FromSoftware's next game is nearly in players' hands, sort of. The studio has locked in a closed network test for The Duskbloods, its Switch 2 exclusive, running August 21 to 24. Selections for who gets in went out on August 7, after sign-ups closed back on July 22, so if you applied, check your inbox.
This is not Elden Ring 2
Worth being clear up front, because it changes everything: The Duskbloods is multiplayer-only. There is no solo campaign to retreat into. Matches are PvPvE for up to eight players, meaning you are fighting AI enemies and each other at the same time, and you will need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to play. That is a real departure for a studio best known for lonely, punishing single-player worlds, and it is going to split the room. Some people will bounce off "no solo option" on principle; others have wanted FromSoft to properly commit to multiplayer for years.
What the test is for
FromSoftware says the point of the test is infrastructure stability ahead of the holiday window, with balance and core mechanics watched along the way. In other words: can the netcode hold up before launch. That is the open question with any online-only game, and it is the one this weekend of testing exists to answer. The combat pedigree is not in doubt. The servers are the thing to watch.
Comments · 0