FromSoftware's next title, The Duskbloods, is steeped in influences drawn from vampire literature and tabletop gaming. A significant, albeit indirect, source of inspiration for the game's lore, aesthetic, and world-building is the work of George R.R. Martin, the author famed for A Song of Ice and Fire.
While Martin did not hold a direct role in The Duskbloods' development, his passion for vampire fiction has resonated with the studio. "Vampire stuff in general is something I’m very passionate about and enjoy reading a lot," one developer stated. "There’s definitely a bit of that that has rubbed off on me over time." Specific literary works cited include Vampire: The Masquerade, George R.R. Martin's own Fevre Dream, and Kim Newman's Dracula Cha-Cha-Cha. The influences are described as indirect, stemming from a long-standing appreciation for modern vampire literature that has organically seeped into the game's design.
Fevre Dream, published in 1982, depicts a dichotomy within vampire society, featuring cruel beings who treat humans as livestock alongside a newer faction advocating for coexistence. Martin's prior collaboration with FromSoftware on Elden Ring saw him contribute to the extensive 5,000-year history of that game's world. Despite his involvement in the foundational lore of Elden Ring, Martin has stated he has never played the game himself.
The Duskbloods is being developed as a PvPvE title with an elegantly gothic presentation, and it is slated to be a Nintendo Switch exclusive.