Namco sent a new batch of screenshots out for Dark Souls today today.

We caught up with Makoto Iwai, Bandai Label President, and asked what’s going on with Game Republic, Naruto developer CyberConnect2, and how the partnership with Dark Souls developer From Software formed.

From Software also revamped online play by having players fight over virtual territory.

Beacon Fires, the game’s form of recovery and respawn points.

Creep through a level and surprise invading players by transforming into a giant vase.

This debut trailer doesn’t show you how the game plays, but it does give you a good idea of what to expect in terms of art direction.

“You might laugh because you die so much,” Hidetaka Miyazaki, the producer at From Software who worked on Demon’s Souls, joked before showing up the spiritual successor, Dark Souls.

From Software’s latest Armored Core game puts the focus on team-based online multiplayer.

Finally, a proper look at From Software’s spiritual successor to Demon’s Souls. [Screenshots added]

Looks like Namco Bandai and From Software are best buds. On top of grabbing the Western rights to Dark Souls, Namco Bandai picked Armored Core 5 too.

Dark Souls is set in a dark fantasy world with a similar premise as Demon’s Souls. The essence of the game is learning from mistakes and the joy of discovery.

The holidays are a time to rest and relax, even for the monsters in Boletaria.

Those Dark Rings and Crowns of the Dark trademarks may have been red herrings. Namco Bandai just registered Project Dark in Europe.

Namco Bandai will publish the game in North America and Europe, but not under the name Project Dark. That’s a temporary title. Two trademarks hint at what the actual title might be.