The Duskbloods Network Test Reveals Big PvP and Switch 2 Concerns

After a disastrous first network test, FromSoftware's Switch 2 exclusive is starting to show why its strange mix of PvP, co-op, and RPG mechanics has players curious.

The Duskbloods has barely entered public testing, and somehow the game is already sparking arguments everywhere. The first network test session was a complete headache for many players, with people struggling to connect and some never getting into a match.

The second session was a different story. Once the servers settled down, players finally got to see what FromSoftware has been cooking. And it is definitely not another Elden Ring. The biggest complaints about The Duskbloods focus on three things: the Nintendo Switch 2 exclusivity, the game's PvP-heavy design, and whether the multiplayer community will still be around months after launch.

Those are fair concerns. But after getting a better look at the game, there is also a strong argument that The Duskbloods could be one of FromSoftware's most interesting experiments yet. Why Is The Duskbloods a Switch 2 Exclusive? The Switch 2 exclusivity has created more frustration than anything else.

Some players have argued that The Duskbloods is essentially a $700 game because anyone who does not already own a Switch 2 would have to buy the console, the game, and other accessories to play it. That argument is understandable from a frustrated player's point of view, but it is also a little misleading.

People buy consoles because they want access to an entire library, not just one game. If someone buys a PlayStation because they want to play Wolverine, for example, it would be strange to say Wolverine suddenly costs the price of a PlayStation. The same applies to Nintendo's system.

The more interesting part of this story is why The Duskbloods became a Nintendo exclusive at all.

According to the sources, FromSoftware originally pitched the project to Nintendo, and Nintendo was receptive to the idea. The company reportedly became involved in the game's development, helping with different gameplay systems, mechanics, and tutorials. That makes this situation different from a simple third-party exclusivity deal.

The project reportedly began around 2021, when the original Switch was still relevant to development. When the Switch 2 came along, FromSoftware saw an opportunity to move the game to much more powerful hardware. Nintendo's involvement also helps explain why the game is being presented as a Switch 2 exclusive.

A similar situation exists with Bayonetta. Nintendo does not own the Bayonetta IP, but it played a major role in funding and publishing several entries in the series. The Duskbloods appears to have some similarities, although the exact business arrangement is different. FromSoftware still owns The Duskbloods IP, according to the information available. That could become important later.

If there is a sequel, FromSoftware may have more freedom to decide where it goes, depending on how future agreements are structured. But for the first game, waiting for a PlayStation, Xbox, or PC version is not a realistic strategy. The Duskbloods appears to be staying on Switch 2.

The PvP Problem Is Real. Then there is the part that could make or break the entire experience: PvP. FromSoftware's PvP has always been a love-it-or-hate-it situation. Some players enjoy the mind games and tension of fighting another person. Others would rather spend their evening fighting AI enemies and never see another red phantom again.

The Duskbloods puts multiplayer much closer to the center of the experience. 

But it is not simply Elden Ring with more players thrown into the same world. The game is built around shorter matches where players can explore, fight enemies, collect upgrades, become stronger, and decide when to cooperate or attack. It requires a much smaller time commitment than something like Elden Ring.

That could actually be one of its biggest advantages. A lot of players enjoy FromSoftware's combat but never finish the studio's massive games. They might play for 10, 20 or even 30 hours before getting distracted by another release. The Duskbloods seems designed for those players.

You can jump into a match, experiment with a character, fight some enemies, make questionable decisions, get destroyed, and then start another game without feeling like you have abandoned a 100-hour adventure. That sounds appealing. Friends Can Become Enemies Very Quickly

One of the game's most interesting ideas is its temporary cooperation system. Players can fight each other, but they can also choose to work together. Imagine running into another player while both of you are trying to survive. Instead of immediately attacking, one player can essentially suggest, "How about we don't kill each other?" For a while, you can cooperate.

But that agreement is not exactly a lifelong friendship.

As the match progresses, players collect Virtue by defeating enemies and discovering resources. The player with the lowest amount can eventually be eliminated, meaning those friendly partnerships may become very temporary. Eventually, the survivors reach the final battle.

At that point, everyone is back in the running. That creates a pretty fun question: how much can you trust somebody who knows they may have to fight you later? That kind of uncertainty could give The Duskbloods something that many competitive multiplayer games struggle to create naturally.

The Combat Looks Completely Wild. If there is one thing that immediately separates The Duskbloods from traditional FromSoftware games, it is movement. The Bloodsworn characters are extremely mobile. They can jump multiple times, air dash, and move around the environment at speeds that would look almost ridiculous in a traditional Souls game.

Battles can become chaotic very quickly. Players are flying around, activating special abilities, throwing attacks everywhere, and desperately trying not to get caught in the middle of the madness. There are plenty of attacks, special moves, upgrades and character abilities to learn, but the game reportedly does a solid job of introducing those systems through its tutorials.

Each character has their own abilities and playstyle, meaning choosing the right Bloodsworn could have a major impact on how someone approaches a match. The game also mixes in RPG and roguelike mechanics. Players can collect powers and upgrades during a match, become stronger, and adapt to whatever happens around them.

Bosses and powerful enemies can also appear, creating situations where players may need to decide whether to fight, cooperate, or run away. And running away is sometimes the smartest option. Can The Duskbloods Actually Last? This is where things get serious. Making a fun multiplayer game is one thing.

Keeping people interested months or years later is another.

The Duskbloods will need reliable servers, good matchmaking, regular updates, and enough variety to keep players coming back. The first network test certainly did not help. The opening session reportedly went badly, with many players unable to connect. For an online-focused game, that is about as rough a first impression as you can get.

Fortunately, the second session seemed much healthier. Players could get into matches, and network performance was reportedly much better. That is a positive sign, although it is obviously too early to declare the online infrastructure perfect. The game's planned modes could also help its longevity.

Ranked play, solo matches, duos and private matches give players different ways to experience the game. Private matches could be especially entertaining for groups of friends who want to create their own chaos. Duos could be another major selling point. Picture two friends jumping into a match together, fighting enemies, helping each other level up, and then trying to survive against everyone else.

Add voice chat and a few questionable decisions, and things could get ridiculous very quickly. That kind of multiplayer experience has plenty of potential. FromSoftware Isn't Abandoning Single-Player Games Some of the criticism surrounding The Duskbloods seems to come from the idea that FromSoftware is moving away from the single-player games that made it famous.

There is little reason to believe that. The Duskbloods is an experiment, not a replacement for the studio's traditional RPGs. FromSoftware can make a multiplayer game while continuing to develop the large single-player experiences its fans expect. In fact, Elden Ring's success gives the company plenty of room to experiment.

Elden Ring became a massive success, selling tens of millions of copies and turning FromSoftware's formula into an even bigger mainstream phenomenon. The studio doesn't need every new project to follow the same formula. The Duskbloods can be something different.

That may be the whole point. Instead of another enormous fantasy world filled with hundreds of bosses, The Duskbloods takes familiar FromSoftware combat and throws it into a much faster multiplayer environment. It is weird. It is chaotic. It is definitely not for everyone.

But that is also what makes it interesting.

The first network test may have stumbled badly, but the second session showed a potentially addictive game beneath the technical problems. Whether that becomes a long-term success will depend heavily on server stability, updates, and the strength of its player community.

For now, though, The Duskbloods has managed to get exactly what any unusual new game needs: attention. And with alliances that can turn into betrayals, crazy movement, brutal PvP and a final battle waiting at the end of every match, could The Duskbloods end up being the Switch 2's strangest multiplayer hit?