HmmmmmThe Duskbloods is a PvPvE game that seems to have more in common with online shooters than it does BloodborneThe Duskbloods continues to sound like something entirely new for FromSoftware, so expect a lot of flexing of creative muscles - and a cute level up ratImage credit: FromSoftware, Nintendo. News by Sherif Saed Contributing Editor Published on April 4, 2025 The Duskbloods was arguably one of the biggest surprises in the recent massive Nintendo Switch 2 Direct. Though many initially saw it as a spiritual successor to Bloodborne - much in how Dark Souls effectively was Demons Souls 2 - this impression has shifted now that we've learned a lot more about it.The Duskbloods is not Bloodborne 2. In fact, its not even the solitary, single-player experience that FromSoftware fans have come to expect from the studio.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. In a new interview with game director Hidetaka Miyazaki, we got a lot more information about how this idea came to life, as well as some of the goals FromSoftware has with The Duskbloods. According to the veteran director, the game started out as a Switch title, before development shifted to the Switch 2.FromSoft obviously isnt entirely new to online multiplayer; most of the studios games offer online co-op and PvP, and the upcoming Elden Ring Nightreign is an online-only co-op game. The Duskbloods, however, doesnt neatly fit into either of those boxes.Miyazaki noted that the team had been experimenting for a while with a way to meld its world-class enemy and encounter design with co-op and PvP more directly. The Bloodsworn - the games protagonist/player characters - are all competing for First Blood because of the power it holds. This guy may be Making Contact, but this still isn't Bloodborne. | Image credit: FromSoftware, Nintendo.The game has a flow that anyone who played battle royale games should be familiar with. Eight players spawn in a hub area, which is where they get to pick from pre-made classes, customise their character and join the match. Players spawn at random locations in the games various maps, which Miyazaki said depict various eras of humanity.Win or lose, all players will return to the hub with some unspecified rewards to grow their characters and get back in. Oh, and the cute rat seen at the very end of the trailer is the games version of the Fire Keeper. Its actually an elderly gentleman, FromSoft just wanted to make something cute for a change to be more in line with Nintendos brand.In the match itself, your goal is to be the last player standing - pretty typical for BR, and to obtain Victory Points. Those can be gained through direct combat, or by only partaking when youre guaranteed to win, so called third-partying. What a cutie! | Image credit: FromSoftware, Nintendo.Some events could alter this structure, however, and introduce different victory conditions. Miyazaki gave the example of tasking players with taking down a boss to win. In fact, the game is dynamic enough to occasionally spawn special enemies, and set fresh objectives for players. According to Miyazaki, the studio wanted to create multiple avenues for players to succeed so that even those who arent good at PvP could still find it satisfying.The director also touched on this idea of roles, which players can pick from and customise. Some of the examples given include a role that will task one player with taking down another specific player, or protecting them instead. Roles can be assigned to any character using blood.The Duskbloods is a Switch 2 exclusive arriving sometime in 2026, and it sounds like FromSoftware wanted to try a lot of new interesting ideas with this one, so it may well end up being its most interesting project yet.