The Duskbloods on Switch 2: Release Window and Network Test

Last checked: October 4, 2026. The Duskbloods is a FromSoftware multiplayer action game scheduled for 2026, exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo and FromSoftware describe it as PvPvE: up to eight players compete with one another while also fighting enemies. A precise launch day has not been announced on the official pages checked for this update.

What kind of game is The Duskbloods?

Players take the role of the Bloodsworn, supernatural characters empowered by special blood. FromSoftware says players enter the “Twilight of Humanity” and compete for “First Blood,” forming temporary alliances and rivalries. Nintendo describes the game as an online battle for up to eight players. Those details support the PvPvE label, but they do not establish that it is a battle royale or reveal a complete match structure.

In a Nintendo interview, director Hidetaka Miyazaki explained that the Bloodsworn draw on vampire-like ideas, but are not portrayed as traditional horror monsters. He also said the story is not limited to one historical era or location: the revealed world includes Gothic or Victorian-inspired settings and places resembling the close of the early modern period.

Release window and platform

FromSoftware’s announcement and Nintendo’s current store listing give 2026 as the release year. Both identify Nintendo Switch 2 as the supported platform, and Nintendo calls the game a Switch 2 exclusive. Neither page provides a specific date or price. The game supports TV, tabletop and handheld play modes on Switch 2.

Network test: what happened?

Nintendo announced a closed network test in 2026. Its Australia site lists the Global Network Test as running from August 21 to August 24, 2026, so that event has already ended. The official material reviewed here does not publish test results or confirm another test date. Nintendo says online features require an internet connection, a Nintendo Account and a Nintendo Switch Online membership, sold separately; availability varies by country.

What is still unconfirmed?

As of October 4, the official pages do not give an exact release date, price, detailed progression system, full character roster, or complete match rules. Treat specific claims about classes, firearms, AI companions, roles, random events, dev-kit performance or a single-player campaign as unconfirmed unless FromSoftware or Nintendo publishes them.

An earlier version of this article included detailed systems and a developer quotation that could not be substantiated in official sources. Those claims have been removed. This update is limited to information published by FromSoftware and Nintendo.

In the same interview, Miyazaki cautioned against treating this title as a company-wide move toward online multiplayer. He said FromSoftware still intends to actively develop single-player-focused games. The Duskbloods’ multiplayer design is confirmed for this game, but it does not prove future releases from the studio will use the same format.

Nintendo’s product listing records one player on a single system and one to eight online. It supports TV, tabletop and handheld play modes. That describes the listed play configurations; it does not confirm an offline single-player campaign. For online play, Nintendo says an account, an internet connection and a Nintendo Switch Online membership are required.

Quick answers

• Is The Duskbloods exclusive to Switch 2? Yes. Nintendo lists it as exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2.
• When does it release? The current official listing says 2026; no exact date is listed.
• How many players? Nintendo and FromSoftware list online battles for up to eight players.
• Is this a single-player RPG? Official descriptions position it as an online multiplayer action game with PvPvE combat; a standalone single-player campaign has not been confirmed.
• Can I still join the announced network test? The Global Network Test dates published by Nintendo were August 21–24, 2026; that test has passed.

Sources

• FromSoftware: original announcement and official game overview
• Nintendo: platform, release year, online player count and membership requirements
• Nintendo Australia: Global Network Test dates
• Nintendo Creator’s Voice: interview with director Hidetaka Miyazaki