After the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct this week, fans have had more questions regarding FromSoftware’s The Duskbloods, and today, FromSoftware has answered some.
On Nintendo’s Creator’s Voice blog, FromSoftware Game Director Hidetaka Miyazaki took to the internet to answer fans’ burning questions regarding the recently revealed, The Duskbloods. First and foremost, the new FromSoftware multiplayer title has been confirmed as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive title. But, aside from confirmation of platform exclusivity, Miyazaki outlined a wealth of new details surrounding the new in-development title. The reveal trailer for The Duskbloods can be seen below, in case you missed it.
Miyazaki revealed the fundamental game design for the Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, saying “In terms of structure, we consider it a PvPvE title. At its core, it’s an online multiplayer-focused game, with both player vs player and player vs enemy gameplay,” adding that he always wanted to make a game in this style considering the design ramifications of having both CPU and player enemies on screen at once.
Miyazaki did say “As a side note, please allow me to address one thing. As previously mentioned, this is an online multiplayer title at its core, but this doesn’t mean that we as a company have decided to shift to a more multiplayer-focused direction with titles going forward” to ease die-hard fan worries. He also mentioned the announcement of Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition as proof the company will continue to prioritize single-player titles moving forward.
The Duskbloods allows players to step into the role of Bloodsworn (the title’s namesake), and Miyazaki describes them as “a group whose members have achieved super-human abilities through the power of special blood,” they’re like vampires but less monstrous than their Stoker-brethren. Bloodsworn are brought to The Duskbloods to compete in the Twilight of Humanity for “First Blood,” and while First Blood flows through this event, its significance was kept secret during the Creator Voice session.
The Duskbloods Key Features
- Players will embody the Bloodsworn, and they possess superhuman abilities thanks to special blood. There are over a dozen Bloodsworn characters for players to choose from, and they’re customizable.
- Multiple victory conditions can occur. Matches can be last man standing, or players may need to team up to defeat a particularly nasty boss.
- Gameplay loop includes starting a match from the general hub area (not further detailed yet), and upon conclusion of the match, players return to the hub. This is where rewards are doled out, whether players win or lose.
- Online multiplayer supports up to 8 players.
- “Victory Points” are responsible for deciding the outcome of a match. To obtain Victory Points, direct combat is not the only way, and players can earn points by avoiding direct combat and instead engaging in more opportunistic behaviour (helping where it counts, etc). How players earn points is up to the individual.
- Ultimate goal: obtain First Blood in a match.
- Like other FromSoftware titles, The Duskbloods leaves fragments and lore of the game’s world around for players to find.
- Players will have to fill certain roles, which are responsibilities and objectives that can lead to unique interactions between players based on their corresponding roles. Miyazaki likened it to TTRPG role-playing.
Fans searching for the full interview can head to the Nintendo Creator Voices blog. While the Nintendo Switch 2 launches on June 5, The Duskbloods still has a TBD release date.
