Before you get too excited about FromSoftware’s latest IP, The Duskbloods isn’t what you think it is.
It’s essentially Elden Ring: Nightreign—with extra steps. Here’s why:
It’s a Multiplayer PvPvE Title
Yep. From the looks of it, FromSoftware is going all-in on an online multiplayer format, pitting eight players against each other while forcing them to contend with enemies from its vast overworld.
The game’s premise doesn’t delve too deeply into lore (standard for FromSoft). According to its official description, players take on the role of “Twilight Bloodlines”—individuals who transcend humanity thanks to their unique blood (heh).
Those who overcome the game’s challenges can claim the title of “First Blood,” though what that entails remains unclear.
Judging from the limited information available, The Duskbloods seems to be a Battle Royale spin on the Souls-like genre. Even in the trailer, we see characters dramatically flying across the screen.
Unfortunately, with no clear gameplay loop revealed, we're unsure if it shares Nightreign's 'Fortnite Storm' mechanic, so all we can do is speculate on what FromSoftware is cooking up, especially with Duskblood's PvP.
But It’s Directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki
One surprise about The Duskbloods is that Hidetaka Miyazaki (the visionary behind Dark Souls, Elden Ring, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice) is leading the project. I was expecting something more akin to a spin-off, like Nightreign, which didn’t have Miyazaki at the helm.
For Nightreign, former FromSoftware designer Junya Ishizaki has stepped in as director, and given his experience working on Bloodborne, Dark Souls, and Elden Ring, it seems to be in good hands.
With Miyazaki’s expertise in crafting strange and otherworldly experiences, The Duskbloods could bring a fresh take on the Souls-like formula—assuming it has a cohesive narrative to satisfy the lore-hungry fans and not just an asset flip from previous Souls games.
FromSoftware’s Next Chapter
FromSoftware appears to be moving in a new direction for its future titles, shifting its focus toward online multiplayer experiences. With Elden Ring: Nightreign launching on May 30, we’ll soon see how well FromSoft handles this transition.
If the servers are stable, that bodes well for The Duskbloods—but if not, it could raise serious concerns about the game’s future.
As a longtime Dark Souls and Elden Ring fan, my excitement for The Duskbloods and Nightreign faded when I learned about their ‘always-online’ requirement.
I hoped for a new single-player action game—something FromSoft excels at. Call me a Soulsborne purist, but I miss the esoteric lore, the punishing boss fights, and everything that makes a classic, linear Souls experience.
The Duskbloods has no release date yet, but it's slated for a 2026 launch. In the coming days, we might hear more details about the game. Let’s hope it’s not as ‘online’ as it sounds.
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