From Software’s fan-favourite, brutally punishing action-RPG franchise, Dark Souls may have reached its apparent conclusion for now, but From Software is nonetheless not missing a beat with its all-new in-development game IP, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. After being formally unveiled at the Xbox Keynote during this past June’s E3, the buzz surrounding Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has been quite extensive, and now, we finally know when we’ll get to enjoy another punishing From Software-approved adventure! Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is set to release on March 22nd, 2019, and is now available to pre-order at most retail outlets and digital storefronts.
Alongside the release date confirmation, publisher, Activision also unveiled a Collector’s Edition for Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice today, though it doesn’t currently have a set price at the time of publication. The Collector’s Edition will not only include a copy of the game on your platform of choice, but also contains a 7” Shinobi statue, a steelbook case, an art book, a map of the game world, a digital soundtrack, and some replica coins modeled after the in-game currency.
While it will be overseen by Bloodborne and Dark Souls creator, Hidetaka Miyazaki, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is not quite the same experience as those titles. Rather than be an action-RPG with character customization like Bloodborne and Dark Souls are, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is instead a single-player action-adventure game set in Sengoku-era Japan, one with a set main character, no multiplayer capability and no RPG elements. The game’s combat system is also entirely different than the gloomy action-RPG’s that put From Software on the triple-A map, instead revolving around duel-style battles that involve striking an enemy’s stance and balance, so you can eventually finish them with a single lethal strike. If the player dies, they are also revived immediately, rather than sent back to a save point with all of their precious unspent ‘Souls’ taken away, though there are still limitations and handicaps that discourage players from routinely dying in combat. Finally, players will also make use of a prosthetic arm that can be useful for both navigation and special combat skills, as demonstrated in a new trailer that accompanied today’s release date announcement.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is in development for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Keep slicing Eggplante for major news and updates on Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, along with other From Software projects.