The Duskbloods network test leaves a FromSoftware fan confused and unimpressed on Switch 2

For fans of FromSoftware who were disappointed that The Duskbloods is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, the first chance to actually play it has offered a surprising antidote to that FOMO. One player who spent the closed network test grappling with the game came away feeling that, at least in its current state, it is not worth buying a new console for.

The network test, which ran over the weekend, was limited in scope. It offered only one map, six playable characters, no build customisation, solo queue, and what appeared to be an incomplete tutorial. On top of that, the player experienced severe input lag in both docked and handheld modes, making the basic controls a struggle for longer than felt reasonable.

Even once the controls became manageable, the game itself remained baffling. The tutorial popups use the kind of opaque, evocative language typical of FromSoftware, telling players to "obtain Virtue" by visiting "Sites of Ritual" and pledging themselves "on the Eve of the Third Moon before the final Bestowal." While that style of writing is charming in a Souls game, it does little to prepare anyone for what the multiplayer actually plays like.

The simplest way to describe The Duskbloods is as a PvPvE game that borrows from MOBA structure. Players kill creeps to level up and collect Virtue points, preparing for a final team fight or free-for-all at the end of each match. Enemy players can gank or be ganked as everyone races to become the strongest in the lobby. Collecting Virtue is the core goal from the moment eight players drop into the map, and the rest of the systems exist to disrupt that farming process, potentially culling weaker players from the match early.

The PvP element, which the player had feared would be the worst part given a general avoidance of it in FromSoftware's other games, turned out to be surprisingly meaningless. That did not make the overall experience any more compelling, however.

A confusing mess that might click later

The player draws a comparison to Elden Ring Nightreign, which took close to 20 hours to click before becoming a daily obsession that led to climbing the highest level of its ranked mode. The Duskbloods could eventually reveal itself to be a masterfully crafted vampire multiplayer game, but as it stands now, it feels like an aimless collection of intriguing systems that do not cohere.

At times, the game felt like playing a PlayStation 2 title from the Blockbuster era, with an offbeat multiplayer mode that predates the codified structure of battle royales and hero shooters. That bizarre quality is impressive in its own way, but it does not make for a polished or immediately enjoyable experience.

Exclusivity and the possibility of a wider release

The Duskbloods is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive at launch, meaning it will not come to PC, PlayStation, or Xbox when it releases. That is a notable departure from FromSoftware's recent history, as games like Elden Ring, its Nightreign spinoff, and the Dark Souls series have all been widely available across multiple platforms.

However, there is a chance the game could eventually reach other platforms. Looking at precedent, Monster Hunter Rise launched on Nintendo Switch in March 2021 before arriving on PC in January 2022 and then on PlayStation and Xbox in January 2023. The Duskbloods could follow a similar pattern, depending on the agreement between Nintendo and FromSoftware. It could remain a Switch 2 exclusive for a year or two to help sell consoles, then get a second wind from a wider release.

Alternatively, Bloodborne remains imprisoned on PS4 over a decade after its launch, but that is because Sony owns the Bloodborne intellectual property. FromSoftware appears to own The Duskbloods IP, and the game was made with heavy involvement from Nintendo rather than being owned by the platform holder. That should give the studio more freedom to bring it to other platforms, unless there is an extremely long or perpetual exclusivity agreement with Nintendo that specifically forbids it.

For now, anyone without a Switch 2 will have to wait and hope that the game eventually escapes its exclusivity. And based on the network test, they might not be missing much yet.