Nintendo Switch 2 owners are set to get their first taste of The Duskbloods, the enigmatic new game from the creators of Elden Ring and Dark Souls. Exclusively available on Nintendo's latest console, a special network test event is giving selected fans an early look.
The Duskbloods Network Test Countdown, Dates and Times
Developed by FromSoftware, The Duskbloods is a multiplayer action game featuring vampire-like characters called the Bloodsworn, who are competing for 'First Blood'. Players have to hunt wandering foes and survive combat against other Bloodsworn in order to emerge victorious from the Dusk Battle.
Gameplay takes place with eight players online and involves PvP and PvE aspects. Matches have four phases, and only the top three players will survive to the final battle.
Interested gamers had to go through an application process that opened on Wednesday, July 22 and closed on Tuesday, July 28. Selected players were informed on Friday, August 7 if they had been successful or not in gaining a place on the test.
The idea behind the event is, according to FromSoftware, to "verify gameplay" while testing the game server. It also aims to test for problems that happen during online matches and provide developers data about game balancing.
Players who have successfully signed up will need to have redeemed a code and downloaded the network test version of the game. A Nintendo Switch Online membership is also required to play.
Session Schedule for Selected Players
The Duskbloods network test will take place from Friday, August 21 until the early hours of Monday, August 24. The global event is split into five sessions across the weekend, with the first at 3am PDT on Friday.
That translates to a start time of 11am for British players, but the sessions only last four hours each. The full schedule for Nintendo gamers selected to take part is below:
- Friday, August 21: 11am to 3pm BST (3am to 7am PDT)
- Saturday, August 22: 3am to 7am BST (7pm to 11pm PDT, August 21)
- Saturday, August 22: 7pm to 11pm BST (11am to 3pm PDT)
- Sunday, August 23: 11am to 3pm BST (3am to 7am PDT)
- Monday, August 24: 3am to 7am BST (7pm to 11pm PDT, August 23)
Expected Content for Early Access Weekend
According to a new gameplay guide released by FromSoftware, the test version of The Duskbloods will see players take on the role of a member of a bloodline and engage in fierce battles against other bloodlines in the Twilight War.
Six playable characters will be available in the network test version, all of whom have Bloodsworn skills that will be customisable in the final game. Each of the Bloodsworn possess superhuman abilities and fight with melee or ranged combat weapons.
One map is included in the network test; Lowanro City. This is one of the Lands of Dusk that will appear in the final version of The Duskbloods.
Players survive by earning 'Virtue', which can be obtained through battle, exploration and "tactical manoeuvres". More information about how to gather Virtue can be found via The Duskbloods gameplay guide.
The network test for The Duskbloods will include eight-player online matches using an in-development build of the game. As such, bugs are expected to occur.
FromSoftware has warned that players "may not enjoy the game to its full potential". The content available is limited compared to the full game, as one might expect.
Capturing screenshots or videos of the network test is not allowed, and the capture button on Nintendo Switch 2 controllers will be disabled during gameplay. Game invites cannot be sent to friends during the test version and save data will not carryover to the full retail edition of The Duskbloods.
