Demon’s Souls,a remake of FromSoftware’s 2009 release by Bluepoint Games, was one of the best and most popular PS5 launch titles. It successfully reconstructed the popular entry in theSoulsseries and caused both old and new fans to dive back into the punishing, but incredibly rewarding saga.Bluepoint’sDemon’s Soulsremake did a great jobof staying true to the original and mostly overhauled the graphics, transforming the 2009 game into one of the first exclusively next-gen titles out there.
The anticipation for FromSoftware’s next game,Elden Ring,more than surpasses the hype surrounding theDemon’s Soulsremake in November, but the improved visuals in the latter might have actually reduced the appeal ofElden Ring.
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Elden Ring’s Gameplay Trailer Looks Amazing, But the Visuals Disappointed Some
Most will concur that theElden Ringtrailer revealed during the Summer Games Festdid not disappoint.Elden Ringlooks like it will be a truly epic experience filled with monstrous creatures, deep lore, and a stunning world begging to be explored.Elden Ringwent all out in more ways than one, and while the gameplay trailer did reveal quite a bit about the world, the enemies, and the lore, there will undoubtedly be more to discover in the game itself.
Despite being thrilled about the game’s premise and excited thatElden Ringdoes actually exist, some fans couldn’t help but feel like the graphics fell a little flat. Video games are now at an intersection between current and next-gen, with some games because exclusively next-gen and some being available on both generations of consoles.
As more andmore gamers get their hands on a PS5 or Xbox Series X, many have expressed disappointment about the fact that many games are releasing on current-gen. The PS4 and Xbox One are nowhere near as powerful as their new-gen kin, and not making games exclusively next-gen means that developers aren’t taking full advantage of the new consoles' power. At least, that’s how some look at it. While FromSoftware will be releasing next-gen versions ofElden Ring,and while the game does look visually impressive, the graphical quality isn’t quite up to par with more recent releases. It’s very possible that the graphics in the gameplay trailer will be improved upon between now and January, but a lot of fans felt a little underwhelmed.
Demon’s Souls Next-Gen Graphics Surpass Elden Ring
If it wasn’t forDemon’s Souls,however, there might not have been as much negative commentary aboutElden Ring’sgraphics. BecauseDemon’s Soulsis a PS5 exclusive and probably isn’t releasing on current-genconsoles, Bluepoint was able to push graphical boundaries in a way thatElden Ringcan’t. It’s easy to see howElden Ringcould feel like a step backward.
Elden Ringwas met with overwhelmingly positive reception, but there’s no denying that it does look like an older game when compared toDemon’s Souls.Being originally made by the same developer and possessing similar aesthetics, it’s impossible not to compare the two.Elden Ringhas an open environment and offers a lot more opportunities for exploration and creativity thanDemon’s Souls,so the game world is going to be a lot bigger, but there ismore detail in theDemon’s Soulsremake.
The differences are definitely noticeable, with some players saying thatElden Ringbarely even passes for current-gen. That’s probably a bit harsh, but next-gen graphics are at the forefront of gamers' minds right now.Forza Horizon 5’smind-blowing graphicsmade it the most-anticipated game of E3, and while players are still coming down from the high of finally seeingElden Ringin action, the graphics aren’t anything to write home about.
If not forDemon’s Souls, Elden Ring’sgraphics probably wouldn’t be judged so harshly. IfElden Ringdidn’t look so similar to entries in theSoulsseries, it also might not be getting so much criticism. But when comparing the graphics inElden Ringto those inDemon’s Souls,the latter is going to come out on top as next-gen while the former falls behind.
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Elden Ring’s Graphics Might Look Better When It Launches
Most developers like to put their best foot forward when it comes to reveal trailers, showcasing the game in its most ideal form. Sometimes, this doesn’t work out in players' favor. The most current example isCyberpunk 2077.Cyberpunk’strailers looked incredible and had gorgeous graphics, but CD Projekt Red only showed footage recorded on a high-end PC, completely neglecting to show players what the game looked like on current-gen consoles. This resulted in a lot of console players being disappointed with the game as a whole, and CDPR is still recovering from that.
Some players have pointed out that whileElden Ringmight not look graphically amazing in the trailer, at least FromSoftware can’t be faulted with making the game look better than it actually is. A lot of the footage from the trailer was also from actual gameplay rather than CGI rendered cutscenes. Thegraphics may not be up to par withDemon’s Souls,but they’re definitely respectable and there’s time for improvement.
It’s also possible thatElden Ringwill look even better when it actually launches. The trailer didn’t disclose how the footage was captured, and there are bound to be some graphical differences between current and next-gen versions of the game. FromSoftware also has until theJanuary release date to finishElden Ring,so it’s possible that some of the finer details haven’t been finalized yet.
Graphics Should Be More Than Pixels and Resolution
Even ifElden Ring’sgraphics look slightly dated when compared toexclusively next-gen games likeDemon’s Souls,it’s important to remember that textures, the amount of detail, and the overall screen resolution aren’t all there is to graphics. The game industry has fallen in love with photo-realistic characters and landscapes because the technology is now capable of accomplishing that, but photorealism can only go so far without a strong art direction.
Regardless of graphics,Elden Ringhas that strong art direction. Fans who watch the trailer know exactly what kind of game they’re going to get, and the bosses and environments are more vast and intimidating than ever. There’s a ton of creativity that went into designing each monstrous creature inElden Ring,and even if it’s not as good asDemon’s Souls,there’s definitely enough there to create an epic experience.
Even though the graphics were a little bit of a let-down for some,Elden Ringlooks like it will blow players away where story, gameplay, and exploration are concerned. Graphics certainly contribute to the overall experience, but it takes a lot more than that to make a great game.Elden Ringclearly has a strong visual identity and nothing is designed without purpose, and at the end of the day, that will have a larger impact on the game than the textures and resolution.
Elden Ringlaunches Aug 05, 2025 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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