When FromSoftware first announced The Duskbloods as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, I’ll admit my enthusiasm was lukewarm. A PvPvE multiplayer experience from the studio behind Dark Souls and Elden Ring sounded like a departure from the single-player epics that made the developer a household name. But after getting hands-on time with the game’s recent network test, my skepticism has transformed into something far more complicated: genuine confusion — the good kind.
A Gothic Fever Dream Born on Switch 2
The Duskbloods immediately grabs you with its aesthetic. This is FromSoftware leaning hard into a Victorian gothic style that longtime fans will recognize as eerily reminiscent of Bloodborne. Moonlit castles, ornate costumes, and blood-drenched combat rituals define the presentation. But unlike the haunting solitude of Yharnam, The Duskbloods throws up to eight players into each match, all competing and cooperating in shifting, chaotic ways.
So Much Going On At Once
The core of my confusion — and fascination — comes from just how many systems are layered on top of each other. Each match assigns players different roles and objectives, meaning you and your seven rivals aren’t always chasing the same goals. One player might be hunting a specific target, another gathering resources, while someone else triggers world-changing events mid-match. It creates a multiplayer experience where no two rounds feel remotely alike.
Add in a deep arsenal of weapons, from firearms to elaborate melee tools, plus supernatural blood abilities that let players transform and unleash devastating powers, and you have a game that refuses to be neatly categorized. Is it a battle royale? An asymmetric multiplayer game? A competitive Soulslike? After hours with the network test, I still can’t tell you — and honestly, that might be the point.
Why the Confusion Might Be a Feature
Here’s my take after sitting with my impressions: FromSoftware has never been a studio that holds your hand. The studio’s DNA is built on mystery, discovery, and rewarding players who dig beneath the surface. The Duskbloods appears to apply that same philosophy to multiplayer. The overwhelming density of the network test may simply reflect how much depth is waiting to be unpacked over dozens of hours.
Hidetaka Miyazaki’s involvement as director is another reason for optimism. This isn’t a spinoff handed to a B-team — it’s a flagship project from the studio’s creative leader, and the production values in the test build reflect that. The combat carries that signature FromSoftware weight, with deliberate animations and punishing encounters, even within the faster-paced multiplayer structure.
Technical Performance on Nintendo’s New Hardware
The game also serves as an early showcase for what the Nintendo Switch 2 can do. Running a visually rich FromSoftware title on a hybrid console would have seemed improbable a generation ago, yet the network test ran surprisingly well. If the final release holds up, The Duskbloods could become one of the most important third-party exclusives in the Switch 2 library.
Final Thoughts Before Launch
I walked into the Duskbloods network test expecting to confirm my doubts. Instead, I walked out with more questions than answers — about the role system, the progression, the long-term multiplayer ecosystem — but also with an itch I desperately need to scratch. Confusion has never felt this promising.
If you’re planning to jump into The Duskbloods when it launches, you can pick up Nintendo eShop gift cards at TURGAME.com to make sure your Switch 2 wallet is ready for launch day.
Source: Destructoid