Dark Souls 2 dataminer shows off massive prototype coliseum level from early development
A Dark Souls 2 dataminer has uncovered a substantial prototype coliseum level that was shelved early in the game’s development. Discovered by dataminer Doneda, the prototype features a scale exceeding the coliseum areas in Elden Ring, and it appears to have remained largely undocumented until this discovery.
The excavated files contain several distinct components: a coliseum zone, mines, an unusual underground tower structure (possibly containing a sequence of arenas), and a crypt section. While some portions suggest an interconnected level design, others may represent different iterations of the same conceptual space.
The evidence indicates this coliseum prototype was abandoned relatively early in Dark Souls 2’s development. Notably, elements of the design may have influenced or evolved into the Undead Crypt, a location present in the final released game.
To explore and document these remnants, Doneda utilized Elden Ring Nightreign as a modding platform, employing the tool to load and traverse the incomplete prototype levels. This discovery provides valuable insight into FromSoftware’s iterative design process and the extensive level concepts that were ultimately shelved during development.