Dark Souls Publisher Teases New RPG, Mark Your Calendars

Since it was founded back in 2006, Bandai Namco has gone on to become one of the most prolific video game publishers in the business. As the publisher behind some of the highest earning franchises in gaming, such as Pac-Man, Tekken, Dark Souls, Ace Combat, Tales, and many more, it is no wonder that fans are always excited to see the name attached to an upcoming project.

Well, luckily enough, it seems as though Bandai Namco is set to unveil its latest project after teasing the announcement across social media earlier this week.

What Is Bandai Namco Cooking?

Shared earlier this week, Bandai Namco has announced a “new RPG” set to be unveiled this Thursday (or Friday, depending on your time zone). Set to air on its official YouTube page, the title simply reads, “Coming soon, a new RPG from Bandai Namco Entertainment” with the tagline, “A serenity soon to be disturbed.” With the thumbnail giving no information away, all we have to go on is the brief description, and a matching teaser trailer which shows a serene, and lush forest before cutting to a character with a sword and shield on their back.

So what could this mean? Well, as a “new RPG”, we can expect it to be a part of a new IP, and its graphics and overall setting look to be different to what we would expect from previous Bandai Namco titles.

It’s Probably Not A New Dark Souls Or Elden Ring

Despite having Bandai Namco attached as developers, it is unlikely that this new RPG will have any connections to either Dark Souls or Elden Ring. From the teaser trailer alone, it is clear to see that its graphics, and overall more light-hearted vibe, do not match the infamous franchises, unless it is some kind of spin-off with a totally different tone. As you can imagine, fans have been taking to social media to share their own guesses about this mysterious arrival.

“Any guesses? I think we’re overdue for a new Tales game!” One user shared. Luckily, another user agreed, “Most likely the next Tales Of, considering the simple texturing on the character model, and the very anime-y heater shield. Bandai Namco Studios has stated that they’re also working on a proprietary engine, and such a game could mark that engine’s debut.”

With the last Tales Of entry arriving in 2021 with Tales of Arise, and with reports of another installment being in development, it could very well be the announcement many are hoping for. However, if you ask me, this is something new entirely, and I can’t wait to find out.