Demon's Souls is an role-playing video game developed by FromSoftware and released in 2009 for the PlayStation 3. It is the first installment in the Souls series, which also includes Dark Souls , Bloodborne , and Sekiro . The game takes place in the cursed kingdom of Boletaria , where the player must confront demonic creatures and deadly traps.
In 2020, a remake of Demon's Souls was released exclusively on PlayStation 5 , developed by Bluepoint Games . This remake features enhanced graphics, improved performance , adjustable difficulty levels, and expanded online functionality. It was praised by critics and players alike as one of the best games of the new generation of consoles .
But what about a potential PC release ? Will Demon's Souls fans be able to enjoy the remake on their computers ? What are the chances of that happening? What information is available on the subject? That's what we'll explore in this article.
Demon's Souls on PC: a possibility raised then denied
During the presentation of the Demon's Souls remake on PS5 in September 2020, a trailer caused confusion among PC players. Indeed, at the end of the trailer, the phrase " Also available on PC " appeared, suggesting that the game would also be released on that platform.
However, it was a communication error , quickly corrected by Sony. The Japanese giant stated that Demon's Souls was a PS5 exclusive, and that the PC mention was a human error.
Since then, no official announcement has been made regarding a possible PC release of Demon's Souls. The game therefore remains exclusive to the PS5, at least for the time being . But does this mean there's no hope of seeing the remake of the cult classic on our computers? Not necessarily. There are indeed some reasons to believe that a PC version could be released in the future .
Demon's Souls PC remake: when and how?
If Demon's Souls were to be released on PC , it would likely be some time before the game arrives on that platform. Indeed, Sony has an interest in keeping the game a PS5 exclusive for a while, in order to encourage more buy its next-generation console .
It is therefore likely that Demon's Souls will not be released on PC for at least two, or even three, years after its PS5 release. This would correspond to the timeframe observed for the PC ports of Horizon Zero Dawn and Days Gone , which were released three and two years respectively after their PS4 releases.
Basically, there is no official release date for the Demon's Souls PC remake .
As for how Demon's Souls will be released on PC, there are several possibilities. The game could be available on Steam , the most popular PC distribution platform , as is the case for Horizon Zero Dawn and Days Gone . It could also be exclusive to the Epic Games Store , the competing platform that often offers advantageous deals to developers.
It could finally be distributed through the PlayStation Store , Sony's online service, which may launch on PC in the future. And yes, Sony recently filed a trademark for PlayStation PC , suggesting that it's preparing an offering dedicated to PC gamers.
Demon's Souls PC remake: could it be released sooner than expected?
Although the announcement of the Demon's Souls PC remake was denied by Sony, another source reignited speculation in September 2021. This was a leak from the database of Nvidia's GeForce Now service , which allows streaming PC games .
This leak revealed a list of games that would be available or planned for GeForce Now , including several PS5 exclusives . Among them are Demon's Souls, as well as Returnal , Ghost of Tsushima , Ratchet & Clank , and Horizon Forbidden West .
Nvidia stated that this list was purely speculative and did not reflect the publishers' actual plans. However, since the leak, at least 10 games from the list have been announced or confirmed for PC . It is therefore possible that others will follow suit.
Demon's Souls on PC: Reasons for Hope
The first reason to hope for a PC release of Demon's Souls is that Sony seems to have changed its strategy regarding exclusives. Indeed, the company has recently ported some of its flagship games to PC, such as Horizon Zero Dawn and Days Gone . It has also announced that other titles will follow, like Uncharted 4 and God of War.
These ports allowed Sony to reach a new audience and generate additional revenue. It's therefore quite possible that Sony will decide to do the same with Demon's Souls , a game in high demand among PC gamers .
The second reason to hope for a PC release of Demon's Souls is that the game is not being developed by Sony , but by Bluepoint Games. This studio is independent and has already worked on multiplatform games, such as Shadow of the Colossus and Metal Gear Solid HD Collection .
It's possible, therefore, that Bluepoint Games has the necessary rights to port Demon's Souls to PC Sony 's agreement . Moreover, the studio was recently acquired by Sony, which could facilitate negotiations between the two parties.
The third reason to hope for a PC release of Demon's Souls is that the original game is already playable on PC thanks to an emulator . This is the RPCS3 software, which allows PS3 games to run on computers . With this emulator, it's possible to play Demon's Souls with improved resolution and framerate , as well as with mods that add features or cosmetic elements.
However, a fairly powerful PC configuration is required to run the game properly , and a legal copy of the PS3 game is also necessary. Furthermore, emulation isn't perfect and can lead to bugs or compatibility issues. Therefore, it's clear that an official PC version would be preferable, both for players and developers.
What PC configuration is needed to play Demon's Souls?
Currently, there is no official PC version of Demon's Souls . The only way to play the game on PC is to use a PS3 emulator , such as RPCS3. However, this method is not authorized by Sony and requires owning an original PS3 copy of the game .
To run Demon's Souls on RPCS3 , you need a 64-bit operating system, such as Windows 7, 8, or 10, or Linux or BSD . You also need the Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable , which can be downloaded here. Additionally, you need a processor with 6 cores or more, a Vulkan- , and at least 4 GB of RAM .
In the emulator settings, you need to select Vulkan , enable the " Write Color Buffers " option, and disable the framerate limit . You also need to set the resolution to 720p by default , but you can increase the resolution scaling up to 4K. Finally, you need to install patches to improve the game's performance and stability.
What are the differences between Demon's Souls on PC and on console?
If you play Demon's Souls on PC using the RPCS3 emulator , you'll experience the original 2009 game, with the same graphics , sound, and gameplay as the PS3 version. However, you'll also benefit from some improvements , such as a higher resolution, a more stable or even higher framerate with the 60fps patch , and mods that modify certain aspects of the game. You can also use a controller of your choice, or even play with a keyboard and mouse if you prefer.
If you play Demon's Souls on PS5 , you'll discover the remake by Bluepoint Games , which offers a complete overhaul of the original game. The remake boasts stunning native 4K and HDR , a re-orchestrated soundtrack with 3D sound effects, enhancements such as the ability to switch classes at will , choose between two graphics modes (cinematic or performance) , and utilize the DualSense controller's features .
The remake also adds new content, such as weapons, armor, rings, and hidden items. Finally, the remake features a more stable and smoother online mode than the original game , with the option to play cooperatively or in PvP with up to six players simultaneously.
