From Software has revealed more gameplay details of its upcoming title The Duskbloods ahead of a network test this weekend, and the reveal suggests a much more niche experience than the studio's mass-appeal hits like Elden Ring and Dark Souls. The game is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive built around PvPvE combat, blending elements of extraction shooters and battle royales, which marks a significant departure from the traditional Soulslike formula and could narrow its potential audience considerably.

In Duskbloods, players choose from hero-like characters with unique weapons and abilities and compete in eight-person matches, scoring points called Virtue by defeating both human and AI opponents. Matches unfold in phases, with early stages allowing players to team up and summon AI allies, before the game funnels into a free-for-all finale in which players with the least Virtue are periodically eliminated. From Software president Hidetaka Miyazaki said Nintendo's enthusiasm and financial backing let the studio focus purely on development, but the exclusivity and PvP-centric design mean the title is likely to appeal mainly to a dedicated subset of Soulslike PvP fans rather than the wider audience the studio has previously attracted.