From Software’s next game, The Duskbloods, is inspired by both vampire literature and tabletop games. But another key figure that the studio looked to for motivation was legendary Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin. That’s not too surprising, given Martin’s involvement with the studio’s smash-hit game Elden Ring, and while he may not have had a direct role in The Duskbloods, his work in vampire fiction still had an impact.
“From a lore, aesthetic, [and] world-building point of view, there’s nothing completely direct,” he said. “Vampire stuff in general is something I’m very passionate about and enjoy reading a lot. There’s definitely a bit of that that has rubbed off on me over time. [Some] things I enjoy include Vampire: The Masquerade, Fevre Dream [by George R.R. Martin], and Dracula Cha-Cha-Cha [by Kim Newman]. Not super old-school stuff, but a bit more modern vampire literature. It’s all very indirect–things that have rubbed off on me over time and things I’ve always wanted to implement. So from an aesthetic point of view, there’s definitely a bit of that.”
Fevre Dream was released in 1982 and features cruel vampires who view humans as cattle, while a newer breed seeks to coexist with humans. Beyond his work on the A Song of Ice and Fire books–which were subsequently adapted into a mega-popular live-action series Game of Thrones on HBO–Martin also contributed to the lore and backstory for Elden Ring, devising the 5,000-year history of the game’s world. Just don’t ask him what his favorite builds are, because he’s never played the game.
For more on The Duskbloods, you can read up on how it’s like nothing we’ve played before, and if you’re confused as to what it is exactly, you can read GameSpot’s breakdown on the elegantly gothic PvPvE Switch 2 exclusive.