A growing frustration with the current gaming landscape-specifically, the lack of challenging, single-player “Soulslike” experiences-is bubbling up among players, with many hoping for a new release to fill the void.
The Soulslike Drought and Hope for 2026
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Many gamers are craving the punishing-yet-rewarding gameplay loop of titles like “Dark souls,” “Bloodborne,” and “Elden Ring.”
- Players are expressing a desire for new, single-player Soulslike games.
- 2025 saw a limited number of prominent releases in the genre, with “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers” and “The First Berserker: Khazan” receiving some attention.
- Upcoming titles like “The Duskbloods” are generating anticipation, but concerns about potential delays and a multiplayer focus exist.
- The shutdown of BioWare’s “Anthem” highlights the risks of prioritizing live-service games over traditional single-player experiences.
One reader lamented the absence of a proper single-player Soulslike in recent years, noting that 2025 offered few standouts beyond Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. While anticipation exists for The Duskbloods, scheduled for release this year, concerns linger about potential delays and its reported emphasis on multiplayer gameplay.
“I want a big, full fat, single-player adventure on par with ‘Dark Souls,’ ‘Bloodborne,’ and ‘Elden Ring,'” one gamer wrote. “I realize they take a time to make, and I’m just being greedy but it’s a genre I love to hate and I miss it.”
Lessons from “Anthem” and the Live-Service Trend
The recent closure of BioWare’s “Anthem,” almost seven years after its launch, has sparked discussion about the pitfalls of the live-service game model. One reader pointed out that Electronic Arts (EA) appeared to learn from the experience, unlike Sony and Ubisoft, who continued to invest heavily in the genre. The success of “Apex Legends,” released shortly before “Anthem,” likely influenced EA’s decision to avoid further large-scale live-service projects.
Hardware Concerns and the Next Generation
A separate concern revolves around the availability of RAM, which is being increasingly purchased for artificial intelligence applications. This trend is raising fears that it could delay the next generation of gaming consoles and possibly force Sony to extend the lifespan of the PlayStation 5. One reader questioned whether Horizon Zero Dawn 3 would launch on the PlayStation 6 or remain exclusive to the PS
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