Demon’s Souls Prototype Showed an Optional First-Person Camera in 2007 Pitch
A long-lost look at the early days of Demon’s Souls has resurfaced online, revealing that the project was once being explored with an optional first-person camera—an idea that never made it into the final game. The prototype presentation was shared in a new video breakdown after appearing in a 2007 private pitch event organized by Sony.
How the prototype presentation resurfaced
Back in 2007, Sony hosted a closed-door event known as Gameshare IV, where studios showcased the progress they were working on and exchanged feedback to help steer development. FromSoftware—at the time better known for Armored Core—was among the teams pitching its next step: a brand-new dark-fantasy IP called Demon’s Souls. A presentation created by Japan Studio (labeled PD#3) has now emerged on YouTube through video creator Lance McDonald.
What’s different about this early Demon’s Souls pitch
The newly surfaced materials present Demon’s Souls from a drastically different technical angle, most notably with a camera option that could switch between viewpoints.
- Optional first-person camera: The prototype included an “on/off” style first-person setup rather than relying solely on the fixed viewpoint seen in the final version.
- Third-person was also planned: The presentation described a third-person mode too, with the camera fixed behind the main character.
- Movement controls in the prototype: In that fixed third-person setup, only the left joystick was used for movement, allowing forward/backward and side-to-side motion.
- No free camera: The early camera behavior wasn’t the free-moving camera of the released game—McDonald’s breakdown emphasizes that the different camera design points to a fundamentally different feel.
Prototype content that didn’t reach the final game
Beyond camera experiments, the presentation also points to enemies and systems that were being tried and then dropped.
- Removed enemy concepts: The materials reference an enemy with a snake-headed design as well as a crocodile.
- Ghost mechanics early on: The concept of “ghosts” appears to have been among the early building blocks of the game’s multiplayer structure.
- Visual and art-direction improvements: The slide deck indicates that graphics and overall artistic direction were still actively evolving at that stage.
Why Sony tried to avoid certain player stereotypes
One slide in the 2007 presentation is described as particularly notable for its approach to audience perception. It references a moment from South Park that leans into a common stereotype about MMO RPG players. The takeaway from the slide is that Sony wanted to present Demon’s Souls as a modern, fresh experience—specifically positioning it around a mix of solo play and multiplayer within its dark fantasy world.
More resurfaced FromSoftware history
This isn’t the only time McDonald has recently unearthed early materials. He also previously obtained an unreleased Elden Ring cinematic that reportedly adds new story details, which he shared as part of a separate video release.
