The Duskbloods: Everything You Need to Know About the Release, Gameplay, and Story of the New FromSoftware Game for the Switch 2

FromSoftware’s new game focuses on multiplayer and will be released exclusively on the Switch 2. You can find all the information known so far about The Duskbloods in this overview.

During Nintendo’s Switch 2 presentation on April 1, 2025, The Duskbloods caused quite a stir. The new game from the creators of Elden Ring and Dark Souls is set to combine the studio’s well-known strengths with a fresh multiplayer concept. To help you get ready for this dark vampire adventure, we’vecompiled all known information on the release, story, and gameplayfor you:

• Release:When is The Duskbloods coming out?
• Platforms:What platforms will the multiplayer game be available on?
• Price:How much will The Duskbloods cost?
• Story & Setting:What is it even about?
• Gameplay:How does The Duskbloods play?

Key Information About The Duskbloods

Release: When Will The Duskbloods Be Released?

The Duskbloods is scheduled for release in 2026.FromSoftware has not yet announced an exact release date.

At least the first closed network test is scheduled to start in the summer of 2026.The developers revealed this during theNintendo Direct in June 2026. You can watch the short teaser trailer right here:

The Duskbloods could be released as early as fall 2026.In the past, FromSoftware released both Nightreign and Elden Ring about three and a half months after the network test. So if this test starts in the summer as planned, a fall release would at least be conceivable. However, the developers have not shared any concrete information on this.

Incidentally, the development time is said to be record-breaking.According to the well-informed journalist Giwin (via Wccftech), development on The Duskbloods began even before the marketing launch of Sekiro. That means before 2019—at least six years ago. The Duskbloods would thus have the longest prototyping and validation phase in FromSoftware’s history.

Platforms: On which platforms will The Duskbloods be released?

The Duskbloods is coming exclusively to the Nintendo Switch 2.It is FromSoftware’s first Nintendo exclusive. Development initially began for the original Switch but was later ported to the Switch 2.

There are currently no indications of a release on other platforms such as PC, PS5, or Xbox Series X/S. As a publisher, Nintendo pursues a policy of exclusivity, which is why it is conceivable that The Duskbloods will remain exclusive to the Switch 2 in the long term.

Price: How much does The Duskbloods cost?

So far, there is no official information regarding the price of The Duskbloods.Full-price titles on the Switch 2 cost between 80 and 90 euros. It remains to be seen whether The Duskbloods will follow this pricing model.

Story & Setting: What is The Duskbloods about?

In athree-part interviewwith Nintendo, FromSoftware head Hidetaka Miyazaki also shared the first details about The Duskbloods:

• Superhuman characters:Players take on the role of aBloodsworn. These are powerful beings who drink blood and thereby gain supernatural abilities. The concept is intentionally reminiscent of vampires, but does not portray them as terrifying monsters.

• Changing Locations:The Bloodsworn compete for theFirst Blood, which flows whenever a society falls. As a result, the maps will differ significantly from one another and cover various styles such as Gothic, Victorian, and the early modern era.

• Characters tell the lore:The character customizations that must be unlocked are intended to provide insight into the game world and its inhabitants. This allows players to uncover the secrets of this dark world bit by bit.

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Gameplay: How does The Duskbloods play?

In The Duskbloods, FromSoftware is attempting to implement many new ideas and mechanics. The focus is onPvPvE multiplayer, where you fight against both AI opponents and human players.

• 8-player matches:Up to eight players compete in a round. Usually, the last survivor wins, but sometimes players must also team up against a powerful boss. Additionally, players pursue personal objectives in each round.

• Dynamic Movement:Sprints, super jumps, and double jumps are designed to ensure fast and stress-free movement. In the trailer, we even see a kind of jetpack that allows a character to fly through the air.

• Unique Characters: The game will feature over a dozen characters, each with unique weapons and abilities. These characters will also be customizable, enabling a wide range of creative playstyles.

• Melee and Ranged Combat:In addition to melee weapons, each character will have ranged combat options. This suggests that ranged combat will play a significantly larger role than in previous FromSoftware titles.

• Summonings:Each character can summon an entity to assist them in battle. This is reminiscent of the Spirit Ashes from Elden Ring.

• Roles:Before starting a round, players can choose a role that can influence their interaction with some teammates. Depending on the role, other players become either arch-enemies or allies, which helps determine the personal objectives of a match.

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How a round works:

1. Players start in a hub world,where they can select and customize their character. This is where they begin their matches.

1. In the 8-player matches, players pursue their personal goalsand try to fulfill the victory conditions. They can choose to engage in direct confrontation with other players or deliberately avoid combat.

1. How a victory is achieved depends on various parameters and random events,ensuring that rounds are varied and engaging.

1. After completing a round, players return to their hub worldand receive rewards that allow them to further customize their characters.

The Duskbloods is visually very reminiscent of Bloodborne, but will be a game in its own right. With this, FromSoftware is clearly experimenting more with online options for its games.

While Elden Ring Nightreign is already taking a more cooperative approach this year, The Duskbloods will adopt a PvPvE concept in 2026. But don’t worry: In an interview with Nintendo, Miyazaki emphasized that FromSoftware will continue to develop traditional single-player titles in the future.

As is typical for new games from FromSoftware, many questions remain unanswered, which will be clarified by the 2026 release. Of course, we’ll keep this overview up to date, so you can check back from time to time if you’re looking for new info on The Duskbloods.