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The Duskbloods - NEW Gameplay info

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When will Duskbloods Release?

Duskbloods will release on 2026 exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.  

A Creator's Voice article featuring game director Hidetaka Miyazaki and president of From Software, will be published on the official Nintendo website on April 4th. During this Creator's Voice he will share more details about the game.

What Platforms is Duskbloods On?

Duskbloods has been announced during April 2nd, 2025's Nintendo Direct, and is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 system. 

Latest Duskbloods News

Pre-Release:

April 2nd, 2025: Duskbloods has been announced 

The Duskbloods Story and Setting

Set in a gothic metropolis inspired by Victorian Europe, The Duskbloods invites players into a decaying world drenched in blood and moonlight. The city’s crumbling clock towers, foggy alleyways, and arcane machinery hide a dark secret: the ritualistic creation of the Bloodsworn, warriors who have transcended humanity through forbidden blood rites.

As one of these Bloodsworn, you are thrust into a violent contest known as the Night of the Hunt, where every warrior seeks to claim the ultimate prize—The First Blood. This grim battle will decide who inherits the dying light of humanity in a world spiraling into eternal dusk.

The atmosphere draws heavily from gothic horror and steampunk elements, with looming cathedrals, blood-soaked streets, and supernatural forces lurking beneath the surface. The game’s haunting tagline says it all:

"The moontears will flow for one and one alone."

The Duskbloods Playable Characters & Factions

*NOTE THAT NAMES ARE NOT FINAL, AND MUCH OF IT IS SPECULATION GIVEN THE RECENTR TRAILER*

In The Duskbloods, all players belong to the faction of the Bloodsworn (referred to in Japanese as “黄昏の血族,” meaning “Clan of the Dusk Blood” or Twilight Bloodkin)​. The Bloodsworn are individuals who have transcended ordinary humanity by infusing themselves with a special blood, granting them supernatural strength and longevity at the cost of their humanity. They can be thought of as this game’s equivalent to Bloodborne’s Hunters or Elden Ring’s Tarnished – the player-aligned group with a unique condition that sets them apart from normal humans. Story-wise, Bloodsworn are locked in an endless night of battle, vying to obtain the First Blood, which presumably is either the original source of this power or the title bestowed on the last one standing in the contest.

While specific classes or character builds have not been detailed yet, the reveal trailer suggests a diverse range of character archetypes will be available. The footage did not explicitly label “classes” (e.g. there’s no on-screen UI or class names shown), but we see characters of different appearance and fighting style, implying robust character customization or at least selectable archetypes. Examples include:

• The Hunter Archetype: The silver-haired male character featured prominently could represent a balanced fighter – wielding swords and firearms, and utilizing vampiric abilities. His attire (long coat, boots, broad hat in some shots) evokes a classic vampire hunter or noble-turned-vampire look, fitting an all-rounder playstyle​.

• Eastern Warrior: The mysterious female Bloodsworn in kimono suggests an archetype inspired by Eastern martial traditions​. Her rapid spinning slash attack might indicate high dexterity and melee focus, possibly analogous to a ninja or samurai style class within this gothic setting. Her distinct cultural attire hints that Bloodsworn come from around the world, not just Victorian Europe, and have gathered for this nightmarish competition.

• Bruiser or Demolitionist: The short armored creature with a jetpack stands out as an unconventional character design​. If playable, this character might fill a role akin to a heavy tech-based class – using contraptions and explosives (the jetpack could even double as a flamethrower or bombing tool). It demonstrates that not every Bloodsworn is simply a tall, pale human; some could be physically different or heavily mutated by the blood. It’s also possible this character is an NPC helper or just a world character, but fans speculate it might be a hint that players can choose non-human appearances or at least very divergent body types.

• Youthful Fencer: The younger white-haired male shown fighting in the trailer could represent a lighter, agility-based fighter​. He’s seen taking on a large enemy with swift movements, perhaps highlighting a rogue or fencer playstyle (quick strikes, high evasion). If the silver-haired protagonist is more strength-oriented, this younger character might be more dexterity or arcane-oriented.

All these variations point toward deep character customization. It would not be surprising if The Duskbloods allows players to fully create their Bloodsworn’s appearance (gender, features, attire colors) and pick a starting kit or origin that aligns with one of these archetypes (much like Souls games let you choose a class that determines starting stats and gear, but ultimately you can build however you like). The presence of different cultural clothing (western gothic vs. Japanese) and even possibly non-human traits means the Bloodsworn faction is diverse. There is no indication of multiple opposing factions – every player-character is a Bloodsworn competitor, rather than belonging to separate teams by lore. The competition is every Bloodsworn for themselves, rather than a red vs blue scenario.

