Key information
Dataminer Doneda has revealed a collection of unused prototype levels from Dark Souls 2, including a massive coliseum, mines, an underground tower, and a crypt area. These assets, which were largely ignored prior to this investigation, appear to have been discarded early in the development process.
To access and explore these remnants, Doneda utilized Elden Ring Nightreign. The discovered files suggest that some sections were intended to be interconnected, while others may represent various iterations of the same concept. One specific area might have eventually evolved into the Undead Crypt found in the final release.
The discovery highlights the turbulent development history of Dark Souls 2, which faced significant challenges including story rewrites and a controversial lighting system downgrade. These issues were compounded by the absence of Hidetaka Miyazaki, who was occupied with Bloodborne during the project's production.
While the scale of the coliseum provides a glimpse into a version of the game that never materialized, the exact placement of this complex remains unknown. Given the extent of the changes during development, the original narrative context for these areas may remain permanently obscured.
