FromSoftware’s next project, The Duskbloods, is finally about to be playable. The studio behind Elden Ring and Bloodborne has opened registration for a Closed Network Test, and anyone hoping to try the game early can sign up now. This is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, so participation is tied to a Nintendo account, and not everyone who applies will get in.
Quick answer: Go to the official network test website, link your Nintendo account to register, then wait for the selection results on August 7. If you’re chosen, you can play during the test window that runs from August 21 to August 24.
How to sign up for The Duskbloods network test
Registration runs through the game’s official campaign page. The process centers on linking a Nintendo account, since the test is exclusive to Switch 2.
Registration is live now.
Key dates for the test
Two dates matter here. First, you’ll learn whether you were selected on August 7. Second, the playable window itself runs across several days later in the month.
| Milestone | When |
|---|---|
| Registration | Open now |
| Selection results announced | August 7 |
| Network test window | August 21 to August 24 |
Note: If you’re picked, set aside time during the August 21 to 24 window, since access is limited to that period.
What the test covers
The Duskbloods is a PvEvP title that leans harder into multiplayer than most FromSoftware games. Players take on the role of a Bloodsworn of Dusk, a supernatural being granted special abilities through the power of blood, and drop into online battles that support up to eight players.
The setup mixes cooperation and competition. You can form temporary alliances or turn on each other, all while facing the game’s enemies and competing for the right to First Blood. In practice, that means taking on PvE bosses while other players contend for the same goals, closer to an extraction-style structure than the optional jolly cooperation of Dark Souls.
The game is a standalone project first revealed as a Switch 2 exclusive, which keeps its audience more focused than most FromSoftware releases. The network test gives the studio a chance to stress test its online systems ahead of launch, while a limited group of players gets an early look.
Requirements to take part
- A Nintendo Switch 2, since the game and test are exclusive to that console.
- A Nintendo account, which you link during registration.
- A completed application submitted before the test, followed by selection.
Because entry depends on being drawn from the applicant pool, the surest way to know you’re in is the selection notice on August 7. Until then, a submitted registration is all you can confirm.
With a network test this close, The Duskbloods looks to be nearing its release. If you own a Switch 2 and want the earliest hands-on with FromSoftware’s take on competitive multiplayer, registering now and watching for the August 7 results is the path in.
