No serious grudge on my end. I also don't wear shit on my sleeves anymore. I'm just someone who simply grew up with their games and find their current output/production/outlook disappointing compared to how they used to operate. As I've mentioned, we're in a different time now and game development isn't what it used to be, but I feel it's still a fair assessment of the situation.
I'm also definitely not "fatigued", either. It took me about 6 months to see the end of Bloodborne. I don't blast through their games with an insatiable appetite unlike how most of their vocal fan base appears to act. You have to admit, it's pretty short-sighted/sad to see the "insert said theme/genre-Souls" requests thread after thread, post after post. If I were a developer/director at From, I'd feel insulted, almost patronized, if all I was capable/expected of producing was "Space/Sci-Fi Souls" or "Mech Souls" or whatever other baseless request that gets posted across the net. If they're so talented/respected, don't you want to see them move onto greener pastures? Wouldn't you want them to create the next title that established what Demon's Souls has done for them and the market? Or are you just looking for your fix?
I see. Thanks for taking the time to respond.
I can understand what you're getting at, but I think you're investing too much in the term "Souls".
"Souls" is - I imagine, to most people - a vague term refering to an action RPG designed by FromSoftware that uses many of the gameplay elements and design philosophy from Demon's Souls and Dark Souls. Demon's and Dark just happen to be the games that put From on the map last gen, so it's only natural that people would associate the modern studio with that style.
The "style" seems (to me at least) to be quite flexible and applicable to a variety of themes. People didn't really know they wanted Bloodborne until it was a thing. "Souls" style combat, storyshowing and aesthetic woven into a gothic setting with Lovecraftian themes, rather than a medieval setting with fantasy themes.
When people say "Armored Souls", that's probably a shorthand way of saying "I would like From to make a game where you pilot a mech, and which incorporates good elements from their recent successes." That seems like a reasonable request, and not at all patronising.
The fact is, From has identified itself with dark fantasy, ninjas and mecha over the past 30 years or so. Those are things that appear "romantic" to a primarily male Japanese audience, and have naturally caught our attention in the west. Moreover, it's what they enjoy doing. Bloodborne was Miyazaki trying something different and taking the idea to SCE. Miyazaki and the people who work with him are simply massive geeks when it comes to fantasy and mecha and stuff. It's most likely what they want to do. Now they've proven they can make good games that appeal to people worldwide, perhaps they're interested in reviving some of their dormant franchises.
Above all though, From just wants to make interesting games, and at the end of the day they will make what they want, regardless of whether or not you associate it with the "Souls stigma". Don't feel insulted by people piping up with random requests; it's purely legitimate hopes for From's unique style of game applied to a theme or genre they think would be interesting.
I for one think the "formula" (for want of a better word) would work amazingly well with a dark sci-fi setting, taking inspiration from Tsutomu Nihei's manga (Blame!, Biomega, Abara, etc.) like Demon's and Dark took inspiration from Beserk. That's just my little fantasy, though, so don't take it personally. If I ever got the chance to pitch it to From, I would hope they wouldn't be insulted at least.