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Dark Souls II launching March 2014

Update: Namco Bandai confirms Dark Souls II will be shipping in March 2014.

453 Comments

Update: Namco Bandai has confirmed to Eurogamer that Dark Souls II will be shipping in March 2014.

Original story: Dark Souls II, the sequel to From Software’s 2011 hit role-playing game, Dark Souls may be releasing in March next year, according to a report on Kotaku.

Is this the Dark Souls II release date? Image credit: Kotaku
Is this the Dark Souls II release date? Image credit: Kotaku

A large billboard has been spotted in Los Angeles by user Norm the Alligator ahead of next week’s Electronic Entertainment Expo. The 2014 launch window has lead to speculation that the next title in the notoriously unforgiving series may also include a next-generation console release.

A Namco Bandai Australia spokesperson declined to comment on the release date, and reiterated that only Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC versions of the game have been announced.

Namco recently confirmed the company will be going "guns blazing" to market with Dark Souls II.

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mattress805

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I hope its on next gen too. While I dont' have a ps3. I plan to get a ps4 and I was hoping to experience demon souls and Dark souls 2 on ps4.

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faceless-mask

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@mattress805 People really need to check the news about the game, the developers have already stated that this game is being developed for current gen and console only.

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mattress805

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Edited By mattress805

I actually heard that. But I was hoping maybe because it's coming out spring 2014, that maybe it'd be released for next gen too. Either way I'll get it.

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mattress805

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Yeah I will. When I first started playing Dark Souls, I read some tips on Kotaku that was called, "10 things to help you stay alive in Dark Souls" or something like that. It really helped me get a grasp of the unique concepts in DS like humanity, and drawing enemies out from groups they're hanging with so you can fight one on one. Because. lets face it, fighting a group of enemies at once is suicide on that game.

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faceless-mask

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@mattress805 Um, tell your friend to do a bit of research online if he's having problems. Especially if it's his first playthrough. Although Dark Souls is very flexible in how you play through the game (most of the time), new players may want to play through the "Correct" path the first time around, it really helps.

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mattress805

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Edited By mattress805

Oh, I agree. This will be the 1st generation that I keep my current console and not trade it in. All my friends are on Live and I still havnt been able to convince anyone to buy Dark souls, even tho its on sale for 10 bucks rt now on xbox live. Actually, I convinced one person to buy Dark souls, and he's really, really, good at video games. But he couldnt get past those first skeletons that you encounter towards the beginning, immediately past that crazy guy.

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Lhomity

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@mattress805 At best, you may be able to play via the cloud on next-gen if that service goes ahead. I wouldn't count on it though. Another good reason not to get rid of your PS3/360 when you buy a next-gen system.

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Jixer2k

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Edited By Jixer2k

@Clownbabby Bed Of Chaos was my only real and justified complain about Dark Souls... It does not feel cheap, IT IS CHEAP. There´s no real strategy or plan to successfully accomplish that "task" (because that is not a fight, just a big tree owning your ass).
The rest of the game is beautifully challenging and rewarding.
Still, Demons Souls and Dark Souls are in my top 10 games for the ps3. It´s all about the unique experience those games offer.

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tightwad34

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@Clownbabby I too easily died the most from falling.

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silversix_

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guess ill be stuck playing shitty games and more generic trash like BF4 this year...

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mattress805

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dont subject yourself to that kind of abuse... its not worth it lol.

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badiie05

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Edited By badiie05

i was hoping it'll release later this year.

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mattress805

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Edited By mattress805

aaahhhhhh! that long? what a bummer. thats a long time away! I just returned Dark Arisen...that game was boring! DD is no Dark Souls! Dark Souls is my favorite rpg of all time.

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tightwad34

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@mattress805 Yeah, I've seen and had people tell me DD is on par with Dark Souls, or at least the combat. I will respect their opinions even if I 100% disagree.

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mattress805

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I don't think Dragons Dogma is on par with Dark Souls whatsoever. I do think that DD is a good role playing game but I couldnt finish it because it got really tired of backtracking for huge stretches of real estate. Whereas part of the brilliance of Dark Souls is the level design! Its this huge world, but its probably a quarter of the actual map size of DD. Dark Souls' world fits together like a jig saw puzzle. I was amazed in DS when I passed a really difficult area and my reward was a ladder that connected 2 different areas, and I'd be like "wow, im right back here" or there'd be an elevator that connects two places you never thought were connected. DD has too many forced encounters, where DS lets you run by some encounters if you so please.

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mattress805

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yeah, wasn't that aspect amazing? don't think ive ever played a game that fit together like that. Some games you have to keep referring to a map to figure out where you are because every area looks the same. In DS you never forget an area after going thru it once or twice. You dont even need a map! what other rpg that youve ever played did you not need a map! Just shows hows brilliantly the levels were designed. And the enemy AI! The skeletons in Darks Souls are smarter than every enemy and boss in some games.

