FromSoftware Pirate Souls Rumor Sparks Frenzy Ahead of Summer Game Fest

Online rumors about FromSoftware have resurfaced after a supposed leak claimed the company is planning to show off a brand-new action RPG with a pirate theme at this year's Summer Game Fest. The rumor about the leak quickly spread across game forums and social media, but many fans and gamers remain unsure whether it's true.

The rumor started with an anonymous post on a website known for unverified leaks and insider claims. The post says that Cerulean Onslaught is the name of FromSoftware's next single-player game. It's a dark fantasy action RPG where you sail the seas and explore islands on a ship that you can customize, and that serves as your main hub.

A report also says that FromSoftware will self-publish the game and show it off at Summer Game Fest.

It will then be supposed to come out in August, just two months after the studio's other highly anticipated project, The Duskbloods. Some people online are excited about the idea of a "Pirate Souls" game, which reminds many fans of One Piece, but others don't believe it because there are many problems with the story.

A short-selling window raises significant awareness among fans. FromSoftware games like Elden Ring used to have months-long marketing efforts that included gameplay demos, cinematic trailers, preview events, and early hands-on sessions for media professionals. It would be very different for the company to reveal a game two months before releasing it.

This is especially true if the game is meant to be the start of a big new single-player franchise. The stated title also raises doubts. The name Cerulean Onslaught sounds too simplistic compared to FromSoftware's other games, say fans. Dark Souls and Elden Ring were initially criticized before becoming popular, but others think "Onslaught" is too severe and doesn't meet the studio's usual gaming standards.

Whether the game will be FromSoftware's first self-published product has also aroused concerns. Still, some parts of the rumor match up with past news stories. Another leak earlier this year said that FromSoftware was working on a secret single-player project with the code name "FMC." Some people in the gaming community took that leak seriously because the source had provided accurate information before.

Some fans now think "FMC" might stand for "Fantasy Maritime Combat," a term that sounds a lot like the pirate- and ocean-themed ideas in the new rumor. Even though there are questions about the leak itself, players really like the idea of a pirate-themed Souls-like game. The gaming industry hasn't had many big pirate-themed games in the last few years, besides Sea of Thieves and Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.

This has left what many players see as an untapped market. Fans have already started to imagine what a FromSoftware take on the genre might look like: scary sea monsters, dark fantasy islands, old shipwrecks, and dangerous ocean journeys, all mixed with the studio's famous combat systems and environmental storytelling.

The idea also seems to fit well with themes that director Hidetaka Miyazaki has explored in several games.

Over the years, FromSoftware games have used oceans, water, and images of the deep sea many times, and these references have often had strange meanings. The Fishing Hamlet and the stories about the Orphan of Kos in Bloodborne were very scary when set in water. Aldrich and other disturbing water-related images were in Dark Souls III, and Elden Ring's story and unused beta map material had many references to oceans, floods, sea creatures, and strange underwater themes.

Some fans now think that these recurring themes show that Miyazaki has long wanted to create a full-fledged fantasy experience set in the ocean but hasn't had the chance to do so in a separate project. For now, though, most people are still being cautious about the report. The claim isn't very likely to be true because the original post was anonymous, and there isn't much proof to back it up.

In gaming groups, many false 4chan rumors catch on for a short time before quietly fading away during big events. The talk has shown, though, how excited fans are for FromSoftware's next big single-player journey. After the success of Elden Ring, there is still a lot of excitement around the studio, whether it comes in the form of The Duskbloods, the supposed "FMC" project, or something completely different.

If the story isn't true, most people will forget about it soon after Summer Game Fest ends next month. But if FromSoftware suddenly shows off a dark fantasy pirate RPG, it could become one of the most talked-about news stories of the year right away. For now, fans can only do what people in gaming groups love to do: guess, speculate, and imagine what a real "Pirate Souls" experience might be like.