FromSoftware Developers Leave 'Bloodborne' Surprise Within 'Dark Souls: Remastered' Data

The remastered version of “Dark Souls” was released just last week but fans have more to discuss beyond its gameplay. It was recently learned that the developers at FromSoftware left bits of surprises within the codes of the newly launched game.

Very shortly after “Dark Souls: Remastered” was released, on May 25, modder and data miner Lance McDonald uncovered some interesting finds within the game’s codes that are related to the 2015 action role-playing game “Bloodborne.” Note that both franchises were developed by FromSoftware.

In a Twitter post, McDonald shared several photos of what looks like a level design for a popular “Bloodborne” location. These kinds of discoveries often give clues as to what the developers are planning next. However, McDonald is certain that the level designs he found are just an “early prototype” of the “Upper Cathedral Ward.” He added that these designs were likely created at the time when even the original “Dark Souls” was still under development.

McDonald further suggested that the files were just “left behind” within the “Dark Souls: Remastered” data, implying that the images he found do not seem to represent any upcoming projects from the studio. If so, these may mean nothing more than just subtle surprises for curious gamers.

Meanwhile, “Dark Souls: Remastered” is proving to be a pot of surprises. Apart from the early works for Cathedral Ward, it turns out that an asset for Bolataria from the 2009 game “Demon’s Souls” is also hidden within the remastered game’s codes.

While these hidden level design maps are several years old now, another video game modder, Dropoff, did not let these discoveries go to waste. After searching through the “Dark Souls: Remastered” files and mining them, Dropoff developed a video game concoction that might have never crossed anyone else’s mind before.

Dropoff told Kotaku that he proceeded to work on the early level designs through a "3D software" and made a “Grand Auto Theft V” mod where protagonist Trevor Philips can wander around and drive across the Upper Cathedral Ward.