FromSoftware’s The Duskbloods Breaks a Year of Silence With Switch 2 Closed Network Test This Summer

After more than a year of radio silence since its surprise reveal at the April 2025 Switch 2 showcase, FromSoftware has finally resurfaced with The Duskbloods, its first Nintendo home console exclusive in over two decades. But the update delivered during the June 2026 Nintendo Direct came with a twist. Instead of a release date, fans received a brief cinematic trailer and confirmation of a closed network test planned for this summer, with exact dates and sign-up details still unannounced. This positions the network test as the real headline: it marks the first time anyone outside FromSoftware will go hands-on with this mysterious PvPvE exclusive, and it suggests a 2026 launch is still on track, even if the window is tightening. Here is everything we know about the test, the game, and what it means for fans hungry for more FromSoftware on Nintendo hardware.

A Year of Silence Broken: What the June 2026 Direct Revealed

The Duskbloods was first shown during the Nintendo Switch 2 debut showcase in April 2025. After that initial trailer, the studio went completely dark for over thirteen months. The only signs of life came from publisher Kadokawa’s financial reports, which reiterated a 2026 release window.

That silence finally broke during the June 2026 Nintendo Direct, when a new trailer for the game appeared. The clip ran for roughly one minute and was entirely cinematic, no actual gameplay footage was shown, despite some early misinterpretations in press metadata. The trailer’s moody gothic aesthetic and vampire-inspired character designs reinforced the tone established last year, but offered no new mechanical details.

What did arrive was a concrete, if still vague, announcement: a closed network test will take place during the summer of 2026 on Nintendo Switch 2. FromSoftware and Nintendo have not yet specified when signups will open, when the test begins, or how long it will last. What is known is that participants will need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to take part, though this requirement has not been officially confirmed by Nintendo or FromSoftware and comes from secondary reports. Given the online nature of the test, it seems a reasonable expectation.

This marks FromSoftware’s first significant communication about the game since its reveal, and the first chance for players to get a real taste of what the studio is building.

What Is The Duskbloods? A Fresh PvPvE Direction for Miyazaki

Directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki himself, The Duskbloods is a PvPvE multiplayer action-RPG exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2. It represents FromSoftware’s first exclusive for a Nintendo home console since Lost Kingdoms II on GameCube in 2003, a major collaboration between two giants of Japanese gaming that underscores the partnership’s significance.

Players take on the role of “Bloodsworn,” vampire-like warriors each with unique abilities and weapons. The game supports up to eight players in a single session, battling both against each other and AI-controlled enemies. Per Miyazaki’s April 2025 interview, the roster features over a dozen playable characters, each offering distinct playstyles. The setting is a dark gothic fantasy world filled with nightmarish creatures and treacherous arenas.

Development originally began on the original Nintendo Switch before the project was moved to the more powerful Switch 2. That early commitment to Nintendo hardware suggests a close partnership between the two companies, and it hints that the game will make good use of the new console’s capabilities.

Notably, The Duskbloods is FromSoftware’s second consecutive multiplayer-focused title, following Elden Ring Nightreign. This signals a broader push by the studio into online multiplayer structures, even as its single-player Soulsborne catalog remains beloved. Whether this marks a permanent shift or a temporary experiment remains to be seen, but it shows Miyazaki and his team are eager to explore new design space.

Why the Closed Network Test Matters More Than a Release Date Right Now

With no release date attached to the summer network test, the test itself becomes the central event. It is the first opportunity for the public to experience The Duskbloods and the clearest indicator that development has reached a significant milestone. FromSoftware would not schedule a network test unless the core systems, particularly the online infrastructure, matchmaking, and server stability, were ready for external stress testing.

This suggests a 2026 launch is still feasible, even if the window is narrowing. The test will allow FromSoftware to gather crucial feedback on PvPvE balance, class performance, and network stability before finalizing the release build. The studio has a history of using closed tests to refine games like Dark Souls III and Elden Ring, and The Duskbloods likely follows the same playbook.

The contrast with Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, which was also announced during the same Direct and given a firm August 28, 2026 release date for Switch 2, only underscores The Duskbloods’ relative ambiguity. That game is a port with a clear schedule. The Duskbloods remains in the shadows, but the network test suggests the finishing line is in sight.

Fans should expect sign-up details to drop in the coming weeks, likely through Nintendo’s official channels and FromSoftware’s social media. The wait may be frustrating, but the test will be the first real look at Miyazaki’s vision for a PvPvE bloodbath.

What’s Still Unknown, and What We Need to Watch

Despite the welcome update, several key questions remain unanswered:

• Test logistics, Exact dates and sign-up requirements for the network test have not been announced.
• Gameplay footage, The trailer contained no gameplay footage, leaving the community to rely on early descriptions and concept art for visual expectations.
• Platform performance, How the game handles eight-player PvPvE sessions on the Switch 2 hardware, especially in terms of frame rate, resolution, and latency, is a major unknown.
• Release date, The game still lacks a confirmed release date, with only a 2026 window that grows tighter as summer passes.
• Switch Online requirement, The Nintendo Switch Online subscription requirement, while reported, has not been officially confirmed. If required, it will add a subscription cost for players who want to participate.
• Scaling from original development, The game’s original development on the original Switch raises questions about how well the Switch 2 version scales, especially if the foundation was built for less powerful hardware. FromSoftware has shown it can optimize for limited systems (see Dark Souls Remastered on Switch), but an eight-player online action game is a different challenge.
• Identity beyond Soulsborne, The Duskbloods must carve out its own identity alongside Elden Ring Nightreign and the core Soulsborne series. Miyazaki’s involvement suggests it will be more than a derivative spin-off, but until we see gameplay, the jury is out.

The Network Test Is Just the Beginning

The closed network test for The Duskbloods is a welcome sign of life after a long, quiet year. It confirms that FromSoftware and Nintendo are treating this exclusive as a major multiplayer experiment, a rare, dedicated venture from a studio better known for its solitary, punishing worlds, and the first of its kind on a Nintendo home console in 23 years. For now, fans should keep an eye on the horizon for the sign-up announcement, which could arrive at any moment. The test itself will likely be our first real glimpse at how Miyazaki’s vision for a PvPvE arena actually plays, and whether it can stand alongside his most celebrated works. Until then, the wait continues, but at least there is a concrete milestone to look forward to this summer.