FromSoftware opens sign-ups for The Duskbloods network test on Switch 2
FromSoftware has announced the network test dates for The Duskbloods, its Switch 2-exclusive multiplayer action game. The test runs August 21–24, 2026, and registration closes July 22. This is the first chance players outside Japan will have to see whether the studio's big online bet actually holds up under real traffic.
The format
The Duskbloods is a significant departure for FromSoftware. Where Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring are built around solo exploration, this game is multiplayer-only — and requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to play. Director Hidetaka Miyazaki has confirmed he remains involved, and the studio says single-player titles are still in development, but Duskbloods itself has no offline mode.
Matches accommodate up to eight players in a PvPvE format — that means players fight both AI enemies and each other simultaneously. Each player enters a session with a secret personal objective, procedurally assigned. Those objectives may align or directly conflict with other players' goals, so any alliance is situational. Win conditions are also randomized. It is closer to a session-based competitive game than anything FromSoftware has shipped before, and fans of traditional souls-like design may find the format disorienting.
The primary purpose of the test is server load: FromSoftware wants to verify infrastructure stability before the holiday window. Balance and core mechanics will also be observed.
We will be hosting a network test for The Duskbloods on Nintendo Switch 2 from Aug. 21 (Fri.) - Aug. 24 (Mon.). Participant registration will begin on July 22 (Wed. ).
— The Duskbloods (@TheDuskbloods) July 15, 2026
To all prospective Bloodsworn, we eagerly await your participation in the coming Dusk Battles. pic.twitter.com/07qZkfxP6z
Test schedule (European CEST / US equivalents)
European windows for the network test are:
- August 21 — 12:00–15:59 CEST (6:00–9:59 AM ET) - August 22 — 04:00–07:59 CEST (10:00 PM–1:59 AM ET) and 20:00–23:59 CEST (2:00–5:59 PM ET) - August 23 — 12:00–15:59 CEST (6:00–9:59 AM ET) - August 24 — 04:00–07:59 CEST (10:00 PM–1:59 AM ET)
What comes next
The full game is scheduled for 2026 exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2, with Nintendo and FromSoftware splitting regional sales responsibilities, per Video Games Chronicle. Switch 2 is already Nintendo's fastest-selling console launch, so there is a ready audience — the question the August test will answer is whether The Duskbloods' online infrastructure can match it. More details on the eight-player mechanics are available via Wikipedia.
