In a recent interview with Game Informer, Hidetaka Miyazaki, president of developer FromSoftware and director of Elden Ring stated that he simply “can’t help” himself when it comes to crafting various swamp locations to punish the players.

Poison Swamps are not a new addition to FromSoftware games. Looking back to the implementation of this terrible terrain, it started with the Valley of Defilement in Demon’s Souls which transformed into Blighttown in Dark Souls, Dark Souls 2’s Harvest Valley, Dark Souls 3’s Farron Keep, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice’s Ashina Depths. Finally, in Bloodborne we simply have Poison Swamp.

“I know how people feel about them,” Miyazaki told Game Informer, “but you know, suddenly I realize I’m in the middle of making one and I just can’t help myself. It just happens.”

In fact, there may be already something more dreadful in store for Elden Ring players. “In terms of Elden Ring’s story and setting there is something that is especially horrible that exists and persists in this world,” says Miyazaki. “I’ll go ahead and say the name so it’s something that you can look forward to, it’s called the Scarlet Rot this is something that is separate a little bit from poison or toxicity but I hope you look forward to it.”

Miyazaki certainly enjoys making poison swamp areas but can we rely on our companion, Torrent to safely maneuver us away from these locations in Elden Ring? We’ll have to see when the game comes out on February 25.