FromSoftware confirmed during the June 9 Nintendo Direct that The Duskbloods will run a closed network test sometime in Summer 2026. It’s the first real chance for players to try the studio’s Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive before launch, but the way you get in isn’t open yet.
Quick answer: You can’t sign up right now. FromSoftware has only confirmed that the closed network test happens in Summer 2026 and that it requires an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Tester application details will be announced later, so the action item today is to keep a Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch Online membership ready, then watch the official Duskbloods site for the application window to open.
What the Duskbloods closed network test is
The closed network test is a limited, invite-style trial of The Duskbloods that lets a select group of players try the game ahead of its full 2026 release. FromSoftware showed a short trailer during the Nintendo Direct that gave a brief look at the game’s visuals but no extended gameplay, and confirmed the test will take place this summer.
The Duskbloods is a Switch 2 exclusive from FromSoftware, built around online multiplayer for one to eight players. The closed test is essentially a controlled early build, used to check the game’s online systems with real players before launch.
Requirements to join the closed beta
Two things are confirmed as conditions to play. You need the hardware the game runs on, and you need the online subscription that the test depends on.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Console | Nintendo Switch 2 (the game is a Switch 2 exclusive) |
| Online membership | Active Nintendo Switch Online subscription |
| Application | Tester sign-up details to be announced later |
Note: An active Nintendo Switch Online subscription is a hard requirement, so make sure your membership is current before applications open.
How to apply for the closed network test
Applications are not live yet. FromSoftware stated that details regarding tester applications and other information will be announced at a later date, so there’s no form to fill out at the moment. Here’s how to be ready when the window does open.
When the closed beta could happen
No exact date has been confirmed. The only official timing is the Summer 2026 window, and the test itself sits ahead of the game’s full 2026 launch.
For a rough sense of how FromSoftware has handled this before, its Elden Ring Nightreign closed network test followed a clear pattern. That timeline is a reference point only and not a confirmed schedule for The Duskbloods.
| Nightreign milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Closed network test announced | Dec. 13, 2024 |
| Sign-ups opened | Jan. 10, 2025 |
| Network test live | Feb. 14–17, 2025 |
| Full release | May 30, 2025 |
In that case, roughly a month passed between the announcement and sign-ups opening, with the test running about a month after that. If The Duskbloods follows a similar gap, applications would land in the weeks ahead of the summer test, but this is a pattern, not a promise.
For now, the most useful thing you can do is keep your Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch Online subscription active and check the official Duskbloods site for the application announcement. Once FromSoftware shares the sign-up details, that’s where you’ll register your interest and find out whether you’ve been selected.
