Hidetaka Miyazaki Addresses the Longstanding Community Joke About His Character Designs
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
FromSoftware director Hidetaka Miyazaki recently addressed the long-running community joke regarding his barefoot character designs, explaining that his focus is entirely on themes of human nature, ruin, and rebirth.
For years, the Soulslike community has shared a running inside joke about FromSoftware director Hidetaka Miyazaki and a supposed penchant for designing barefoot characters. From the Maiden in Black in Demon's Souls to Malenia in Elden Ring, players noticed a distinct lack of footwear among key female figures and NPCs. During a recent interview with The Guardian, Miyazaki addressed the rumors unprompted, expressing genuine confusion about where the internet lore originated.
While the internet loves to turn recurring design choices into memes, Miyazaki explained that these aesthetic decisions stem from an entirely different creative place. Rather than catering to specific online humor, he views these character details as symbolic representations of human nature. He pointed to deeper philosophical themes like ruin and rebirth that consistently drive his creative vision across titles, including his latest project, The Duskbloods.
Miyazaki also touched on the broader tone of his games, noting that he naturally gravitates toward darker futures because they make small moments of hope feel much more impactful. As players anticipate the launch of The Duskbloods following glowing hands-on previews across major gaming outlets, it appears the director is far more focused on crafting complex cosmological themes than unpacking internet jokes.
Tags: FromSoftware, Elden Ring, The Duskbloods, Soulslike
Original article: IGN South Africa