Netflix's gaming adaptation catalog is growing and with the success of their animated originals like Castlevania leading the pack having finished its 4th season, the streaming giant is acquiring IPs left and right from notable video game publishers. They're clearly acknowledging it as a potential semi-untapped goldmine, and FromSoftware's acclaimed recent projects could be a possible worthwhile endeavor.
The Souls-like progenitor Demon's Souls got a second lease on life after the PS3 classic got a top-to-bottom remake for PS5, and it could give Netflix even more deep material to work with from a narrative and visual perspective.
Game Adaptations Flourish In Animation
Video game adaptations became notorious over the years for being mediocre at best, critically-panned at worst. Most of that was due to Hollywood studios trying and failing to quickly cash in on cheap live-action movies of popular gaming IPs. Announcements of live-action productions will still, and understandably, incite some groans from fans, but Castlevania on Netflix showed animation as a viable avenue for video game adaptations.
Animation typically allows creators to do what major live-action productions may not allow creatively. While Demon's Souls is a very western-influenced fantasy, something that's commonly explored in live-action, both the video game essence of it and the setting would be best executed in animation, as gaming arguably flexes its muscles best in this format.
The Popularity Of Dark-Fantasy
While it's by no means a fair comparison, HBO's runaway success in Game of Thrones further cemented the mainstream appeal of the dark-fantasy subgenre and fantasy as a whole. Netflix is exploring the genre in live-action as is in adapting Andrzej Sapkowski's The Witcher book series, but Castlevania did its own version of that style of setting.
Demon's Souls--and FromSoftware's Dark Souls and Bloodborne games--make prime subjects for bringing this dark-fantasy world to a new screen. Director Hidetaka Miyazaki's aforementioned worlds take loving inspiration from western fantasy and also the late and legendary Kentaro Miura's Berserk manga. The ingredients are all there to appeal to wider audiences.
Rising & Underrated Animation Studios
Japanese anime understandably has its reputation for its own highly talented studios--Wit, Ufotable, MAPPA, to name a few--but Netflix's investment in animation and gaming properties has brought some studios to light. Castlevania, Blood of Zeus, and Masters of the Universe: Revelation studio Powerhouse Animation has rightfully rocketed in prominence.
Aside from them, DOTA: Dragon's Blood team Studio Mir (of Korra and Voltron fame) are getting more recognition, and the upcoming Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Vibe fresh-faced studio Bobbypills showed promise in their sneak peek of the show. More animators will surely follow, and a Demon's Souls adaptation would give Netflix a "spoiled for choice" situation in choosing a team to match the game's artistic style and vision.
Netflix's Growing Relationships With Anime Studios
At the same time, while Netflix is blossoming with western animated originals, they've been cultivating relationships with Japanese studios for original anime as well. Industry powerhouse MAPPA--coming off the heels of Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen--partnered with them for the LaKeith Stanfield-starring Yasuke; meanwhile, CD Projekt Red and Netflix are teaming with Studio Trigger for a Cyberpunk 2077 anime series called Edgerunners.
The platform's relationships with animators globally is an even bigger boon in providing fans exciting new opportunities. Given the fact that Demon's Souls is made by Japanese game creators, having proven effective partnerships with the likes of MAPPA and Trigger could open up avenues for even more talented anime studios.
Plenty Of Lore & Worldbuilding
Like with any fantasy world, depth in lore and worldbuilding are critical to enthralling and immersing fans in compelling stories. Demon's Souls only got one other game, which was a remake, but Miyazaki and the rest of FromSoft know how to pack a world with rich, dense lore to uncover. FromSoft's narrative approach is unique, as the story is mainly experienced through minimal dialogue and cutscenes, with the player uncovering flavor texts and environmental designs to narratively piece together.
They're post-apocalyptic in a sense, with the protagonist returning some semblance of order back into a dismantled world. The themes of fate involving the Old One's awakening and proceeding Scourges, King Allant's eventual degradation and betrayal of life, and the Monumentals tasked with maintaining the fabric of reality with the Slayer of Demons later arriving to finally mend the world are ripe for a silver-screen fantasy adaptation.
Animated Movies As An Alternate To TV
Castlevania has already proven how effective the TV model can be, as Netflix has greenlit a sequel series. However, due to Demon's Souls being more of a self-contained one-off game, animated movies could be a great alternative. It could be a good way to mix up the formula for gaming and/or animated originals in general, and a similar instance of this is happening soon is The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf prequel in August.
Demon's Souls is surely dense without any sequels, but being comparatively smaller than its spiritual successor--the Dark Souls trilogy--a pair or trilogy of movies could be plenty. As long as each movie is a proper feature-length, the game could be done justice.
Newfound Overall Appreciation For Animation
Aside from the specifics of mediums, animation has seen a general rise in popularity and appreciation further west. Instead of being largely seen as whatever next family outing at the theater is, it's being more recognized as a format that can span any demographic. Anime becoming mainstream globally is easily a contributor, and western-made projects--like Netflix's originals--are demonstrating how viable mature-oriented animation can also be.
FromSoftware's acclaimed triple-A titles beginning with Demon's Souls on PS3 onward could certainly fit this bill. As already mentioned, the appetite for dark fantasy is there, so combining the positive/rising atmosphere behind this genre, gaming adaptations, and animation could work wonders for the lands of Boletaria and beyond.
Capitalize On The Remake's Acclaim
Though the PS3 original is understandably regarded as a classic, it was more specifically a cult classic at the time. This was the first foray for FromSoftware into this gameplay style and was feeling this approach out for the future. Bluepoint Studio's remake was masterfully done in taking advantage of the new generation of gaming's capabilities, earning critical acclaim.
Likewise, the game was effectively brought into the mainstream, giving the game the wider audience it deserves. Giving Demon's Souls an animated movie/TV adaptation could become a case of striking while the iron is hot given the remake's success, and perhaps even more so with FromSoft's highly-anticipated next endeavor, Elden Ring, on the horizon.
Built-In Fanbase
These kinds of adaptations are obviously meant to spread the scope of the IP used to be more profitable, but they're also attempting to appeal to fans of the games. Netflix has proven with these animated works that they can balance both, and FromSoft already has a large built-in fanbase accrued largely over the last 11 years. Demon's got their foot in the door for what they're known for today, and Dark Souls onward cemented their blockbuster status.
Konami has poorly treated all of their big-name gaming franchises including Castlevania, but if it regained and maintained praise, popularity, and relevance through Netflix, a Demon's Souls adaptation should have even more potential. FromSoft has done excellent work of establishing goodwill among its fans.
Catalyst For More FromSoft Animations
While it would be a resulting reason for benefit, a successful project could lead to more of the developer's properties getting picked up on the platform. As evidenced by Netflix Geeked Week, they've already struck a hefty deal with Ubisoft to adapt the likes of Assassin's Creed, Splinter Cell, and Far Cry.
Given the similarities in themes, tone, and aesthetic, Dark Souls and Bloodborne would be natural successors should Demon's get a well-executed show or movie. The former in particular would fit a TV format best since the games' world lore are fleshed out into a trilogy. Perhaps an anime studio specifically like Wit could pick up a Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice animated project.