The echoes of Yuka Kitamura's breathtaking symphonies still reverberate through the hallowed halls of From Software, the company which she graced with her presence and creative genius for over a decade. Yet the heartstring-tugging notes of her soulful compositions are now tinged with a poignant bitterness as we come to terms with the maestro's departure from the company.
Following a laudable 12-year tenure, Kitamura, renowned for her exemplary work on Elden Ring, Dark Souls III, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, announced her exit from the studio and the initiation of her journey as a freelance composer.
The industry is left shocked as Kitamura took to her social media platform, X, to break the news, "I have decided to leave FromSoftware, the company I worked for, and to start working new as a freelance composer this August." Amid a surge of bittersweet reactions from her fanbase, her resolve remained unflappable: to continue crafting melodic masterpieces spanning diverse genres.
A legion of admirers hold Kitamura's music close to our hearts. Her compositions, like the stirring Abyss Watchers' theme from Dark Souls 3, the awe-inspiring Divine Dragon from Sekiro, and the hauntingly beautiful theme of Malenia, Blade of Miquella in Elden Ring, attest to the richness of her musical aptitude. Each track becomes a pivotal character in the story, embodying the essence of the game and invigorating the player's experience. Such is the depth of her compositions that one can't but wonder at the enormity of the loss for FromSoftware.
