FromSoftware's Duskbloods Switch 2 Exclusive Is a Complex PvPvE Multiplayer Game
FromSoftware's next game is a major departure. Per IGN, The Duskbloods is a multiplayer-only Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive that blends Souls-style combat with competitive phases, tabletop rules, and a pile of ideas the developer had previously been unable to use.
Matches involve eight players selecting a character called a Bloodsworn. Each match has three phases where players earn Virtue points through various objectives, like killing AI enemies, collecting items, or completing unique character-specific Sigils. The bottom performers are eliminated after each phase, culminating in a final three-player PvP brawl under a blood-red sky.
A key feature is the Ritual Site event. In the later phases, a zone appears with capture points, turning the match into a tense King-of-the-Hill scramble. Capturing a point takes time, leaving you open to attack from other players or enemies, and they can steal your captured point. This is also the only area where players earn points for killing each other.
In an interview with IGN, director Hidetaka Miyazaki explained the game's origins. He said it stemmed from a collection of multiplayer concepts that never fit into the studio's previous single-player titles. He cited board games as an influence for the victory-point-like Virtue system and tabletop RPGs for the character-specific Sigil objectives.
Miyazaki told VGC that he pitched the concept to Nintendo, who were excited and receptive. He noted the partnership is key for balancing the complex systems and creating better tutorials, an area where FromSoftware has historically been hands-off. He also assured fans the studio is not moving away from single-player games.
