Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Originally Started As A Tenchu Game

From Software rose to prominence with Dark Souls and Bloodborne, but the studio's newest title, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, is a marked departure from its previous works. The game still retains the unforgiving difficulty and deep combat system that have become From Software's hallmarks, but it trades the established worlds of Dark Souls and Bloodborne for an entirely original one based on feudal Japan. However, it seems Sekiro wasn't always intended to be a new IP.

Speaking to Games Industry, From Software community manager Yasuhiro Kitao revealed that Sekiro was originally planned as a new installment of Tenchu, the studio's long-dormant stealth-action ninja series. "When we originally set out to create something different from Dark Souls and our previous titles, we thought it would be interesting to make a Japanese themed game. So from that we started going in the direction of the shinobi and ninja, and of course Tenchu was an IP with that history; that was the original impetus for this project," Kitao explained.

According to Kitao, From Software approached "a number of companies" with the project, and Activision was immediately on board. As the two studios worked together, the project eventually grew beyond its Tenchu roots and into its own original title. "[A]s we developed and as we partnered with Activision, and started building it together, it started becoming its own thing and the game we wanted to make was no longer just Tenchu, so it really evolved into its own thing," Kitao said.

In addition to its Japanese-inspired setting, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice diverges from Dark Souls and Bloodborne by introducing a resurrection mechanic; when you fall in battle, you're able to use a limited number of life tokens to instantly revive. Your protagonist also has a prosthetic arm that can be outfitted with a shuriken, axe, and other kinds of weapons.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice launches for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on March 22, 2019. The game will release in both standard and collector's editions; the latter includes a steelbook case, shinobi statue, art book, replica coins, and other bonus items. You can learn more in our Sekiro pre-order guide.