Release date
Date not announced
No exact release date has been announced. FromSoftware and Kadokawa still say 2026 on Nintendo Switch 2, but the game was not part of the September Nintendo Direct.
The story so far
What we know about The Duskbloods
The Duskbloods is a multiplayer action game from FromSoftware, directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, the studio's president known for Dark Souls and Elden Ring. It was announced on 2 April 2025 as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive and is published by FromSoftware and Nintendo, with Nintendo handling parts of the release. FromSoftware also made Armored Core VI and Elden Ring Nightreign, and The Duskbloods continues the studio's move toward online games. It has been described as a Switch 2 exclusive since its reveal, and Kadokawa has described the platform deal as permanent.
The game is described as a PvPvE title in which up to eight players compete against one another and against dangerous enemies. Players take the role of the Bloodsworn, people who have gone beyond normal human strength thanks to their special blood. The setting is a decaying world at what the developer calls the twilight of humanity, with gothic and Victorian-inspired locations, and the goal is to claim First Blood. Matches are described as last-player-standing contests or objective-based rounds, such as defeating a boss. Characters can also call on summoned entities for help in combat, and their blood history shapes which abilities they bring into a match. Early footage shows very different fighters, from sword users to heavily armoured types.
So far the game has been shown in the April 2025 Nintendo Direct and again in June 2026, when a short story-focused teaser was released without gameplay. A closed network test ran from 21 to 24 August 2026 to check servers and online systems. Kadokawa, FromSoftware's parent company, has repeated that the game is still planned for 2026, but no exact date, price or pre-order has been announced, and the game did not appear in the September Nintendo Direct.
What to expect from The Duskbloods
Based on what the developer and publisher have shown so far.
- 01
PvP and PvE in one match
According to the developer, up to eight players fight each other while also dealing with hostile enemies, so danger comes from both rivals and the environment. Matches are said to end with a last-player-standing result or an objective like a boss kill.
- 02
Bloodsworn with distinct abilities
Players control Bloodsworn characters with their own weapons, including firearms, and special abilities. So far the developer says players can shape a character's blood history and fate, which affects abilities, looks and role.
- 03
Gothic, Victorian-inspired maps
Maps shown so far draw on gothic and early modern settings. The story frame is humanity's decline and a contest for First Blood, though how much narrative the online matches carry has not been explained.
- 04
Online-first structure
The game is built around online play. The August 2026 network test was meant to stress-test servers and matchmaking for eight-player matches, and early players commented on its fast pacing, movement and abilities.
See it for yourself
Confirmed. Unconfirmed. Clear.
A quick way to separate official information from speculation.
Confirmed
- The Duskbloods was announced on 2 April 2025 as a PvPvE online action game for Nintendo Switch 2 with up to eight players.Kadokawa press release
- The game is developed by FromSoftware and published by FromSoftware and Nintendo, and is directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki.Wikipedia (summarising official statements)
- A new trailer and a closed network test for summer 2026 were announced in the Nintendo Direct of 9 June 2026.Siliconera
- The closed network test ran from 21 to 24 August 2026 and was open to Nintendo Switch Online members who applied in July.Nintendo Everything
- Kadokawa's financial report in August 2026 kept The Duskbloods in its list of eagerly awaited titles and still pointed to a 2026 launch on Switch 2.Vice
Not confirmed
Exact release date
No day or month has been announced. A 2026 launch is still the official target, but the game was absent from the September Nintendo Direct, so a slip into 2027 has not been ruled out by any official source.
Price and pre-orders
Neither price nor pre-order details have been announced, and it is not known whether the game will be sold at full price, as a digital release only or in another form.
Other platforms
The game is announced only for Switch 2. No version for PC, PlayStation or Xbox has been announced.
Single-player and content scope
It is not known how much offline or story content the game has, how many maps and characters it launches with, or how it will be supported after release.
Rumours are labelled and linked to their source.
Timeline
The road to release, from announcement to launch.
2 April 2025
FromSoftware announces The Duskbloods as a Switch 2 exclusive for 2026. Kadokawa
9 June 2026
A new trailer appears in the Nintendo Direct and a closed network test is announced for summer. Siliconera
15 July 2026
Test dates of 21 to 24 August are confirmed, with applications open 22 to 28 July for Nintendo Switch Online members. Nintendo Everything
13 August 2026
Kadokawa's financial report keeps The Duskbloods on its 2026 slate for Switch 2. Vice
21 August 2026
The closed network test begins and runs until 24 August. Nintendo Everything
Waiting for The Duskbloods? Play these
Our best guesses until it is out, picked for the same kind of experience.
Elden Ring Nightreign
Another FromSoftware multiplayer spin-off built around co-operative combat against tough bosses in a darker setting.
Bloodborne
Gothic, Victorian-flavoured horror and fast, aggressive combat; the game most previews compare The Duskbloods to.
Hunt: Showdown 1896
Competitive PvPvE where players fight each other and AI monsters in the same match, in a gothic setting.
Splatoon 3
Another Nintendo online multiplayer game with team-based matches and a strong focus on loadouts and abilities.
For Honor
Class-based online melee duels and brawls where each fighter type has a distinct weapon style and skill set.
Dark Souls III
FromSoftware's demanding, dark-fantasy combat and boss design, plus invasions and PvP encounters with other players.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to what people search for most.
When is The Duskbloods released?
No exact date has been announced. FromSoftware's parent company Kadokawa still lists the game for 2026 on Nintendo Switch 2, but the game was not in the September Nintendo Direct. Check back for official news.
Which platforms is The Duskbloods coming to?
Only Nintendo Switch 2 has been announced. It is described as a Switch 2 exclusive, and no PC, PlayStation, Xbox or original Switch version has been announced.
Is there a trailer for The Duskbloods?
Yes. Nintendo showed a short teaser in the Nintendo Direct of 9 June 2026, after the first reveal trailer in April 2025. The newest teaser focused on story and mood rather than gameplay.
Is there a demo or beta?
There was a closed network test on 21 to 24 August 2026 for Nintendo Switch Online members who applied. No public demo or further test has been announced yet.
What is The Duskbloods about?
It is an online PvPvE action game for up to eight players, who play vampire-like Bloodsworn fighting each other and enemies in a gothic world at the twilight of humanity, competing for First Blood.
Is it a Bloodborne sequel?
No. It is a new original game from FromSoftware, directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki. Many outlets compare its gothic style to Bloodborne, but it is an online multiplayer game and not a sequel.