Duskbloods release date of 2026 is still on the cards, and FromSoftware is giving fans the chance to play it in August, with a network test on Nintendo Switch 2 that will give the servers a good kick before launch.
It’s no secret that the first year of the Nintendo Switch 2 lacks exclusive must-haves, with Pokémon Pokopia and Donkey Kong Bananza carrying the program on their backs. There is one third-party game that fans have been dying to play, and it’s The Duskbloods, a multiplayer RPG by FromSoftware set in a gothic/industrial world similar to the one from Bloodborne.
While Nintendo and FromSoftware are still adamant that The Duskbloods will launch in 2026, there is no word on a release date, which is worrying, given how many games avoid a certain title in November. The game is yet to come, as the official The Duskbloods Twitter/X account has given new details about the upcoming Network pilot, which will launch in August.
How to Join the Duskbloods Network Test
The most important thing to note about The Duskbloods is that it’s a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, meaning FromSoftware fans on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox will have to settle for Elden Ring Nightreign if they want their multiplayer fix. Duskbloods is only on Nintendo Switch 2, and with the console’s price going up in September, fans should consider buying it sooner rather than later.
To register for The Duskbloods Network Test, players will need a Nintendo Account and will have to register through the event’s official website, where they will be asked to provide their country of residence and language. Registration will start on July 22 (Wednesday) at 16:00 CEST and end on July 28 (Tuesday) at 15:59 CEST. Fans will be notified if they have been selected on August 7 (Friday) at 15:00 CEST.
Duskbloods is only on Nintendo Switch 2, and with the console’s price going up in September, fans should consider buying it sooner rather than later.
The Network Test itself is set to run at certain times and on certain days, from August 21-24. The dates and times for The Duskbloods Network Test are:
|
The day |
Time |
|---|---|
|
August 21st |
12:00 to 16:00 CEST |
|
August 22 |
04:00 to 08:00 CEST |
|
August 22 |
20:00 to 00:00 CEST |
|
August 23 |
12:00 to 16:00 CEST |
|
August 24 |
04:00 to 08:00 CEST |
The purpose of Network Testing is to see how the game performs, how the servers hold up under pressure, and to give developers the opportunity to fine-tune the gameplay balance of certain moves and weapons. Each game can accommodate up to 8 players, and FromSoftware warns that bugs may occur differently.
It will be interesting to finally see what Duskbloods is made of, as while the game had an amazing first trailer, nothing has been shown since then. Fans are worried that it will suffer the same fate as Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition and will struggle to run on the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware, despite being developed for the system.
If the Duskbloods Network Test works well, it shouldn’t be too long until the game starts. The big question then is whether FromSoftware’s next big game will be pushed to 2027 or face the titan that is Grand Theft Auto 6 at the end of the year.
