TOKYO, August 21, 2026, 12:16 JST — FromSoftware will open its first public test of The Duskbloods at 19:00 JST Friday. The five-session trial gives selected Nintendo Co. (TYO:7974) Switch 2 owners 20 hours of access.
The test matters because combat is not the only route forward. Players earn “virtue” through exploration, item collection, weaker enemies, bosses and special objectives.
Fresh hands-on reporting describes four-phase matches for eight players. Low scorers are removed between phases, while deaths usually leave accumulated virtue intact.
That structure tests a clear commercial bet. FromSoftware wants competitive multiplayer to work for players who avoid direct PvP.
“We really just want as many players to enjoy our games as possible,” director Hidetaka Miyazaki said. He described indirect competition as an entryway into PvP. Miyazaki interview
| Session | Pacific time | Central European time | Japan time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug. 21, 03:00–07:00 PDT | Aug. 21, 12:00–16:00 CEST | Aug. 21, 19:00–23:00 JST |
| 2 | Aug. 21, 19:00–23:00 PDT | Aug. 22, 04:00–08:00 CEST | Aug. 22, 11:00–15:00 JST |
| 3 | Aug. 22, 11:00–15:00 PDT | Aug. 22, 20:00–Aug. 23, 00:00 CEST | Aug. 23, 03:00–07:00 JST |
| 4 | Aug. 23, 03:00–07:00 PDT | Aug. 23, 12:00–16:00 CEST | Aug. 23, 19:00–23:00 JST |
| 5 | Aug. 23, 19:00–23:00 PDT | Aug. 24, 04:00–08:00 CEST | Aug. 24, 11:00–15:00 JST |
The schedule spreads play across three Pacific dates and four European dates. It also concentrates traffic into five identical four-hour windows.
New applications are closed. Access requires the linked Nintendo Account used during registration, a Switch 2 and an active Nintendo Switch Online membership.
| Access item | Network test status | Reader impact |
|---|---|---|
| Applications | Closed July 28 | No late entry announced |
| Selection | First-come order; status posted Aug. 7 | Only selected accounts can join |
| Game data | Distributed from Aug. 18 | Preload before a session |
| Hardware | Nintendo Switch 2 | Original Switch unsupported |
| Online service | Active Nintendo Switch Online required | Membership sold separately |
| Schedule changes | Possible without notice | Recheck before launch |
The preview build matches the network-test version, according to the hands-on report. It offers six Bloodsworn, each with distinct weapons, movement and abilities.
The full game is broader. Miyazaki previously confirmed more than a dozen characters, deeper customization and story fragments tied to character histories.
| Capability | Network-test build | Full release |
|---|---|---|
| Playable characters | Six in the reported preview | More than 12 confirmed |
| Match size | Up to eight online players | Up to eight online players |
| Story systems | Major elements omitted | Character-linked story planned |
| Customization | Most features omitted | Expanded system planned |
| End conditions | Preview matches ended in combat | Other outcomes include a joint boss fight |
| Availability | Five closed sessions | Worldwide in 2026 |
| Price | Not stated separately | Not announced |
The Duskbloods began as an original Switch project in 2021. Miyazaki said Switch 2 solved technical problems and enabled the online design.
The product page lists one local player and one-to-eight online players. It still gives only a 2026 release window, with no firm date or price.
Elden Ring’s sales above 30 million gave the studio more confidence, Miyazaki said. The Duskbloods now applies that confidence to a platform exclusive and an unfamiliar genre.
The timing is deliberate. This closed test measures whether varied scoring can soften competitive multiplayer without removing its pressure.
Risks: The build is unfinished, access is narrow and bugs are expected. Balance, available characters and final systems may change before release.
For Nintendo, the upside is strategic. A difficult third-party exclusive could widen Switch 2’s audience beyond familiar first-party franchises.
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