In a new interview with The Guardian, FromSoftware president and director Hidetaka Miyazaki addressed a long-running online rumor that he has "a bit of a thing for feet." Miyazaki said he was not sure where the rumor came from, adding that he feels he's "trying to depict some side of human nature or the human existence that is difficult to describe."
The comment came after Miyazaki was asked about recurring hand imagery in his work, including the giant hand-shaped enemies in Elden Ring and a close-up shot of one hand reaching for another in the introductory cinematic for his upcoming game The Duskbloods. Miyazaki said he isn't always consciously aware of using such imagery, suggesting it might be something subconscious coming through in his work.
Outlets noted that the foot rumor has circulated among fans for years, pointing to a pattern of barefoot characters across FromSoftware's games dating back to the Maiden in Black in the original Demon's Souls, as well as characters like Dark Souls' Crossbreed Priscilla. Coverage noted these characters are often shrine maidens, nun-coded women, or occasionally bosses, though male barefoot characters appear as well.
Commentators offered possible explanations for the recurring imagery beyond any personal fixation, suggesting bare feet in Miyazaki's games could convey vulnerability, humility, hardship, or tradition, or could simply be an artistic choice that fans have latched onto or exaggerated over time as a joke within the community.
Kotaku noted that this is not the first time the rumor has been discussed publicly, pointing out that the outlet itself had written about the topic four years prior, and that the meme has existed even longer than that. The outlet also expressed amusement that Miyazaki appeared aware of and mildly preoccupied with online chatter about him.
Overall, coverage across IGN, Kotaku, and GamesRadar+ characterized Miyazaki's response as a straightforward, if slightly bemused, acknowledgment of the rumor rather than a detailed explanation, with Miyazaki reiterating that his imagery choices are meant to express broader ideas about human nature rather than any specific personal interest.