To be 100% fair, more players doesn't necessarily mean more welcoming. Although, I do agree w/ you that it IS more welcoming. However, based on what I hear from vets, it's still more difficult than Dark Souls. For a house analogy, more welcoming to walk in the front door, but still offputting once you get past the living room.
This is only my 2nd FromSoft game, after Sekiro. I've been well aware of the Soulsborne games and other soulslikes for years. I avoided the genre for a variety of reasons that DON'T include the difficulty (but rather annoyance features that masquerade as "difficulty"). The only reason I got Sekiro was due to no stamina, no corpse running, a free res, etc. QOL stuff, really. The game was still hard af and I think even after the release of Elden Ring, still generally considered the most difficult FS game, truly being 100% skill-based since there are no RP elements to outgear or outlevel a boss/area.
Anyway, I'm fairly deep into it. 36 hours in, have downed 25 bosses (3 more I've left unbeaten) and am about to do back-to-back demigods. I'm really torn w/ how highly I view the game. It is an amazing game. I won't argue if someone gives it a 10, but I feel it is a 9 based on the principles of what I consider bad design. Things like enemies not following the same rules as you (they can target and attack you through walls and even in sanctuary rooms) and annoying things like any damage stopping your movement momentum (including a little ember of fire. But I get it, it has to be consistent, and a giant sword probably would stop your momentum). But it is just so engrossing, so interesting, and so generous (great description used by a buddy of mine), I sometimes feel it really does deserve a 10 from me.
I'm really eager to finish Elden Ring just so I can finally go backwards in games and play the DS trilogy.