The Duskbloods Gameplay Mechanics

The Duskbloods marks a bold shift for From Software into a multiplayer-centric action RPG. The core gameplay loop revolves around PvPvE (Player vs Player vs Environment) encounters. This means up to 8 players enter an instance and contend not only with each other, but also with AI-controlled enemies and bosses that inhabit the world​. The structure has been compared to a small-scale “battle royale” or survival arena – players compete until only one is left standing as the First Blood, although co-operative tactics may emerge along the way​. Below are some key gameplay elements and mechanics known so far:

• Challenging Combat: Combat is expected to retain the demanding, timing-based melee action From Software is known for, with a variety of weapons (from swift blades to heavy great weapons) and firearms at the player’s disposal​. Defensive maneuvers like dodges (including the familiar Souls “heavy roll” for heftier gear) will likely play a role​. The development team has hinted that despite the multiplayer focus, The Duskbloods will feature the “same challenging combat style” and immersive world-building fans expect​.
• Vampiric Abilities: As Bloodsworn, players have supernatural powers. Notably, the ability to feed on enemies’ blood is showcased – the trailer shows the player character sinking fangs into a foe’s neck​. This act is not just for show; immediately after feeding, the character draws dark energy from the sky, suggesting that drinking blood empowers the player (e.g. restoring health or increasing strength)​. Mastering when to feed on NPC enemies (or possibly even on downed rival players) could be a crucial mechanic for gaining an edge in battles.
• Weapons & Tools: Players can wield an arsenal ranging from melee weapons (swords, serrated blades, and even a massive forked polearm were spotted)​, to firearms like pistols or rifles reminiscent of Bloodborne’s trick weapons. Magic and gadgets also feature: the trailer depicts characters casting occult spells or effects – for example, raising the dead to fight – and using gear like jetpacks to traverse gaps or gain verticality​. This mix of Victorian weaponry and steampunk-style devices means players may tailor their playstyle as brute melee fighters, agile gunslingers, arcane blood mages, or any hybrid thereof.
• Traversal and Verticality: The inclusion of technology like jetpacks implies a greater emphasis on movement. In footage, a small armored character was seen hovering and then rocketing across a chasm using a jet-propelled device​. Additionally, characters can hover or air-dash briefly – one scene shows a Bloodsworn suspending in mid-air, possibly via a power or gadget​. The level design likely accommodates vertical traversal, hidden vantage points, or aerial attacks, adding a new layer to the Souls-style combat.
• Progression and RPG Elements: While specific details are not yet announced, The Duskbloods is described as an RPG​, so players can expect some form of character progression, leveling, or gear upgrades across matches. It’s possible that between battles, players will be able to improve their Bloodsworn’s abilities or equipment. The ritualistic hunt for the “First Blood” might tie into a narrative progression as well, though how story content is delivered in a multiplayer context remains to be seen.

Spiritual Successor to Bloodborne?

By far the strongest comparison being drawn is to Bloodborne. Thematically and aesthetically, The Duskbloods feels like a return to the gothic Victorian horror that Bloodborne perfected – to the point that fans immediately reacted with “Is this Bloodborne 2!?” during the reveal​. Everything from the obsession with blood, the nightmarish creatures, the Victorian city, and the prominent moon evokes Bloodborne’s vibe.

The key difference is of course the multiplayer focus; whereas Bloodborne was a purely single-player narrative with optional co-op/invasions, The Duskbloods builds a new gameplay structure around competition. The reason it isn’t literally titled Bloodborne 2 is likely because Sony owns the Bloodborne IP, and this new game is on a Nintendo console​.

In many ways, The Duskbloods can be seen as FromSoftware’s answer to fans clamoring for more Bloodborne – delivering similar flavor in a new package. Miyazaki and team appear to be effectively channeling what they couldn’t do under Sony (a Bloodborne sequel) into a project they have full control over, now in partnership with Nintendo.

Sekiro's Verticality and Elden Ring's Open World

The inclusion of vertical movement and gadgets (like the jetpack) is somewhat reminiscent of Sekiro’s grappling hook and more vertical level design. Sekiro was the first From Software game to really encourage jumping and zipping to rooftops, which Elden Ring expanded with Torrent (the mount). The Duskbloods giving players tools to fly or hover suggests the designers are carrying forward that verticality in level design and combat arenas.

The idea of an open, dynamic combat arena with multiple enemy types has parallels to Elden Ring’s open-world encounters and the Legacy Dungeons where invasions could happen amidst fighting mobs. Now, compress that into a smaller scale PvPvE match – it’s like making an Elden Ring dungeon where the boss fight and invasions happen simultaneously. In fact, one could say that The Duskbloods might share some DNA with the upcoming Elden Ring: Nightreign, a spin-off that focuses on co-op PvE​. If Nightreign is purely cooperative PvE and Duskbloods is PvPvE, From Software could be deliberately exploring two different multiplayer angles in parallel.