Last year, From Software confirmed the lack of online multiplayer for its upcoming game Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. More recently, From outlined some of the reasons why the game’s lack of multiplayer works in its favor. However, there was one key reason that was omitted from that initial overview: players can pause the game at will.
Sekiro Allows for Manual Pausing
From Software confirmed in a follow-up to the above overview that Sekiro allows for manual pausing. Typically, From Software’s previous games kept things running in the background even when the player was in the pause menu. This helped create a sense of lingering dread as pausing the game provided no solace like in most other games.
Interestingly enough, there were some exceptions to the no pausing rule. Longtime souls-like fans may recall that the original Demon’s Souls on PS3 allowed for manual pausing. The more recent Dark Souls Remastered on Nintendo Switch also incorporated “safe” pausing. Aside from those two, though, every From Software game has made pausing a risky venture. That is, of course, until Sekiro arrives in just a few months.
And before you start to worry that manual pausing will somehow make Sekiro easier, rest assured it won’t. Since Sekiro doesn’t have multiplayer, From was able to more finely tune each of the game’s areas and boss encounters. Not having to worry about multiplayer balance means From can incorporate challenges specifically designed for a lone player. Indeed, even the most hardcore souls-like fans may come to appreciate Sekiro’s manual pause feature when it matters most.
Along with all the new Sekiro details, From also recently confirmed it has two unannounced projects in development. If the ability to manually pause really dampens your enthusiasm for Sekiro, worry not. Chances are good one (or both) of those unannounced projects will be a more “traditional” souls-like experience. I’m personally hoping for a Bloodborne sequel but I’d take a new Dark Souls game in a pinch.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice launches on March 22 of this year.