From Software

A Japanese video game development and publishing company founded in 1986, famous for the King's Field, Armored Core, and Dark Souls series.

Action

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Website

Founded

1986

Acquired

2014

Tokyo, Japan

Parent

Kadokawa Corporation

Known for

Action RPG / Soulslike / Mecha

Games

1995–2009

Years

Platforms

$28.68

Ø CIB

+18.4%

24M change

About

Originally founded as an office software developer, FromSoftware transitioned to video game development in 1994, releasing King's Field as a launch title for the PlayStation. The company became renowned for its challenging action role-playing games and mecha simulation titles. They are highly regarded for establishing the 'Soulslike' genre with games like Demon's Souls and Dark Souls.

The company's early catalog is defined by its pioneering first-person role-playing series, which saw complex localization and naming conventions across regions. Following the Japanese-only debut of their first title, the sequel King's Field II (1995) was localized for North American audiences as King's Field (1995), packaged in the PlayStation's distinctive King's Field [Long Box] (1995) format. This release established the dark, atmospheric exploration that characterized the franchise.

Subsequent entries continued this naming divergence. The Japanese release of King's Field III (1996) was brought to Western markets as King's Field 2 (1996) and later King's Field (1997) in European territories. These games utilized real-time combat and stamina management, laying the mechanical foundations for the developer's future design philosophy.

In 1997, the studio expanded its portfolio beyond fantasy with the release of Armored Core (1997). This title introduced deep tactical customization, allowing players to build and pilot modular mecha. The success of Armored Core (1997) initiated a long-running franchise, proving the developer's versatility in combining intricate customization with high-difficulty gameplay.