FromSoftware is running a closed network test for The Duskbloods, its Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, and sign-ups are open right now. The test lets a limited pool of players into early multiplayer matches so the studio can measure server load, connection stability, and combat balance before the game launches. Slots are capped, so getting in comes down to applying quickly and meeting the hardware and membership requirements.
Quick answer: Apply on the official Duskbloods network test site with the Nintendo Account linked to your Switch 2 before July 28 at 6:59 a.m. PDT. You need a Switch 2 and an active Nintendo Switch Online membership. Selected players are notified on August 7 and can play during the sessions between August 21 and August 24.
What you need before you apply
The test is locked to Switch 2 only. It will not run on the original Switch, PC, PlayStation, or Xbox. Before you open the application form, make sure every item below is in place, because you sign in with the Nintendo Account tied to your console.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Console | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Account | A Nintendo Account linked to that console |
| Membership | Active Nintendo Switch Online subscription |
| Cost | Free to apply and play if selected |
How to sign up for the closed network test
Once the form goes through, your entry is recorded. Registration does not guarantee a spot. Places are limited and selection follows the order in which applications come in, so applying early gives you the best odds.
Registration and selection dates
The important dates fall in a tight order. Miss the application deadline and there is no second entry. If you are picked, you download the test build ahead of the first session.
| Milestone | When |
|---|---|
| Applications open | July 22, 2026, 7:00 a.m. PDT |
| Applications close | July 28, 2026, 6:59 a.m. PDT |
| Selection announced | August 7, 2026, 6:00 a.m. PDT |
| Test build download available | August 18, 2026 |
| Network test window | August 21–24, 2026 |
Selected players receive a confirmation with a download code. You redeem that code and install the build on your Switch 2 through the eShop before the sessions begin. If you were not chosen, you will not get a code, and there is no way to buy or transfer in.
When you can play: the five session windows
Rather than staying online for the full four days, the test opens in five separate four-hour sessions. The times are staggered so players in different regions get a reasonable window to join. You can only play while a session is live. The schedule below is in Pacific time.
| Date | Session (PDT) |
|---|---|
| August 21, 2026 (Fri) | 3:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m. |
| August 21, 2026 (Fri) | 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. |
| August 22, 2026 (Sat) | 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
| August 23, 2026 (Sun) | 3:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m. |
| August 23, 2026 (Sun) | 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. |
Sessions also map onto Central European and Japan time, with additional local windows extending into August 24 for those regions. Check the times against your own time zone so you know exactly when servers go live for you.
What the test includes
The Duskbloods is a PvPvE game where you play as a Bloodsworn, fighting through a world of enemies while forming and breaking alliances with other players. Matches support up to eight players competing in the Dusk Battles for the coveted First Blood. Blood-based powers reshape your character and combat style as a match goes on.
Only part of the game is playable during the test. Treat it as a multiplayer stress test rather than a polished preview. FromSoftware has been clear that bugs and balance problems are expected, since the whole point is to observe how servers and connections hold up under real player load.
You will know your application landed when the form confirms submission, and you will know you made it in only when the download code arrives around the August 7 announcement. If no code turns up, you were not selected for this round. The Duskbloods itself remains a Switch 2 exclusive slated for 2026, so this test is the earliest hands-on window before that launch.
