FromSoftware's The Duskbloods drew more network test applicants than Elden Ring Nightreign — on a single platform
FromSoftware's upcoming Switch 2 exclusive The Duskbloods pulled in more applications for its closed network test than Elden Ring Nightreign did for its own — despite reaching only a fraction of the platforms.
Producer Yasuhiro Kitao revealed the figure during a Famitsu livestream, according to Eurogamer. He said the team was surprised by the response. A network test, for the uninitiated, is a limited pre-release session where a developer stress-tests online infrastructure with real players before launch — and not everyone who signs up gets in.
The comparison is what makes the number striking. Elden Ring Nightreign's network test ran on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with the full game also releasing on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. The Duskbloods, by contrast, is exclusive to Nintendo's Switch 2, a console that has been on the market for a matter of months and carries a far smaller installed base than the combined platforms Nightreign targets.
The Duskbloods is a vampire-themed PvPvE game — meaning players fight each other and computer-controlled enemies in the same matches. It does not yet have a release date. The network test concluded on 24 August 2026.
It was not without hiccups. The first session of the test ended abruptly following major connectivity issues, though later sessions ran more smoothly, Eurogamer reported. Sign-ups were required ahead of time, as with Nightreign's test, and invitations were not guaranteed.
For context, Elden Ring Nightreign's network test application window ran from 10 January 2025 to 20 January 2025. Kitao did not share exact application counts for either test, only the relative comparison.
Kitao also said the studio now wonders whether The Duskbloods could see more day-one players than expected, given the level of interest the test attracted despite the Switch 2's smaller player base. The comment was a question, not a forecast — FromSoftware has not announced sales targets or a launch date.
What stands out here is the signal, not just the number. A first-party-style exclusive on a young platform outdrawing a multi-platform test from one of gaming's biggest franchises suggests the Switch 2 audience is showing up for premium, online-focused titles in numbers that caught even the developer off guard. Whether that interest holds through to a full launch — whenever that comes — is a question The Duskbloods will answer on its own terms.
