The Duskbloods Network Test Is Live — and It's Only Half the Game
From Software has switched on the global network test for The Duskbloods, its upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, running from August 21 to 24. The test gives players their first hands-on taste of a PvPvE multiplayer action game — that is, a mode where up to eight players fight each other and against computer-controlled threats at the same time — but it is a deliberately small slice of what the final game will offer.
According to VGC's breakdown, the network test includes only one of three maps planned for launch and six of ten characters. Customisation is absent entirely. Story content is absent. The lore that director Hidetaka Miyazaki says will rival his single-player titles like Elden Ring and Bloodborne in volume? Barely present. The test fixes each player's loadout — the weapons and skills they carry into a match — while the full game promises deep personalisation of characters called Bloodsworn.
In the finished version, players will earn rewards through Dusk Battles, unlock customisation elements, and advance the story in a hub area called the House of Night. They will choose which weapons and skills their Bloodsworn takes into each match. They can even influence which events appear more frequently — for instance, nudging the final phase of a match toward a boss battle where three players team up, rather than a free-for-all.
Miyazaki has said the final-phase boss battles will differ from the enemies already roaming the game world, and that the shift to cooperation between players is a deliberate design choice. The game's matchmaking, meanwhile, looks at player tendencies and tries to group like-minded people together — so players who prefer boss endings may find themselves matched with others who feel the same.
From Software has cautioned that balance and other aspects may change before release. The amount of Virtue — an in-match reward — awarded for certain actions is subject to adjustment, as are weapons and skills. The network test is a work-in-progress snapshot, not a finished product.
The Bloodsworn themselves are not blank avatars. Each has a background, personality, and setting, with relationships defined by blood families and blood ties. Miyazaki claims the final game will carry a comparable amount of text and lore to his single-player work, and said lore elements are a focus for the full release.
For fans, the gap between test and final game is wide enough to matter. The network test is a server stress check and a teaser, not a representative demo. Players getting their hands on The Duskbloods this weekend are seeing the skeleton — the combat mechanics, the online infrastructure, the basic flow of a match — without most of the flesh that Miyazaki and his team say is coming.
The Duskbloods is due for release sometime in 2026, exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2. FromSoftware's website lists online multiplayer for up to eight players, with lobbies allowing up to nine including spectators. The full character roster, the remaining two maps, the customisation system, the House of Night hub, and the lore are all waiting for launch.
