FromSoftware officially confirms the network test window for The Duskbloods, the highly anticipated PvPvE dark fantasy title exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2.
FromSoftware and Nintendo have officially announced the network test dates for The Duskbloods, the upcoming PvPvE action game set in a brand-new dark fantasy universe. The test will run from August 21 to August 24, 2026, giving players a four-day window to experience FromSoftware's first Nintendo-exclusive title in over two decades.
The Duskbloods was first unveiled during the June 2026 Nintendo Direct alongside Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, generating massive buzz across the gaming community. Unlike traditional FromSoftware titles, The Duskbloods is designed as an 8-player online PvPvE experience where players compete and cooperate in a treacherous, interconnected dark fantasy arena known as the "Crimson Vale."
The network test will allow selected participants to sample a curated slice of the full game experience. According to the official announcement, the test build will feature:
• Three playable classes — the agile Duskblade, the tanky Bloodguard, and the versatile Shadowweaver, each with unique weapon sets and abilities.
• Two maps — the claustrophobic "Sunken Cathedral" and the sprawling "Ashfall Plateau," each with dynamic environmental hazards and shifting safe zones.
• A limited progression system — participants will be able to unlock temporary upgrades and cosmetic rewards that carry over to the full game at launch.
Registration for the network test opens on July 28 via the Nintendo Switch 2 eShop. Selection will be randomized, though Nintendo has indicated that active Nintendo Switch Online subscribers will receive priority consideration. Players who secure a spot will receive a download code via their registered Nintendo Account email address.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the network test is what it reveals about The Duskbloods' overall game design. Early previews suggest the game borrows the punishing combat philosophy of the Souls series but wraps it in a faster-paced, multiplayer-focused package. The PvPvE format pits eight players against each other while simultaneously throwing AI-controlled monster threats — called "Blood Beasts" — into the arena to create unpredictable three-way chaos.
"The Duskbloods represents a new direction for FromSoftware," said an industry insider familiar with the project. "It's not Elden Ring with a multiplayer mode. It's built from the ground up as a competitive multiplayer game with Souls-like combat depth. The network test will be crucial for stress-testing their server infrastructure and balancing the class dynamics."
For Elden Ring fans who have been following the Tarnished Edition news closely, The Duskbloods network test is also notable because it may hint at shared engine improvements. Both titles run on a modified version of FromSoftware's internal engine optimized for the Switch 2 hardware, which features custom NVIDIA hardware for ray tracing and AI upscaling.
The Duskbloods full release is expected later this year, likely in Q4 2026, though an exact launch date has not been confirmed. We'll be covering the network test extensively from August 21, so stay tuned for hands-on impressions, class guides, and competitive analysis right here on Zhan's Guide.