FromSoftware launched The Duskbloods, its first original game developed for the Nintendo Switch 2, featuring multiplayer-only gameplay with eight players competing in phased PvPvE matches [1, 2, 3, 4].
Players control vampiric characters called Bloodsworn. Each character has unique weapons, abilities, and customization options, allowing varied playstyles [1, 2, 3]. Matches unfold across three phases of about eight minutes each. During these phases, players earn Virtue points by completing a mix of PvE and PvP objectives to avoid elimination [2, 3, 4].
The game blends competitive multiplayer action with the challenging combat and dark gothic aesthetic that FromSoftware is known for, drawing heavily on motifs from Bloodborne and other Soulsborne titles including enemy types, map designs, and weaponry [1, 2, 3, 4].
Combat involves battling NPC enemies and other players, with boss fights integrated into the matches. An option allows players to unlock the final phase as a cooperative PvE boss fight instead of a player-versus-player fight [2, 3, 4].
The current network test grants access to six Bloodsworn characters, with more than a dozen expected at full launch. The test also offers three maps from the start [1, 4]. Prior to the release, media preview events were held at FromSoftware’s Tokyo offices to showcase the gameplay [2, 3].
FromSoftware director Hidetaka Miyazaki said the game draws influence from tabletop RPGs and represents a new multiplayer chapter for the studio by combining intense action and unique multiplayer mechanics [3].
The network test began in August 2026, allowing players to experience a subset of characters and gameplay features ahead of the full release later this year [1, 4].
