IIRC FROM wanted to do a Japanese themed game in the vein of Tenshu, but needed a publisher to promote the game in the west as ironically BN apparently wasn’t interested. Activision miraculously gave them support,
and without interference past the title screen. Still amazed by that personally.
Bloodborne came about as Sony wanting FROM to make something new specifically for PS4, and pretty much gave Miyazaki cart Blanche to go wild which resulted in what he called his personal favorite project as of a few years ago.
Not sure where Elden Ring fits in, but he’s gone on record to say that aside from being a culmination of past projects starting with Demon’s Souls, its genesis was also influenced by his love of GRRM books, specifically Fevre Dream. This might be the best insight behind the game -
Elden Ring is the seventh game of the Souls series. Discover the background and development story behind Hidetaka Miyazaki's sixth masterpiece.
www.knowll.com