The Duskbloods pulled in more applications for its closed network test than Elden Ring Nightreign, a detail revealed during a Famitsu broadcast where FromSoftware producer Yasuhiro Kitao mentioned the surprising turnout. It feels a bit uncanny once you remember the platforms involved.
The Elden Ring Nightreign test was conducted on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, whereas The Duskbloods could only be tried by owners of the Nintendo Switch 2, of which there are currently only about 25 million people.
"We were really surprised," Kitao commented on the audience’s interest.
The trial itself landed mostly positive notes from participants, though it didn’t sail perfectly — devs hit server trouble on day one and couldn’t get the test live (although on the first day the developers were unable to launch it due to unforeseen server issues).
On social media the conversation is lively. People struggle to label the match format (not exactly a BR, not really a standard PvPvE), and many applaud the way fights swing between long-area exploration, clashes with common enemies and boss encounters. Temporary alliances show up and then vanish; movement feels fast, aerial combat matters, and the visuals plus music give the whole thing a distinct atmosphere — for some, that mix works; for others, it’s odd.
Story content in the test was slim. Fans of FromSoftware’s narrative side want more in the retail release; a number of players even say they’ll pick up a Switch 2 specifically for this game. Conversely, a chunk of the community is visibly put off by the multiplayer emphasis — long-time solo players are uneasy with the online turn and wonder what pushed Hidetaka Miyazaki toward this direction.
Until September 4, FromSoftware will be collecting feedback from players via a special form on the official site (the survey form offers a Russian language option). Filling it out nets you some mobile phone wallpapers.
The release of The Duskbloods is scheduled for 2026. Before that, a full version of Elden Ring will be released on Switch 2. Read more about the game here.