Hidetaka Miyazaki, president of FromSoftware and director of titles like Elden Ring and Bloodborne, has shared insights into the studio's upcoming Nintendo Switch exclusive, The Duskbloods. In a recent interview, Miyazaki detailed the game's unconventional inspirations, its multiplayer focus, and the reasoning behind its partnership with Nintendo.
The Duskbloods, described as a PvPvE game, draws heavily from tabletop role-playing games and competitive multiplayer concepts that did not fit into FromSoftware's previous single-player titles. Miyazaki explained that a significant wellspring of ideas came from unused concepts for competitive multiplayer from games like Demon's Souls and the Dark Souls series. "Over time, a lot of those ideas piled up, things that you wish you could have done here and there," Miyazaki stated. "Having an outlet for them, somewhere we can find a place where they all fit, or can be made to fit specifically in that multiplayer context, is something that was always at the forefront of my mind."
Two key systems exemplify the TTRPG influence: the Virtue system and the Sigil system. The Virtue system functions similarly to victory points found in board games, offering a less direct path to success than pure player-versus-player combat. "It's not directly a PvP thing," Miyazaki noted. The Sigil system, on the other hand, is reminiscent of TTRPG mechanics where dice rolls determine character aspects, but FromSoftware aims to expand this by influencing player relationships and other elements beyond the scope of traditional tabletop experiences.
The partnership with Nintendo for a Switch exclusive emerged from an initial pitch to the company. Miyazaki found Nintendo's receptiveness and forward-thinking approach to the game's concept highly appealing. He also highlighted Nintendo's strengths in conveying complex game mechanics to players, an area where FromSoftware has historically struggled. "We've definitely just dropped players in and hoped they would figure it out," Miyazaki admitted, contrasting it with Nintendo's ability to create understandable tutorials and onboarding processes, which he believes is crucial for a game as complex as The Duskbloods.
Miyazaki addressed concerns about The Duskbloods' potentially high barrier to entry for multiplayer games. He emphasized that the game is designed with a variety of playstyles in mind, catering to players who may not be adept at intense PvP. While a co-op final phase exists, players will still encounter PvP encounters. However, character customization, including the ability to emphasize computer-controlled companions called 'Kin,' is intended to allow players to take a more supportive role. "There will definitely be a section of the customization that caters towards that playstyle for people who don't want to necessarily always be in an intense PVP thing," he said.
For players who do enjoy PvP, Miyazaki confirmed plans for a system akin to the Invasion mechanics in previous FromSoftware titles, allowing an additional player to join an ongoing match with the sole objective of engaging in PvP. "Systems like that are something we definitely have planned, and I think for those who that's their itch, hopefully that will scratch it to the extent that you've mentioned," he stated.
Regarding post-launch support, FromSoftware plans to provide ongoing bug fixes and balancing, drawing on experience from multiplayer titles like Elden Ring: Nightreign. However, a specific content roadmap is not yet available. Miyazaki also indicated a willingness to adapt the game based on player feedback, acknowledging that the complexity of The Duskbloods means even the developers may not foresee all player interactions and preferences.
Storytelling in The Duskbloods, while multiplayer-focused, will also be a key element. Beyond NPC interactions and cutscenes in hub areas like The House of Night, the narrative will be woven into character customization and gameplay through the 'Bloodlines' system. This system aims to reveal character relationships and story elements through multiplayer matches, unlocking unique dialogue and scenarios. "You can just jump into an online match and still find things out about the story unexpectedly in some cases," Miyazaki explained, seeing it as a natural fit for the multiplayer format.
Miyazaki reiterated that FromSoftware's core motivation remains creating games they themselves wish to play, rather than strictly adhering to industry trends. The decision to develop consecutive multiplayer titles, The Duskbloods and Elden Ring: Nightreign, was largely coincidental, stemming from a backlog of ideas suitable for online play. He affirmed that the studio's commitment to single-player games remains strong, suggesting a cyclical nature where developing multiplayer experiences can inspire future single-player projects and vice-versa.