FromSoftware’s Switch 2 exclusive, The Duskbloods, will get a closed network test this summer. The plan was confirmed during a Nintendo Direct, alongside a fresh trailer that showed more of the game’s gothic, Bloodborne-style world. The full game is still set to launch on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026.
Quick answer: The Duskbloods closed network test runs in summer 2026 on Nintendo Switch 2. No exact date, sign-up window, or eligibility requirements have been confirmed yet, so there is nothing to register for right now.
What the closed network test is
A closed network test is a limited online trial that lets a select group of players try the game’s multiplayer before launch. For The Duskbloods, it will be the first chance anyone outside the studio gets to play. It is meant to put the game’s servers and matchmaking under real-world load, not to act as a finished demo.
The trailer that accompanied the news focused on visuals rather than gameplay. The footage looked notably sharp for the hardware, but it did not show extended hands-on play, so the test itself will be where players first see how the game actually feels.
How The Duskbloods plays
The Duskbloods is a multiplayer action game where you play as one of the Bloodsworn. Matches put you in a session with up to seven other players, and you can both fight against them and team up with them depending on the situation. The goal is to claim a prize called the First Blood.
Each Bloodsworn carries unique weapons and abilities. The core hook is a set of blood-based powers that change your character and shift how you fight, described as a way to “transcend humanity.” It is a competitive, player-versus-player setup at its center, which is why an online network test makes sense before release.
| Detail | What’s confirmed |
|---|---|
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2 (exclusive) |
| Developer / Publisher | FromSoftware / Nintendo |
| Players per match | Up to eight (you plus seven others) |
| Mode | Multiplayer action, fight with and against others |
| Network test window | Summer 2026 |
| Full release | 2026 (no exact date) |
Release date and timing
The game’s full release is still targeted for 2026, and the publisher has repeatedly stated it will not miss that window. A specific launch date has not been announced. The closed network test arrives first, sometime in summer 2026, with more details on how to take part promised closer to that time.
Note: There is no confirmed date, time, or sign-up page for the test yet. If you see a specific date floating around, treat it with caution until it comes through an official Nintendo or FromSoftware channel.
What to do now
Since registration is not open, the only step right now is to wait for official follow-up details on the test, which are expected before it begins. If you want to be ready, keep your Switch 2 system software current and your Nintendo Account in good standing so you can act quickly if a sign-up or download goes live.
For context on FromSoftware’s other Switch 2 plans this year, the Elden Ring port for the console is set for August 28, 2026. That is separate from The Duskbloods, which remains its own new game.
