Gaming fans were thrilled when, today, Elden Ring's creator Hidetaka Miyazaki sat down for a chat with IGN, and even more excited when the announcement of a 2023 expansion was made. While talking to IGN, Miyazaki revealed that one of the games he has been looking to for inspiration recently is Escape from Tarkov, and he even went on to explain why this particular title has caught his eye. 

When Miyazaki was asked what trends, ideas, or technology he finds inspiring, he responded that he has been keeping a close eye on how other developers are approaching multiplayer network design and game design. He went on to explain that he has been observing the changes as both a creator and a fan of the game and mentioned how players are now being used as a resource for the game's design itself. It is worth noting that the Souls series' multiplayer has been a major part of its experience for quite some time, so Miyazaki's interest in Tarkov is only to be expected. 

Miyazaki's admiration for Escape from Tarkov could be associated with the challenge of completing an area only with the help of a full squad of players. It may also have something to do with the harsher consequences for dying to an enemy invader. Miyazaki’s quote about “using players as a resource for the game” is also reminiscent of other games, such as EVE Online, where players can influence the game world. The implications of Miyazaki's comments could potentially be seen in the upcoming Elden Ring expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree. 

In conclusion, it has been confirmed that Elden Ring's success will not be influencing Hidetaka Miyazaki's upcoming projects, and he won’t be swayed by its remarkable popularity. The development team at FromSoft plan to keep on creating the games they want, and it appears that one aspect they have taken a particular interest in is multiplayer design. Tarkov's ingenious multiplayer design caught Miyazaki's eye, and it remains to be seen what kind of implementations will be made in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.