FromSoftware is offering players the opportunity to go hands-on with its upcoming title, The Duskbloods, through a closed network test scheduled for late August. Sign-ups for this test will commence on July 22 at 7 a.m. PT and conclude on July 28 at 6:59 a.m. PT. Successful applicants will be notified on August 7 at 6:00 a.m. PT and will receive a download code for the network test.
The network test itself is set to run across multiple sessions: August 21st from 3:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. PT and again from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. PT; August 22nd from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. PT; and finally, August 23rd from 3:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. PT and 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. PT.
Participation in the network test requires a Nintendo Switch 2, as the game is exclusive to this platform. FromSoftware is also implementing measures to prevent the sharing of in-game content, explicitly forbidding screenshots and videos of the network test and planning to disable the Switch 2's capture button. The effectiveness of these restrictions remains to be seen.
The Duskbloods is described as a vampire-themed action game that supports up to eight players in a combined player-versus-player and player-versus-environment setting. Gameplay will involve matches with varying objectives based on the player's chosen character, with the goal of earning "Victory Points" to determine match outcomes. While details about the game's narrative and specific mechanics are still somewhat obscure, the unique blend of FromSoftware's signature challenge with multiplayer elements has generated significant curiosity. The game is expected to launch sometime in 2026.