The Duskbloods: Everything we know about FromSoftware’s Bloodborne successor

The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct was a jam-packed event with a bunch of incredible game announcements and updates. However, the reveal that arguably stood out the most was The Duskbloods, the next title from the developers of Dark Souls and Elden Ring. 

The Duskbloods trailer had us involuntarily acting like Leonardo Di Caprio in his iconic point at the TV screen meme because of its uncanny resemblance to FromSoftware’s most coveted title, Bloodborne. 

For years, PlayStation fans have asked for a Bloodborne sequel, or at least a Bloodborne remastered. While the Japanese giant failed to deliver on both ends, another Japanese giant took it upon itself to collaborate with FromSoftware to make a game that looks like a spiritual sequel to Bloodborne. 

However, despite The Duskbloods' strikingly similar Victorian-era art style and its characters’ unhealthy obsession with the word “blood,” this isn’t Bloodborne 2. From blood-sucking vampires to shape-shifting dinosaurs and abandoned railway yards, much of what we see here is a far cry from Yharnam.

As such, in this guide, we break down everything we know about The Duskbloods, including details like its release date, story, and gameplay.

Updated April 5, 2025: Added more story, gameplay, and multiplayer details about the Duskbloods after Nintendo's Creator's Voice interview with game director Hidetaka Miyazaki.

The Duskbloods is set to launch in 2026 exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2. As of this writing, we don’t know if it’s a timed exclusive or otherwise, but knowing Nintendo, it’s likely the latter.

Either way, The Duskbloods will be the first console-exclusive title by FromSoftware since 2018’s Déraciné, which also seemed heavily inspired by Bloodborne. 

It’s worth adding that Hidetaka Miyazaki is directing The Duskbloods. It will be his first directorial project since 2022’s Elden Ring. FromSoftware will publish a new interview with Miyazaki about the game’s concept and worldview on April 4.

Yes, The Duskbloods is a multiplayer game like Elden Ring Nightreign. FromSoftware describes it as a PvPvE-focused multiplayer action title in which eight players battle each other and vicious Bloodborne-esque monsters to become the “First Blood.”

Unlike Bloodborne, The Duskbloods doesn’t feature an open-ended world that you can explore. Instead, the game world is divided into various maps, like the ones in traditional multiplayer titles. Each map takes place in different time zones, like a Victorian-era castle or a relatively modern location with a train yard. 

FromSoftware has not revealed the size and scope of these maps, though they seem similar in length to the ones in most battle royale games and extraction shooters like the Naraka: Bladepoint and Hunt Showdown.

While the ones we have seen look aesthetically similar, they boast different-level designs. Some offer more verticality, like the one with a mansion on top of the cliff, where a tactical and stealthy playstyle would seem appropriate. Others, like the train yard, seem more suited for head-on assaults. 

You can venture off alone or summon an entity to fight alongside you. We don’t know if you can summon other players, but given From’s history, it seems likely. Every match in The Duskbloods begins in the hub area, where you can rest, customize your character, or interact with the winged rat creature from the reveal trailer.

This esteemed specimen is like the fire-keeper of the Souls game. Miyazaki describes him as an elderly gentleman who you can interact with for advice and guidance. 

Matches in The Duskbloods aren’t just about eliminating other players and being the last one standing. The PvE aspect of the game is equally important. Every match has different main and side objectives, which you can complete to earn ‘Victory Points.’ The player with the most Victory Points will be declared the winner. 

Matches in The Duskbloods aren’t just about eliminating other players and being the last one standing. The PvE aspect of the game is equally important. Every match has different main and side objectives, which you can complete to earn ‘Victory Points.’ The player with the most Victory Points will be declared the winner. 

While slaying other players is a sureshot way to gain Victory Points, sometimes, forming a temporary alliance to take down a formidable foe in PvE can be more beneficial. Miyazaki assures that combat isn’t the only way to earn points in The Duskbloods.

Instead, you can engage in more “opportunistic behavior” to turn the tides in your favor. We don’t know what that means exactly, but it seems the Duskbloods' world is quite reactive and encourages experimentation. You could lure a boss to another player and let them kill one another or things like that. 

Random events may also pop up during matches and add another layer of tension. These could be unique bosses who you can slay to earn bonus rewards. One of these random events includes the giant floating Yoko Taro-esque stone face you see in the reveal trailer.

In the Duskbloods, you play as Bloodsworns — Vampires with superhuman abilities who partake in something called the “Twilight of Humanity”  to become the First Blood.

You can choose between a dozen distinct Bloodsworn, each with unique abilities and weapons. The Duskbloods’ reveal trailer gave a glimpse of some of these Bloodsworn.

You can spot the silvery-haired vampire jumping from tall heights and sucking the enemy’s soul. Another one in a silly metal suit hovering across the gothic landscape with a jetpack. There's also a nun-like woman strongly resembling the Doll from Bloodborne, levitating and slamming enemies on the ground with her magic abilities.

While these are predefined characters with unique appearances and identities, you can customize them to some extent in the game’s hub region. Completing matches will get you rewards, which you can use to alter your characters.

In the Duskbloods, character customization isn’t limited to cosmetics. Instead, you can change their “blood history” and “fate.” We don’t know what that means, but doing so will let you change their abilities, appearances, roles, and even their relationships with other players. 

You can assign specific roles to your character and complete objectives associated with those roles to unlock additional rewards. These work similarly to the roles in TTRPGs and could add more dynamism to traditional role-playing.

For instance, if you have a “Destined Rivals” role, you would want to find and slay your designated rival. Likewise, if you get a “Destined Companion” role, you must seek your companion to unlock special rewards.

FromSoftware games are known for their cryptic storytelling through item descriptions, minimalistic cutscenes, and environmental cues, and the Duskbloods look to be following that same route.

This time around, you can learn about the story and the world via character customization items. As mentioned previously, you get these by finishing matches. So the more matches you play, the more you’ll unlock items that contain bits and pieces of Duskbloods’ lore.

That’s everything we currently know about the Duskbloods.

Make sure to check esports.gg for more details about this upcoming FromSoftware game and other Nintendo Switch 2 titles.