FromSoftware’s new vampire-inspired game is The Duskbloods, an online PvPvE action game planned for Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026. Players take the roles of the Bloodsworn, superhuman figures shaped by special blood, and compete for “First Blood.” FromSoftware has not announced it as a Bloodborne sequel, and the official listing gives no exact release date.
What is The Duskbloods?
The Duskbloods is a new multiplayer action game announced by FromSoftware on April 2, 2025. FromSoftware and Nintendo are listed as its publishers, and the game is planned for worldwide release on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026. The official listing continues to give only the year, not a launch day.
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Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2) | $79.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Star Fox™ - Nintendo Switch 2 | $59.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo Switch 2) | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Pokémon Pokopia - Nintendo Switch 2 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Players control the Bloodsworn, superhuman characters who gained abilities through special blood. Director Hidetaka Miyazaki says the idea draws on romanticized aspects of vampires and blood rather than the conventional horrifying vampire archetype. The premise has the Bloodsworn competing for “First Blood” as humanity approaches its twilight. FromSoftware’s announcement and Miyazaki’s interview with Nintendo describe the game and its concept.
Is The Duskbloods Bloodborne 2?
No. The Duskbloods is a separate new game; neither the official announcement nor Miyazaki’s official interview presents it as Bloodborne 2. A hands-on report describes Gothic imagery that may remind players of Bloodborne and says Miyazaki explicitly described the game as unrelated. That is an aesthetic comparison, not evidence of shared characters, canon, or intellectual property. Eurogamer’s hands-on report attributes the clarification to Miyazaki.
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- Race from one course to another through interconnected paths that span the world
- Traverse mountains, forests, cities, and more—with shifting weather patterns and a day/night cycle
- Ride on rails, jump off walls, skim across water, and more as you race for the finish line
- Take on the adrenaline-packed Knockout Tour—a fierce 24-driver elimination mode
- Explore courses at your own pace and wander the world to discover fun surprises in Free Roam
Is it single-player or multiplayer?
It is an online multiplayer-focused game built around PvPvE: players can fight each other as well as computer-controlled enemies. FromSoftware announced support for up to eight players online. That is the stated maximum, not confirmation that every match or mode uses eight players.
Miyazaki described the format this way: “At its core, it’s an online multiplayer focused game, with both player vs player and player vs enemy gameplay.” He also said the project does not signal a company-wide move away from single-player games; FromSoftware still intends to develop single-player-focused games in its traditional style. Nintendo’s Creator’s Voice interview was published April 4, 2025.
Rank #2
- Blast off on a high-octane adventure to save a star system from invasion
- Tear through space, soar across planets, and shoot loads of foes out of the sky at every step of the way
- A cinematic take on the Star Fox 64 story, featuring fully voiced dialogue, an epic orchestral soundtrack, and a complete visual overhaul for the Nintendo Switch 2 system
- Enter first-person mode to experience the action from inside the cockpit, and even use mouse controls to fly
- Invite a second player* to join you as a gunner using Nintendo Switch 2 mouse controls
What are the setting and characters like?
The Bloodsworn’s world does not have one fixed era or location, according to Miyazaki. Examples he discussed include Gothic- or Victorian-style environments and a setting resembling the closing years of the early modern period. The vampire inspiration shapes the characters and atmosphere, but the announced premise is distinct from Bloodborne’s world.
When does The Duskbloods come out?
The announced window is 2026, and no exact date appears in the official game listing. A September 24, 2026 date circulated in a preview was reported as inaccurate after Nintendo told Eurogamer it had no release-date information. Treat the year-only window as the confirmed timing, rather than relying on that date. Nintendo’s official game page lists the 2026 window; Eurogamer reported Nintendo’s correction.
Rank #3
- Explore a vast underground world—by smashing your way through it!
- A brand-new 3D platforming action adventure starring Donkey Kong and Pauline
- Bash through just about anything in groundbreaking exploration! Crash through walls and carve tunnels—the more you smash, the more areas open up to you
- Pair up with Pauline to use Bananza Transformations: smash through obstacles with the raw strength of Kong form, gallop with incredible speed as a Zebra, and more
- Team up with a friend in two-player co-op as Donkey Kong and Pauline! Blast foes and terrain alike with Pauline’s voice as you explore together
Is The Duskbloods exclusive to Switch 2?
The official game page lists Nintendo Switch 2 as its platform. No other platform has been announced in the official materials referenced here, so the confirmed platform is Switch 2; that does not establish whether another version could be announced later.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does it require Nintendo Switch Online?
Nintendo’s official network-test page says online features require a Nintendo Account and Nintendo Switch Online membership. The same page listed a closed test period of August 21–24, 2026, dates that have passed. Its notice does not establish that every planned session ran smoothly or change the game’s release window. Check Nintendo’s current service and geographic terms for the applicable requirements. Nintendo’s network-test page has the stated online requirements.
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Rank #4
- Shape the world and build a cozy new life with Pokémon as a Ditto transformed to look like a human.
- Use other Pokémon’s moves, like Bulbasaur’s Leafage, to revitalize and navigate the world around you.
- Meet and befriend more Pokémon as you help nature flourish.
- Gather materials to create items and furniture, till the fields to grow delicious crops, build homes for the Pokémon you meet, and more—there’s so much to do!
- Experience a world with varied weather, real-time days and nights, and other surprises.
What FromSoftware has confirmed
| Question | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Title and developer | The Duskbloods, developed by FromSoftware. |
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2, according to the official game listing. |
| Release timing | Worldwide release planned for 2026; no exact date confirmed in the official listing. |
| Format | Online PvPvE multiplayer action game. |
| Player maximum | Up to eight online players, per FromSoftware’s April 2, 2025 announcement; this is a maximum, not a guarantee for every mode. |
| Playable characters | The Bloodsworn, superhuman characters inspired by romanticized vampire imagery. |
| Connection to Bloodborne | No sequel or shared continuity has been announced; a hands-on report attributes an explicit statement that the game is unrelated to Miyazaki. |
| Online requirements | Nintendo Account and Nintendo Switch Online membership, according to Nintendo’s network-test page. |
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