The Duskbloods is Set to Bring a New Kind of Darkness to the Nintendo Switch 2

Plenty of us were caught off guard during the recent Nintendo Direct when the company unveiled FROMSOFTWARE’s new IP, The Duskbloods. Visions of Yharnam unfolded before us, the familiar feeling of darkness and horror, and visceral sceneries that take us back to Bloodborne. Best of all, jetpacks and automatic pistols. Fun.

The Duskbloods is the newest title rom Hidetaka Miyazaki and FROMSOFTWARE, breaking away from tradition with superhuman vampire-esque warriors locked in to battle it out for the First Blood. Here’s what you need to know about the game.

A Change of Pace

FROMSOFTWARE jumps into a new kind of action with The Duskbloods focusing on PvPvE (Player vs Plaer vs Environment). It’s built around a dynamic online multiplayer gameplay system, unlike other games in the company’s lineup that you’re free to explore on your own.

The Duskbloods is an 8-player competitive title where players are set to duke it out, while monsters are out and about. The goal here is to claim something what is called the First Blood. Nothing is clear yet, and we’re excited to see lore implications as soon as we get more details on this.

If you’re not one to dive into competitive games, The Duskbloods is still for you. Miyazaki himself admitted that he’s “not much of a PvP person,” and he’s made sure the game can still offer the satisfaction whatever your playstyle is.

The Bloodsworn

If a hunter must hoont, a vampire must vamp?

The Bloodsworn are Miyazaki’s take on vampire mythology, who have gained superhuman strength and agility to face off foes and monster alike. The game also features unique weapons, styles, as well as abilities, and let’s not forget the jetpack joyride you will probably get the chance to equip.

As opposed to traditional Soulsborne games where you’re free to spec your character based on your playstyle, it seems The Duskbloods will be class-based.

A Convoluted Timeline

There’s no definitive timeline or world where The Duskbloods is set. You as a Bloodsworn is in the Twilight of Humanity” where entities from varying eras converge into one. Based on the trailer, we’ve seen Victorian-era imagery that invoked Yharnam, as well as desolate ruins and caverns waiting to be explored.

Combat With a Twist

Those who are looking for the familiar gameplay loop of traditional Soulsborne titles might find The Duskbloods distant. Its gameplay core will seem to revolve around online matches, so perhaps long term exploration would be out of the question. On the other hand, this presents a new twist with events shifting the gameplay. Remember that jetpack? Exactly.

Miyazaki also wants to address that while The Duskbloods is an online multiplayer title at its core, it doesn’t mean that FROMSOFTWARE has shifted to a more multiplayer-focused direction with titles going forward. The company still intends to actively develop single player focused games.

Shape Your Fate, and Your Character

Fashion Souls is still the game, but it goes way beyond aesthetics in The Duskbloods. By customizing your character and altering their “blood history and fate,” you get to unlock lore pieces, tweak your abilities, reshape your relationship with other characters, and even find out what your purpose is.

Furthermore, it seems Miyazaki and FROMSOFT found another way to integrate story and gameplay as Destine Rivalry exists in the game where you also get rewards from taking them down.

A Place of Safety

If you’re missing the Firelink Shrine or The Hunter’s Dream, we’ll also get a  central hub for anything and everything in between. Find refuge here and select your characters, equip your customization items, and interact with NPCs.

We’re eager to see the eccentric winged rat NPC too and what lore awaits there. What Firekeeper? We got a winged rat!

Plenty to Look Forward to, But We Really Have to Wait

Look. We have a long way to go until The Duskbloods goes live on the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026. The Switch 2 isn’t even out yet, and we still have a lot of questions, which we’re pretty sure will get covered once the game hits the shelves next year. Can we play the game solo? Do we really have to play with friends? What if we don’t have friends? Is Patches in the game? So many questions!

Images | Nintendo