GOTY for many. Its success proves once again that a developer doesn’t need to cater to the masses in order to provide something great. Bloodborne is definitely not for the faint-hearted, and that’s a trait that From Software acknowledges with pride. It is an experience for the hardcore gamer through and through. Navigating dark corridors, defeating terrifying bosses, and uncovering some of the mysteries behind the city of Yharnam is what makes Bloodborne so great. But, there is one thing about Bloodborne that isn’t so great. Something that players who persevere eventually discover. Bloodborne ends.
Now, that isn’t a bad thing per se, all good things must come to an end. And, unlike some modern games, Bloodborne is a complete experience that hid nothing behind a paywall. From Bloodborne‘s opening, all the way to its multiple endings, it delivered a solid, focused experience for those brave enough to dive in. So, it should come as no surprise that there are fans asking one crucial question: what does the future hold?
New Game+ allows for a surprising amount of replayability, and PvP is there for players to pass the time in deathly duels. Yet fans want more, and can you blame them?
What are some of the avenues that From Software could go down to provide more content for Bloodborne Fans? Let’s take a look.
Expansion/Downloadable Content
SPOILER WARNING
As of right now, there’s no hint to any kind of expansion or DLC content. When you examine the endings you can probably see why. Depending on which ending you choose, the story goes in one of three directions. Either you leave the nighmare, gain control of it, or are reborn as something new. Neither of the three really open the game up for post-story expansions. The story of Bloodborne fits on its disc nicely without much spillover.
This leaves anything taking place after the main game in a position of not making much sense. In one way, it’s great that the developers didn’t leave an obvious cliffhanger that they could later exploit for DLC, but it does make expanding the existing game a bit more difficult.
So if an end game expansion isn’t optimal, why not some new in-game content? New chalice dungeons, extra areas housing powerful bosses, or something else along those lines. Dark Souls II had its Lost Crowns Trilogy, that added new areas, weapons, items, enemies, and, most importantly, bosses. From Software could take the same approach with Bloodborne. Especially if the added content would shed more light on the deep lore present in Yharnam and its surrounding areas.
Perhaps a trio of new Great Ones would be fitting for Bloodborne DLC. Great Ones that would reside in their own respective nightmares, providing From Software a bit of freedom in creating new, interesting locales for hunters to explore, and plunder. With each new Great One, more info about the blood found everywhere in the game could be shared, and a deeper meaning to the hunt could be uncovered.
The developers built themselves quite the foundation to build on, and DLC is definitely a path they could take to make fans happy. However, DLC isn’t the only way to provide fans more of what they want.
Sequel?/Prequel?
SPOILER WARNING
While the endings of Bloodborne may not pave the way for post narrative expansions, the beauty of From Software’s games is that new entries under the same banner are never impossible. The strongest tie between the two Dark Souls games is their brutality, and seemingly impossible obstacles. The spirit of the games is shared so that fans are able to receive something familiar, yet also completely new. Bloodborne also shares that same spirit, although at a much faster pace.
The thing about Bloodborne though is that the city of Yharnam and everything it encompasses has become the star of the game. Yes, the gameplay is superb, and the character customization lends itself to some high quality RPG gameplay. But, the world and its mysteries stood out and rose to the top, even more so than its infamous brutally difficult bosses. For that reason, another game would have to take place within the same world. A successor to Bloodborne needs to be more direct instead of spiritual.
This does raise one issue. Bloodborne instills a sense of freedom within players. The game does have a deep narrative involving the world, and its various NPCs, but the story of the player controlled hunter is created by that player. How exactly will developers be able to create a new experience that ties into Bloodborne yet still retains its player agency?
Perhaps From Software can go the route of allowing your Bloodborne hunter to appear in a sequel, not as a playable character (since strange things happen to him/her depending on the ending you chose), but as a possible antagonist or ally…or if the game is anything like Bloodborne, a mixture of both. It honestly seems like the best course of action for the series to move forward. Having players encounter their former avatar as a Gherman-like NPC, or as a Great One who has transcended mortality would be interesting, and definitely something to look forward to.
Alternatively, From Software can introduce players to a pre-nightmare Yharnam. One where the sun shines, and humans roam, but the advent of something dark, and decidedly evil, lurks just beneath the surface. It would be interesting to see what Yharnam was truly like before its eerie transformation.
It’s refreshing to see a company release a game with no obvious plans of gouging the wallets of their fans later on. And it’s amazing to see so many gravitate towards that game and build a community around it. A community that at the moment is actively enjoying digging into every nook and cranny Yharnam contains in the hopes of discovering something new. But, in due time, there will be those who want more, and they’ll be just itching to find out what From Software has up its sleeve.
Is there something you hope to see come to Bloodborne or another entry? If so feel free to share in the comments.
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