The Duskbloods closed network test begins in August for selected Switch 2 players

FromSoftware will hold a closed network test for The Duskbloods in August, giving selected Nintendo Switch 2 players an early chance to experience the studio’s upcoming multiplayer game.

Applications for the test will open on July 22, 2026. Invitations are expected to reach selected participants on August 7, while the actual testing period will run from August 21 to August 23 across several scheduled sessions.

Anyone interested in joining will need a Nintendo Switch 2 and an active Nintendo Switch Online membership. The game is being developed as a Switch 2 exclusive, so the test will not be available on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox.

FromSoftware wants to test servers, multiplayer systems, and game balance

The upcoming test is mainly designed to examine the technical performance of the game’s online features. FromSoftware plans to connect large groups of players at the same time to measure server stability under heavier loads.

The studio will also examine how the game performs across different internet connections and network environments. Multiplayer games can behave differently depending on connection quality, location, and the number of people participating, so this test should help identify problems before launch.

Balance will be another major area of focus. Data collected from real matches will allow the development team to study how characters, weapons, abilities, and objectives perform when players begin creating their own strategies.

Each match will bring together eight players in an open world. Participants will fight computer controlled enemies while also competing against one another and completing objectives across the map.

This setup combines cooperative and competitive elements. Players may need to respond to environmental threats and powerful enemies while remaining aware of the other people in the session. The structure could produce different situations in every match, depending on character choices and player behaviour.

Eight Bloodsworn characters will offer different weapons and abilities

The Duskbloods will feature eight playable characters known as the Bloodsworn. Each character has distinct weapons, abilities, and visual traits.

The characters come from different timelines, giving the development team freedom to combine unusual equipment, clothing, and technology within the same world. One fighter may rely on traditional weapons, while another could use tools or abilities that appear to come from a very different period.

Although the game will feature the demanding combat style associated with FromSoftware, its world is separate from the settings of Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring. This allows the studio to introduce new rules and ideas without connecting the story to its earlier games.

The network test should provide the clearest look yet at how the eight player format works in practice. It will also reveal whether the combination of enemy encounters, player competition, and objective based exploration can remain understandable during busy matches.

FromSoftware first announced The Duskbloods in 2025 but has shared limited information since then. The closed test suggests development is moving closer to its final stages, although the studio has not confirmed a specific release date.

The Duskbloods is scheduled to launch sometime in 2026 as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.