FromSoftware has built its reputation on punishing but fair single-player adventures, from Dark Souls to the record-breaking Elden Ring. But the studio’s next project, The Duskbloods, is betting on something very different: player-versus-player combat. And according to one longtime Souls fan’s hands-on impressions, that gamble might leave a huge chunk of the studio’s audience behind.
An Elden Ring Superfan Meets FromSoftware’s Next Experiment
A recent Kotaku editorial from a self-described “Elden Ring sicko” — someone who has poured countless hours into FromSoftware’s punishing fantasy epic — details roughly 10 hours spent with The Duskbloods’ network test. The verdict? Genuine excitement about the game’s style and atmosphere, mixed with a growing worry that the experience simply isn’t built for players like them.
What Is The Duskbloods?
Announced as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive during the console’s debut showcase, The Duskbloods is directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki himself. The game features a gothic, Bloodborne-adjacent aesthetic full of vampires, ornate costumes, and moody Victorian dread. But unlike FromSoftware’s traditional solo adventures, The Duskbloods is a multiplayer-first affair built around PvPvE skirmishes, with up to eight players clashing in match-based encounters where hunters compete for objectives and blood.
The PvP Problem For Longtime Souls Fans
Here’s the crux of the concern: many of FromSoftware’s most devoted fans love these games precisely because they can be conquered alone. Invading other players has always been optional, an spice you could avoid entirely by playing offline or in single-player modes.
What Happens When PvP Isn’t Optional?
The Kotaku author’s worry boils down to a simple, relatable question: what if you just irredeemably suck at PvP? Even after a decade of mastering FromSoftware’s combat systems against bosses and AI enemies, competing against living, thinking humans is an entirely different skill set. Reactive human opponents, matchmaking skill gaps, and the pressure of competitive play can turn a beloved formula into a frustrating grind for players who never asked for a multiplayer experience.
After 10 hours with the network test, that disconnect became clear. The game’s presentation, animations, and combat feel unmistakably FromSoftware — but the moment-to-moment experience of repeatedly losing to other players tested the author’s enthusiasm in a way no Malenia or Sword Saint Isshin ever could.
Why This Could Still Pay Off For FromSoftware
There’s another side to this story worth considering. FromSoftware has never been afraid to reinvent itself — Demon’s Souls, Sekiro, and Armored Core 6 all证明 the studio’s range. A PvPvE title could expand the audience rather than shrink it, pulling in competitive players who bounced off the solo difficulty of past titles. The Nintendo Switch 2 partnership also gives FromSoftware access to a massive install base hungry for a marquee hardcore exclusive ahead of the game’s expected 2026 launch.
And network tests exist precisely for this reason. Player feedback from this phase can still shape matchmaking, onboarding, and balance before release. Whether FromSoftware adds more robust PvE elements or better skill-based matchmaking remains to be seen.
A Beautiful Game Not Made For Everyone?
The bittersweet takeaway from these impressions is that The Duskbloods might be a phenomenal game that simply isn’t for every FromSoftware loyalist. As one of the most anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives on the horizon, it will undoubtedly find an audience — it just may not include the solo dungeon-crawlers who carried the studio to fame.
Looking to stock up before the gothic carnage begins? You can grab Nintendo eShop gift cards and game codes at TURGAME.com to make sure your Switch 2 library is ready for launch day.
Source: Kotaku