The sales figures for the overseas version of Dark Souls were not directly announced. However, to better promote the game internationally, Target Software released its first-week sales figures as a celebration after consulting with Chen Xu.
This announcement caused a significant stir within the gaming community in the country.
Gaming Industry Forum Discussions:
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"Dark Souls is selling exceptionally well overseas! It even seems to have gained more momentum abroad than domestically!"
"This isn't surprising, considering media outlets like GameSpot have given it such high ratings."
"Right! Who would have thought this unorthodox game would achieve such outstanding results?"
"Absolutely. This might be the best domestic game to have achieved international success this year, don't you think?"
"Not necessarily. Tenghua and NetDragon have major releases coming soon."
"Although Dark Souls doesn't break away from the ARPG framework, its gameplay and design concepts are entirely unique. Do you think its success can be replicated?"
"It's not impossible. There's clearly a growing player base with a masochistic streak who enjoy this kind of challenge. If another game offers a balanced difficulty and well-organized gameplay, even if it doesn't match Dark Souls' success, it could still do very well."
"That's true. Right now, there isn't another game of its kind on the market. The concept feels fresh and exciting!"
"While some of us are still debating this, others are already analyzing and preparing similar projects!"
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While game designers debated whether Dark Souls could define a new genre, ordinary players were simply thrilled to see their favorite game achieve such excellent results.
More importantly, the game's success practically guarantees a sequel. Judging from the success of Dark Souls, a continuation seems inevitable!
Player discourse goes on forever some content from there.
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"Have you heard? Dark Souls is selling like hotcakes overseas!"
"Yes, and the ratings are fantastic, especially in Europe and the United States!"
"Haha, you should check P Station. There are so many hilarious videos of foreign streamers getting annihilated by the game. It's wildly entertaining!"
"Not just entertaining—I felt nostalgic watching those videos. It reminded me of my own first experiences with Dark Souls. Unfortunately, by the second and third playthroughs, my character build had gotten too strong, and I lost that thrilling sense of challenge."
"Stop showing off! Try beating the game a few more times, and then let the monsters humble you again!"
"What I'm more concerned about is when the sequel will come out. With such impressive sales, Chen Xu must be rushing to develop it, right?"
"There's no need to worry. The global sales are rock-solid. The real question is when the sequel will launch."
"Isn't it obvious? Chen Xu's probably already finished drafting the concept and is leading the team in overtime development as we speak!"
"Haha, I can't wait to see the Fire Keeper again…hehehe...my precious Fire Keeper..."
"Brother, your tastes are too niche!"
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At the moment, there's no active preparation underway for the sequel to Dark Souls as players might expect.
Instead, it's more of a leisurely phase.
The random mode for Dark Souls has primarily been handled by Qin Yi and the team after the initial discussion.
Developing this new mode didn't take long. it was mostly completed in under a week.
However, the primary workload has been focused on testing. This involves addressing potential issues where the random appearance of bosses in different scenarios could make further gameplay impossible.
If this mode were a MOD available in the creative workshop, the precision required wouldn't be as strict. Players encountering problems could simply quit the game, abandon their save file, and start a new one.
But since this mode is an official feature by Neon Games, it becomes part of the core content.
If players face obstacles preventing smooth progression, the blame falls squarely on Neon Games. Therefore, meticulous testing is essential before release.
This new mode allows players to customize their experience. For instance, they can choose to randomize only item drops, meaning the game's flow remains the same as before. Enemies and bosses stay consistent, but the items dropped upon defeating them are randomized.
Alternatively, players can opt to randomize the enemies and bosses, with some specific bosses, such as the King of Cinders in the final Furnace of the First Flame or High Lord Wolnir of the Catacombs, remaining fixed.
In this case, enemies and bosses can appear randomly, even in unexpected places.
For example, upon entering the Cemetery of Ash, players might encounter Black Knights, Ice Knights, or Lothric Knights instead of the usual corpses.
For a fully chaotic experience, both options can be activated simultaneously, offering a wild challenge. Players can discover whether their journey is blessed or cursed.
The launch of the new mode was relatively low-key, resembling a minor daily update. Chen Xu announced its release on the official blog, and for overseas players, the mode was already sent for approval by regional authorities. It is expected to be available worldwide in three to four days, accounting for time differences.
When the announcement and update notes were released by Chen Xu and Neon Games, many players initially overlooked them, thinking they were minor adjustments to game mechanics or multiplayer features.
However, upon reading the details, players were both surprised and intrigued.
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"Random mode? What kind of update is this?"
"Wait, you mean all bosses, enemies, drops, and pickups in the game are randomized?"
"So, the items on the map and pickups won't be fixed anymore? I could pick up a Dragon Slayer Axe in the Cemetery of Ash right at the start?"
"This sounds interesting! Won't early access to late-game equipment make things too easy?"
"Easy? You're joking, right? Without the skills or stats to wield these items, they'll drain your stamina or bounce off high-defense enemies."
"Who cares! Did you see the update notes? Souls are handed out right from the start, and you can level up directly at bonfires without needing the Fire Keeper. This is clearly made for lucky players like us!"
"This is going to be so much fun!"
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With the update of the new mode, many eagerly opened the update text, ready to see what this version offered.
After reading it, a sense of excitement filled the dark Souls community.
During this period, high-level games have become a norm for most players. Many have tirelessly collected weapons, equipment, and props. While some dedicated explorers remain deeply engrossed in the intricate world of Dark Souls, others who have cleared multiple runs occasionally return for a new journey or engage in PVP matches to fence with like-minded individuals.
Some, donning the mantle of righteous Sun Knights, devote themselves to assisting newcomers who struggle with bosses, often teaming up to face a dozen formidable foes together.
This update, however, breathed new life into the experience for players who had begun feeling a sense of monotony.
Although the core content remains unchanged, the introduction of random elements has added a layer of unpredictability, making each play through uniquely thrilling.