Though people were very eager to play The Duskbloods from the moment it was announced, it seems they’re going to have to wait a while longer. FromSoftware decided today to open up the first network test for its upcoming title on the Nintendo Switch 2, but was forced to shut it down due to ceaseless connection problems.
This was confirmed by FromSoft today via X, and they cited “game server issues” as the underlying cause. “We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to those who were waiting for the first The Duskbloods network test due to game server issues,” the company wrote in the notification.
The servers were barely functional for just a couple of hours.
“We regret to inform you that today’s session is now closed. We will continue to work on improving the servers and will announce future schedules at a later date,” it added.
The Japanese developer did not reveal when The Duskbloods is set to return, not even as a general guess. Many people, especially those in the United States, got up as early as five or six AM to play the game but were completely isolated from the experience. Attempts to connect, as in any FromSoftware game on launch, kept dropping, with the title telling users that servers were timing out.
Whether The Duskbloods will get a second chance, giving folks another attempt at trying it early, is currently unknown.
But those who did try the game, as well as those who experienced it vicariously through clips and content, didn’t seem to be so enthusiastic about it. It definitely seems like a weird take on FromSoftware’s Elden Ring/Dark Souls 3/Bloodborne formula, with PVP arena multiplayer mechanics mixed in.
While it’s an experimental and different kind of game than what we’re used to, Miyazaki nevertheless reassured folks that his studio isn’t at all moving away from singleplayer games. The Duskbloods is a second, back-to-back multiplayer-focused game by FromSoftware, despite the company previously focusing on producing gameplay-driven singleplayer titles.