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tightwad34

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@mattress805 Good point. The whole area connection and shortcuts you earn by passing a certain area isn't even something I think about when I think of DS. Just another reason why the game is so unique and amazing.

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SultaN-s

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It is all right. At least it shows that they are WORKING on it. The release date seems far away because we are used to COD-Type or Assassin Creed- Type release dates.

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faceless-mask

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@SultaN-s According to a few news articles (i'll link them if I can find them again), the game's already been in development for at least a year or 2.

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MajahretDiviera

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@faceless-mask @SultaN-s yeah, both demons souls and dark souls had a 2 year turnaround before they released, but given that the game seems to be going bigger, it all makes sense to see for it to have a longer dev time, especially since FromSoftware did work on some DLC for dark souls. Plus this time around they are developing the game for 3 platforms instead of just 2, so again the extra time makes sense. Plus the longer they take then the more polished product we will get, and i dont mind being patient with From to deliver the game.

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jhcho2

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@SultaN-s

Correct. You can't put a 'time' price on a potentially good game.

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CLOCKWORKIAN

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Time to pull a Beric Dondarrion and die, come back to life, and die again, etc.

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Lhomity

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@CLOCKWORKIAN First thing I thought of when I read your comment was Super T.I.M.E. Force. It should be out before Dark Souls 2, at least =P

Best game teaser ever.
http://www.supertimeforce.com/

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tightwad34

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@CLOCKWORKIAN LOL, that guy is like a cat, only who knows how many more times he can come back before he wittles away to nothing. Anyway, that's the best show I can remember ever seeing, sorry Breaking Bad.

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steelmouth

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damn am yet to get the next one

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Geminon

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Edited By Geminon

too long... game was announced last year.... i dont know why devs announce games 2 years before they launch.

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Lhomity

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@Geminon Gives you 2 years to talk about it, follow previews, and save up some money to buy it.

Sadly, some gamers will follow games for years and still find themselves short on cash when it launches =/

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servb0ts

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@Geminon called Hype look at Final Fantasy XIII Versus an The Last Guardian.

Developers love teasing gamers.

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RaveNRolla

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Edited By RaveNRolla

@servb0ts @Geminon it's about as long as i waited for bioshock infinite. and i'm sure this will be even more worth my wait.

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tightwad34

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@RaveNRolla It won't even be close.

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deactivated-6169c7adc82cf

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Praise The Sun

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modernsocks

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@DoublesWorld I would were I not expecting this game this year. **** the Sun, I'm going Dark Side of the Moon Covenant.

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barleybosh

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Edited By barleybosh

Demon's/Dark Souls were easy. ...compared to Mega Man 9

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tightwad34

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@barleybosh To be fair, in Mega Man you go back to the beginning after you lose all your lives. I haven't played MM9 but the ones I did play you had to start over after running out of lives. If they did that with DS, most of the consoles and controllers owned would be broke.

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hoplayletsplay

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So the other day I played some Mega Man on NES... Doesn't matter how hard I try, I don't think I'm good enough to get pass the first level.

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Krogan_Ballet

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That'll give me time to attach foam padding to my controller then.

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hoplayletsplay

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Edited By hoplayletsplay

The only time I broke a controller was playing Jet Set Radio Future. DS is different... Most of my deaths were caused by my carelessness and seeing my character loses all the hard earned souls made my heart sink.

Oh how I miss that feeling.

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Krogan_Ballet

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@hoplayletsplay I think I'd put in 70 hours in the first five days I had it. And at least two of those hours were working out how to avoid the Asylum Demon's Ass-Bounce AOE attack.


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servb0ts

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Edited By servb0ts

>.< Dunno If I'll have time to play an Platinum Dark Souls 2, like I did with Demon's Souls & Dark Souls.

Unfortunately i'll have my hands full Playing an Enjoying Final Fantasy XIV ARR.but when I take a Break i'll play it, but won't be Day 1 play, but it will be Day 1 CE Souls buy like I did the other 2 Soul games. :)

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King-of-Leon

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OMG!!! I can't wait to die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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NeleNel

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Oh good, now I have time to start taking anger management classes before it comes out.

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The__Kraken

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Hopefully this one is even more difficult. I want to finally get the sensation that the obstacles I must overcome are truly insurmountable.

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Emerald_Scott

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@The__Kraken But that's just saying you want a game that will not allow you to finish it. What if you rage quit and pull your hair out? What if you turn into a dark soul? Pun intended. Well, that would be interesting.

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drodriguesaar

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Ohhhhhhhhhhhh yeahhhhhh, die a lot, curses the game developers and enjoy every challenge here i go!

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tightwad34

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@drodriguesaar It's the best game you love to hate.

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slayerSS-3

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oh yeaaaaahh :D

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acelogan1989

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YEAHHHH

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