FromSoftware’s unexpected announcement of The Duskbloods during Nintendo’s Switch 2 Direct has sent shockwaves through the Soulslike community. This exclusive title, set for a 2026 release, marks a strategic pivot for the studio and a major win for Nintendo’s next-gen console.
Here’s what you need to know as an Elden Ring fan and what this exclusivity means for the gaming landscape.
What Is The Duskbloods?
Directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, The Duskbloods blends gothic horror with steampunk aesthetics, set in a Victorian-inspired world teeming with vampires, mechanical foes, and grotesque creatures. The gameplay trailer showcased:
- Vampiric Combat: Blood-sucking mechanics, dual-wielding SMGs, and transformative abilities (e.g., characters morphing into bestial forms). Players become “The Duskbloods,” who have gained superhuman powers through a special blood power, and throw themselves into a fierce battle over the “First Blood.”
- Vertical Exploration: Jetpacks and steampunk gadgets enable traversal across sprawling cities and eerie cathedrals.
- Multiplayer Focus: A surprising PvPvE twist, diverging from FromSoftware’s traditional single-player emphasis. The game supports online play for up to 8 players, allowing for dynamic interactions between players and the environment. While FromSoftware has built a reputation for its single-player narratives with minimal co-op experiences, like those found in the Dark Souls series and Elden Ring, players can look forward to the studio’s first multiplayer-only experience, Elden Ring Nightreign, before Duskbloods is released.
While not Bloodborne 2, the game channels its cosmic dread and aggressive combat, with Miyazaki confirming deeper insights in a Nintendo-hosted interview on April 4.
Why Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusivity Matters
For FromSoftware, known for PlayStation and multiplatform hits like Elden Ring, this exclusivity signals a strategic alliance with Nintendo. The Switch 2’s rumored hardware upgrades—Nvidia T239 chip, 12GB RAM, ray tracing support—likely enable the game’s detailed environments and fluid combat. However, the trailer’s 30fps cap hints at technical compromises.
Implications for Players:
- No PS5/Xbox Release: A rarity for FromSoftware, sparking debates about accessibility vs. console wars.
- Switch 2’s Credibility: Nintendo secures a hardcore title to attract Souls fans, alongside enhanced ports like Elden Ring (2025).
- Innovation Push: The Switch 2’s “mouse-like” Joy-Con controls could influence The Duskbloods’ ranged combat or multiplayer features.
What This Means for the Soulslike Genre
FromSoftware’s gamble on exclusivity could reshape expectations:
- New Audience Reach: Nintendo’s family-friendly ecosystem meets FromSoftware’s mature storytelling.
- Competitive Pressure: PlayStation’s Bloodborne legacy faces a steampunk rival, while Xbox eyes potential exclusivity deals.
- Technical Showcase: If successful, The Duskbloods might prove the Switch 2’s capability to handle demanding action RPGs.
Final Thoughts
The Duskbloods represents a fascinating experiment: a studio synonymous with PlayStation venturing into Nintendo’s realm. For Elden Ring players, it’s a chance to experience Miyazaki’s vision in a fresh, blood-soaked setting. For Nintendo, it’s a statement—the Switch 2 isn’t just for Mario and Zelda.
Mark your calendars for April 4, when Miyazaki’s interview could reveal whether this is a one-off or the start of a new era for FromSoftware.
What’s your take? Will you embrace the Switch 2 for this exclusive, or cling to your PlayStation? Share your thoughts below.
Update – The Miyazaki Interview
April 6, 2025
In his recent interviews about The Duskbloods, Hidetaka Miyazaki shared several insights into the game’s concept, design, and direction. Here are the key points he discussed:
Concept and Inspiration
- Miyazaki explained that The Duskbloods revolves around the “Bloodsworn,” characters who achieve superhuman abilities through special blood, drawing inspiration from romanticized notions of vampires and blood. The title refers to these Bloodsworn and their competition for “First Blood,” which flows during an event called the “Twilight of Humanity”.
- The game features no fixed time or location, with settings ranging from Gothic and Victorian styles to early modern periods, as seen in the trailer’s depiction of a train running through one map.
Gameplay and Design
- The Duskbloods is a PvPvE multiplayer game, marking a departure from FromSoftware’s traditional single-player focus. Despite this shift, Miyazaki reassured fans that FromSoftware remains committed to developing single-player titles alongside multiplayer experiments.
- Players can choose from over a dozen customizable Bloodsworn characters, each with unique abilities. Universal features include superhuman actions like sprinting, super jumps, double jumps, and ranged attacks, which Miyazaki highlighted as distinct aspects compared to previous FromSoftware games.
- The game introduces dynamic in-match events, such as the appearance of a giant stone face in the sky that alters rewards and objectives.
Lore and Customization
- Miyazaki emphasized deep lore integration through character customization. Players can analyze and alter their Bloodsworn’s “blood history and fate,” revealing fragments of worldbuilding details. This system ties customization to storytelling in a unique way.
- Roles within the game allow players to take on specific objectives or interact with others in dramatic ways. For instance, the “Destined Rival” role tasks players with defeating specific opponents as part of their personal goals.
Development Process
- Miyazaki revealed that The Duskbloods began as a bare-bones concept pitched to Nintendo. The collaboration grew after Nintendo expressed interest in its unique ideas. Development shifted focus to the Switch 2 hardware to leverage its online capabilities.
FromSoftware’s Future
- While The Duskbloods represents a new direction for FromSoftware, Miyazaki assured fans that this does not signal a permanent shift away from single-player games. Titles like Elden Ring remain central to the studio’s identity.
Overall, Miyazaki described The Duskbloods as an ambitious project blending multiplayer gameplay with FromSoftware’s signature challenging encounters, deep lore, and creative customization systems.
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