The Duskbloods Hands-On: FromSoftware's PvPvE Puts Virtue Before Victory
FromSoftware's new Nintendo Switch 2 action game The Duskbloods, directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, holds a network test from August 21 to 24, 2026. Ahead of that, media hands-on sessions and a group interview with Miyazaki revealed the game's core loop. In The Duskbloods, up to 8 players compete across four phases, earning victory points called Virtue to survive elimination. Virtue comes from defeating enemies, looting items, completing events, and, within designated Ritual Grounds, defeating other players. Outside those areas, PvP yields little benefit, so the game emphasizes strategy over direct combat skill. Players choose from six fixed characters in the network test, each with unique melee and ranged weapons, bloodline arts, and mobility options including air jumps and dashes. The full version will add customization and over 10 character bases. Miyazaki confirmed the game is not an extraction shooter and that PvPvE was a loose label. He also said the final battle can be PvE against a boss, and that ranked matches and seasons are planned.