The Duskbloods: FromSoftware's Switch 2 Exclusive Stumbles at Launch

The Reveal: A New Direction for FromSoftware

The Duskbloods was first shown to the press on August 20, 2026, with a wave of hands-on previews from outlets including The Verge, GameSpot, and IGN. The game was immediately described as a radical departure for FromSoftware, blending PvPvE elements with a vampire-themed setting. GameSpot ran seven separate articles at the zero-hour mark, covering everything from gameplay impressions to an interview with Hidetaka Miyazaki, who admitted that 'maybe PvPvE wasn't the best way to refer to it.' The Verge called it 'the Switch 2’s wildest new exclusive,' while IGN emphasized its multiplayer focus.

Polygon revealed the full character list, and VGC noted that Miyazaki was 'stepping into the unknown.' The initial coverage was overwhelmingly positive, with GameRant publishing multiple previews calling it 'PEAK FromSoftware in a New Package.' The game's influences were also a hot topic: GameSpot reported that it had 'some George R.R. Martin in its blood,' while Siliconera explored how vampires shaped the characters. The press was clearly excited, but the tone would soon shift.

Miyazaki Clarifies Misconceptions

In the hours following the reveal, Miyazaki gave several interviews that sought to clarify the game's nature. Speaking to GameSpot, he said the reveal 'probably gave fans the wrong impression,' and he 'almost regret[ted] putting the word Blood in the title' to avoid comparisons to Bloodborne, as GamesRadar+ reported. He emphasized that The Duskbloods was not a PvP-only game, telling GameRant that there were 'customization options for non-PvP fans.' Later, GamesRadar+ quoted him saying he 'sucks at PvP too,' reassuring players they didn't need to be experts to win.

Miyazaki also addressed the game's exclusivity to Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo Everything reported that FromSoftware explained the partnership, and GamesRadar+ later quoted Miyazaki saying Nintendo was the 'right partner' and 'very receptive' to the weird idea. He also confirmed that FromSoftware was 'keen to return to single-player games' after The Duskbloods and Elden Ring: Nightreign, as Eurogamer reported. These clarifications seemed designed to manage expectations, but the next day would bring a very different kind of story.

The Leak That Wasn't

Just over an hour after the initial previews, a rumor emerged about the game's release date. Nintendo Life reported that 'The Duskbloods Might Be Out A Lot Sooner Than You Think,' citing a September 24 launch. TheGamer followed up with 'The Duskbloods Release Date Has Seemingly Leaked,' and DualShockers speculated that September would be 'even more packed.' The rumor spread quickly, but Eurogamer soon poured cold water on it, reporting that Nintendo had denied the September 24 date.

GamesRadar+ noted that Nintendo's denial was 'the least convincing way possible,' leaving the door open for a different September release. The back-and-forth highlighted the intense interest in the game, but it was a minor distraction compared to what was about to happen. By the time the network test was announced, the press had already moved on to the next big story: the test itself.

Network Test Disaster

The first closed network test for The Duskbloods was scheduled to begin at 11am BST on August 21, but it quickly turned into a fiasco. GamesRadar+ reported that the servers 'buckled as the first closed network test struggled to support the onslaught of fans.' Eurogamer quoted FromSoftware's advice to 'sit closer to your router or use an ethernet cable,' but it wasn't enough. By the time the session was supposed to end, players were still stuck at the main menu. Kotaku reported that FromSoftware 'gave up' after two hours of failed logins.

Nintendo Life described the session as 'closed after disastrous server issues,' with FromSoftware issuing a statement: 'We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.' IGN noted that the company 'sincerely apologized' and ended the first slot early. Polygon called it 'already a flop,' and GameSpot confirmed the test was shut down, leaving the upcoming schedule 'in flux.' The press coverage shifted from excitement to frustration, with Destructoid summing it up as 'a rocky start.' The network test had become the story.

The Aftermath and What's Next

In the wake of the network test failure, the press focused on what this meant for the game's future. VGC reported that FromSoftware had responded to the errors, and Siliconera noted that an instruction manual had been shared. TheGamer called it 'a horrible start,' while GameRant echoed the sentiment. The incident dominated coverage for the rest of the day, with outlets like DualShockers and Nintendo Everything providing updates. The question on everyone's mind was whether the next test session would fare better.

Despite the server issues, the core excitement for The Duskbloods remained. PC Gamer's 'decade-plus FromSoftware sicko' offered five takeaways from the gameplay, and IGN included it in a roundup of previews. The game's unique blend of vampire lore, PvPvE mechanics, and FromSoftware's signature design still had the press intrigued. But the network test had exposed a vulnerability: could the studio handle the scale of a multiplayer-focused Switch 2 exclusive? The answer, for now, was a resounding 'not yet.'

Why It Matters

The Duskbloods represents a major gamble for FromSoftware. As VGC noted, Miyazaki is 'stepping into the unknown' with a game that is neither a Soulslike nor a single-player experience. The Switch 2 exclusivity, explained by Nintendo's receptiveness to the idea, makes it a key title for Nintendo's new console. The network test failure, while embarrassing, is not uncommon for online games, but it does raise questions about FromSoftware's experience with multiplayer infrastructure. The press coverage reflects a mix of admiration for the ambition and concern about the execution.

The story also highlights the speed of modern games journalism. Within 28 hours, the narrative went from unbridled enthusiasm to cautious skepticism. The initial wave of previews from The Verge, GameSpot, and IGN set a high bar, but the network test crash, covered by Kotaku, Eurogamer, and others, brought it back down to earth. Whether The Duskbloods can recover from this rocky start will depend on how FromSoftware handles the next test and the eventual launch. For now, it's a cautionary tale about the perils of hype.

How it spread

• +0h — The Verge First hands-on preview, calling it 'the Switch 2’s wildest new exclusive.'
• +0h — GameSpot Miyazaki interview clarifying 'PvPvE' terminology and addressing fan impressions.
• +0h — Polygon Reveals the full character list.
• +1.4h — TheGamer Reports a leaked September 24 release date.
• +1.5h — Eurogamer Nintendo denies the September 24 date.
• +20.8h — GamesRadar+ First report of network test server issues.
• +21.1h — Eurogamer FromSoftware advises players to sit closer to their router.
• +22.3h — Nintendo Life Confirms the network test session was closed early due to server issues.

Who stayed out of it

Publishing during the same window but absent from this story: Rock Paper Shotgun, Massively OP, Dexerto – Games, Push Square, Pure Xbox, Time Extension, GamingOnLinux, The Escapist, RPGamer, Game Developer, Xbox Wire, PlayStation Blog, Gematsu.

Evidence

Every claim below was checked against the outlet reports it cites by a separate pass instructed to disprove it. 1 further claim could not be grounded and was removed.

• The Duskbloods is a Switch 2 exclusive. — The Verge – Gaming, GameSpot, GameRant, Nintendo Everything, GamesRadar+
• The game is not PvP-only; it has options for non-PvP fans. — GameSpot, GameRant, GamesRadar+
• The Duskbloods is unrelated to Bloodborne. — GamesRadar+
• The first network test session was marred by server issues and ended early. — GamesRadar+, Eurogamer, DualShockers, Nintendo Life, Kotaku, Nintendo Everything, VGC, GameSpot, Polygon, Siliconera, TheGamer, IGN, Destructoid, GameRant

Written by TDGN from 54 outlet reports using a local model, then fact-checked against those reports before publishing. We link the outlets rather than reproducing their reporting.