FromSoftware’s The Duskbloods Sparks Bloodborne Frenzy | Image Source: www.npr.org
KYOTO, Japan, 4 April 2025 – While FromSoftware discreetly unveils its last title, The Duskbloods, during the so hypocritical window Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, a troubled seismology in the gaming community. Bloodborne fans, many of whom have been crying for nearly a decade, instantly cling to the spiritual parallels between the two tracks. Although there is still no sign of an appropriate Bloodborne 2 ad, the Duskbloods could be the torch fans never knew they needed, at least for now.
Described as a PvPvE multiplayer experience, Duskbloods breaks the soul brushes of a single player FromSoftware like Dark Souls and Sekiro, but not without keeping their iconic DNA intact. Gothic nuances, masked rims and blood-infuse mechanics shout “Soulsborne”, but they do it on a platform that nobody expected – the next hybrid generation of Nintendo portable console. That’s right. It’s an exclusive Nintendo 2 switch. For now, at least.
What are you doing? Do the Duskbloods feel like a successor to Bloodborne?
While The Duskbloods is not technically a sequel, everything from its visual aesthetic to the gaming channels of Bloodborne essence. Crime-filled environments, torrential beasts, and even the subcurrent of destiny and lineage draw a thick and incomparable line to the classic PlayStation 4. According to the director of FromSoftware Hidetaka Miyazaki, players will be able to customize the characters by changing their “blood and destination history” – an evolution of the kind of deep and rich personalization enthusiasts adored in previous titles.
But what really distinguishes is how this customization bleeds in the game. Roles such as “Destined Rivals” and “Destined Companies” give adapted target players in the multiplayer space, forming dynamic interactions that remind table RPG. “That might sound a little bit unorthodox at first,” Miyazaki said in an interview via the Nintendo Creator’s Voice blog, “but I hope the players will give him a chance.”
Why is it exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2?
This may be the most controversial point among fans. Many were amazed to see FromSoftware associate with Nintendo for an exclusive release, especially a niche related as well, though expensive, genre. According to Miyazaki, the original concept of the Duskbloods began in the first Switch. But Nintendo’s invitation to change the development of Switch 2 gave FromSoftware the technical freedom to maintain its ambitious vision. The improvement of Switch 2’s online infrastructure proved to be essential to the PvPvE dynamic of the game.
However, exclusive nature has some skeptical fans. Reddit threads overflow with reactions like, “It’s not only impressive because it’s an exclusive Nintendo Switch 2.”
Some hold out hope that this is merely a timed exclusive, pointing out that Bloodborne itself has remained a PS4-only title for a full decade.
How does the game differ from traditional FromSoftware titles?
DeSoftware fans are used for a lonely journey of perseverance, despair and discovery. But the Duskbloods take another road. At the heart, it is an online experience: merging PvE’s enemy challenges with PvP players’ conflicts, all captured with role-based dynamics. Players can actively configure their stories through options such as “role” and with whom they join or oppose.
For example, the “Destined Rivals” role assigns you a rival to hunt, adding a personal vendetta subch in a wider battlefield. Or you might end up in the role of “Destined Companion”, forging alliances that give narrative and game rewards. It is not just a game of swords and reflections; These are blood lines, fragments and evolving relationships.
Why fascination for blood and destiny in the Duskbloods?
This is where the story of FromSoftware shines. Instead of feeding the player through the open exhibition, The Duskbloods instills in him how you play and who you become. The character creation system not only affects its statistics, it affects its narrative arc. “History of blood and destiny” is more than a cosmetic option: it dictates its position in the world, its relationship with other characters, and even which paths are available.
These mechanisms feel like a thematic continuation of Bloodborne’s obsession with transformation and legacy. But here, it’s less cosmic horror and more role-playing. Miyazaki even enjoyed the RPG table system, where players assign dice features and develop arcs of an organic character.
DeSoftware abandons solo games?
Not even close. Miyazaki was clear: multiplayer experiences like The Duskbloods do not point towards a complete pivot. In an interview with IGN, he assured fans that traditional titles to a player are still in line. In fact, the Switch 2 version of Elden Ring was announced at the same time as the Duskbloods, thus strengthening the company’s commitment to both sides of the game spectrum.
So if you’re clinging to Bloodborne 2 or some other Soul-style player narrative, you’re still waiting. According to Miyazaki, “We still intend to develop player-oriented games… it doesn’t mean that we, as a company, have decided to change.”
What are the challenges facing the launch of The Duskbloods and Switch 2?
Despite the emotion of the fans, there are important obstacles. Nintendo recently announced that US pre-orders for Switch 2, originally scheduled for April 9, have been delayed. The reason? A set of new global tariffs introduced by President Trump, including import duties marked by 24% in Japanese electronics.
The President of America, Doug Bowser, addressed the issue by saying: “We are actively assessing the impact that this can have… and what action we might have to take. »
While the Switch 2’s June 5 launch date remains unchanged, pricing might be fluid. The current $449 tag could inflate under these new tariffs, potentially dampening sales for The Duskbloods and other exclusives.
Will Switch 2 have enough supply to meet demand?
Availability is another hot topic. Past launches have been filled with robots and supply shortages. But Bowser claims that Nintendo built inventory and coordinated with retailers to avoid chaos. “We have programs to prevent many of these actions,” he said, referring to Nintendo’s priority internal sales to active account holders.
However, as the flea shortage and volatile trade dynamics approach, scepticism remains. Players who want to jump to the Duskbloods may need to camp online and in person to secure a console, assuming that prices do not make it profitable.
Maybe. Do the Duskbloods come to other platforms later?
It’s possible, but not confirmed. Since Bloodborne has never left the PlayStation ecosystem, fans are naturally cautious. However, recent collaborations of FromSoftware, including Armored Core VI and Elden Ring multiplatform, suggest that they are not inverse to branching. If the Duskbloods escape from the exclusive switch 2, it probably depends on Nintendo’s long-term investment in the title and the reception of players after the release.
For now, if you want to dive into this ambitious Gothic odyssey, Switch 2 is the only portal. But like its predecessor, the game could become a classic cult, and over time, even expand its reach.
As summer and clock approach around June 5, one thing is clear: Duskbloods is not just another experience of FromSoftware – it’s a calculated evolution. And even if it’s not Bloodborne 2, it carries the same darkness, mystery and elegant brutality that fans aspire to. Let the blood talk.
