Full Breakdown
FromSoftware’s “The Duskbloods” Closed Network Test Set for August 2026
8/20/2026, 9:30:41 PM
Core Event: Closed Network Test Launch (August 21-24 2026)
- The test runs from Friday, August 21, 2026 through the early hours of Monday, August 24, 2026, in five four-hour sessions. [Mirror]
- Selected participants were notified of acceptance on August 7. [Mirror]
- The application window opened on July 22 and closed on July 28. [Mirror]
Background & Context
- *The Duskbloods* is FromSoftware’s first PvPvE action title, exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2, announced after the commercial breakthrough of Elden Ring (2022). [The Verge]
- Development began in 2021, initially for the first Switch before migrating to its successor. [The Verge]
- The game blends the studio’s dark-fantasy aesthetic with competitive multiplayer: eight-player matches, AI enemies, and a currency called Virtue that rewards combat, exploration, and tactical actions. [Guardian; Mirror]
Data & Statistics
- Each test match accommodates eight players. [Mirror]
- The test version includes six playable characters; leaks suggest the full release will feature 14 distinct starting classes. [Mirror; GamingBible]
- Players earn Virtue through battle, exploration, and “tactical manoeuvres.” [Mirror]
Official Statements & Responses
- Game director Hidetaka Miyazaki explained that many multiplayer ideas “didn’t fit” single-player games and were saved for this project. “There are a lot of ideas that we had wanted to try that didn’t necessarily fit in that context of a single-player game,” — Hidetaka Miyazaki, game director
- “We really just want as many players to enjoy our games as possible,” — Hidetaka Miyazaki, game director
- FromSoftware stated the test’s purpose is to “verify gameplay” while testing server stability and gathering balance data. [Mirror]
On-the-Ground Reports
- A leaked gameplay clip posted on Bilibili (reported by Eurogamer and Altchar) showed the final three-player showdown on a rooftop under a red moon, featuring double-jump attacks and a temporary velociraptor transformation.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The test guide lists six playable characters, whereas leaked information enumerates 14 starting classes for the full game. It is unclear which of the leaked classes will be available at launch.
- No public details have been provided about the final release date beyond the year 2026.
Verbatim Quotes
What’s Next
- The full version of *The Duskbloods* is slated for release sometime in 2026, with the exact launch window not yet announced. [Mirror]
