The preview embargo has lifted: The first in-depth hands-on reports for The Duskbloods have gone live worldwide today – finally providing concrete answers about what FromSoftware's Switch 2 exclusive actually aims to be. Additionally, Nintendo has issued a direct correction.
What's it like to play a match of The Duskbloods?
In short: It's not Elden Ring with friends. The Duskbloods is a PvPvE title for up to eight players. You control vampire-like warriors, known as the Bloodsworn. A match is called a „Dusk Battle“ and unfolds in four timed phases, where players are gradually eliminated – until only one remains.
The gaming press consistently draws the same comparison: FromSoftware's answer to Hunt: Showdown. The gameplay feel is said to be somewhere between Bloodborne and Elden Ring Nightreign, but with significantly more mobility. Director Hidetaka Miyazaki also cites tabletop role-playing games as an influence on the systems.
Important for anyone who prefers not to play with strangers: Private Lobbies are confirmed, so you can play exclusively with friends.
Should we be concerned about FromSoftware's single-player games now?
This concern has been circulating within the community since the announcement – and Miyazaki addressed it quite directly during the interview round. He essentially stated that he himself isn't a big PvP person and wanted to build something that would also work for players like him. And then came the crucial statement: They expressly intend to continue developing single-player-focused games in the studio's traditional style.
From our perspective, that's the real headline of the day. FromSoftware already has a multiplayer excursion behind them with Elden Ring Nightreign, which divided the fanbase. Miyazaki proactively clarifying that the Souls lineage will not be abandoned in favor of online titles should calm some nerves. For those interested in the series' technical side: how well FromSoftware games run on Nintendo's new hardware will also become apparent at the end of August with other representatives of the Soulslike genre.
When is The Duskbloods actually coming out?
Things get a little chaotic here. One of today's previews cited September 24, 2026 as the release date. Nintendo officially denied this date on the very same day. Officially, only „2026“ remains valid, without a specific day.
However, the test is concrete: The Closed Network Test runs from August 21 to 24, 2026 – meaning it starts tomorrow. Those who participate will be the first to experience the four phases and the eight-player chaos themselves. The previews themselves, by the way, were conducted under controlled conditions: 16 journalists and creators, divided into two tables of eight, on a closed server.
Source: IGN, Nintendo Life, Game Informer, RPG Site
Are you participating in the Network Test, or would you rather wait for the next single-player Souls game? Let us know in the comments!
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