Has *Dark Souls 3* Reached Its 10th Anniversary—Does It Really Need a Remake?

180 hours in, after New Game++ and having seen every ring and every ending, I still find myself thinking of Dark Souls 3 on March 24. Developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco, the game was released in 2016, making today its exact 10th anniversary. Within the action RPG space, it feels like a JRPG side story that pushes the atmosphere of a finale to the limit—ash, Lords of Cinder, and a layered sense of apocalypse piling on until even now, it remains hard to replace.

First, the hard numbers: just two months after launch, Dark Souls 3 had already shipped over 3 million copies worldwide; by 2020, cumulative sales had surpassed 10 million copies, making it the best-selling entry in the Dark Souls series. On Steam, its Simplified Chinese reviews are still rated “Overwhelmingly Positive” to this day, with a 95% approval rate. For a game to hold its reputation so firmly after all these years, that’s not nostalgia talking—it’s real strength.

What has reignited the discussion this time is the codename “FMC.” Recent reports claim that FromSoftware is developing an unannounced title, with rumors saying it has already entered the late stages of development and may be officially revealed in 2026. Since this year also happens to mark the 15th anniversary of the original Dark Souls, many players have naturally connected the dots and started wondering whether it could be a remake of Dark Souls 3.

But when it comes to the gameplay systems, I actually don’t think this is nearly as certain as some make it sound. If the goal were simply to resell an older game, Dark Souls 3 would not rank especially high on the priority list. The reason is straightforward: the current version already runs smoothly at 60 FPS on PC, and it’s playable across multiple platforms, so the core experience hasn’t aged to the point where it absolutely needs to be “rebuilt from the ground up.” Unlike some titles stuck on older console generations, with controls and visuals that feel obviously outdated, it doesn’t urgently need a comprehensive overhaul like the FF series’ crystal-themed reinterpretations.

As for side discussions, the Souls community itself is pretty split right now. One camp feels that if the visuals, lighting, and online stability got another round of upgrades, they’d gladly pay for it again; the other would rather see FromSoftware devote its resources to brand-new projects. After all, the studio is currently fully focused on The Duskblood, a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive that is expected to launch sometime in 2026. With Summer Game Fest coming up this year, players may have a better chance of seeing a new trailer for that first.

From an industry perspective, remaking classics is certainly the safer route—lower risk, stronger branding, and more efficient marketing. But what FromSoftware has done best over the past few years is constantly energizing the market with new ideas. So my personal take is that even if FMC really is connected to Dark Souls 3, it may not necessarily be a traditional, large-scale remake in the usual sense.

If you still haven’t played Dark Souls 3, my advice is simple: don’t wait for the rumors to become reality—just play the current version. Its combat pacing, oppressive map design, and boss presentation are still tough, polished, and complete even today. And if you’ve already finished it, then keep your expectations in check. A remake could happen, sure, but it isn’t something this game needs in order to prove itself. For many players, what makes Dark Souls 3 truly remarkable was already written long ago in countless “YOU DIED” screens.