The Duskbloods Network Test Finally Giving Players a Look

FromSoftware's mysterious Switch 2 exclusive is getting its first network test, with selected players already downloading the game ahead of the action.

FromSoftware has been keeping The Duskbloods wrapped in mystery, but that is finally starting to change. The studio's unusual multiplayer project for Nintendo Switch 2 is preparing for its first network test, and selected players are already getting their hands on the game client.

Players accepted into the test are being given a code they can redeem on Switch 2. After entering the code, the test version becomes available to download, and the file is surprisingly small at just under 4GB. Of course, downloading the game does not mean players can jump straight into the action. The servers are only being opened during specific testing windows, so the client is essentially waiting for its moment to come alive.

One of the first scheduled sessions is set for Friday night, running from 10 P.M. to 2 A.M. Eastern Time. Other sessions are expected throughout the weekend, giving selected players several chances to experience the game before its full release. Interestingly, the test client is already giving fans something to talk about.

Players have been able to see the title screen and hear some of the game's music, and the reaction has been exactly what you might expect from a FromSoftware project. The soundtrack is already drawing attention, with fans praising its dramatic, unmistakably FromSoftware-style atmosphere.

But the music is only the appetizer.

The real question is what The Duskbloods actually plays like. Based on the information available so far, the game takes some ideas from Elden Ring Nightreign and expands them into a larger multiplayer experience. Players will reportedly start from a hub before heading out on adventures that can combine PvE battles with PvP encounters.

And there is a pretty wild number attached to that setup: up to eight players can take part. The gameplay revolves around a repeatable progression loop. Players head into an adventure, fight enemies and other players, earn rewards, become stronger, and then head back out for another run. It sounds simple on paper, but with FromSoftware behind it, there is plenty of room for things to get wonderfully chaotic.

Character variety could also play a major role. According to the sources, data from a recent update appears to reference 14 different classes or characters—several fit familiar roles such as tanks, damage dealers, support characters, and status-effect specialists.
Then there are the names.

Walter the Blood Eater. Jillian the Guillotine. Veronica. Sebastian. Mud Shredder. Even without seeing the full roster, those names practically scream FromSoftware. Duskbloods is also interesting because of its relationship with Nintendo. A FromSoftware game being developed specifically for Switch 2 is already unusual, but the apparent size and ambition of the multiplayer project make the partnership even more surprising.

The game is expected to launch later this year, with October currently being speculated as a possible release window. Nothing is locked down yet, though, and the network test will be the real proving ground. Can FromSoftware turn its trademark combat and bizarre world-building into an eight-player PvPvE experience that actually works? The Duskbloods is about to give players the first real answer.