Miyazaki reveals The Duskbloods idea beyond Dark Souls

For years, the formula of the action RPG has been defined by the masterful world-building and punishing difficulty of the Souls series. But now, FromSoftware is poised to rewrite that formula, taking the legendary world of Dark Souls and pushing it into an entirely new dimension with the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive title, The Duskbloods.

The shift is not merely a change of genre; it is the realization of long-held creative ambitions. Studio president Hidetaka Miyazaki has revealed that many of the innovative ideas that have simmered behind FromSoftware‘s previous titles—such as Demon’s Souls and the subsequent Dark Souls games—were constrained by the context of single-player design.

Miyazaki explains that while those earlier games contained unique online elements, they could not accommodate the full scope of what the team envisioned. “There were a lot of other things that we wanted to try, things that seemed like great ideas, but didn’t really fit in the context of a single-player game,” he noted. “Over time, a lot of those ideas piled up. Having an outlet for them, somewhere we can find a place where they all fit, or can be made to fit specifically in that multiplayer context, is something that was always at the forefront of my mind.”

This vision culminates in The Duskbloods, a title designed as a PvPvE experience that leans heavily into the asynchronous multiplayer that has come to define the Souls games, but approaches it in entirely new ways. Instead of demanding constant, intense player confrontation, the game offers flexibility.

Miyazaki confirmed that the game will incorporate customization options specifically catering to players who wish to engage with the world and challenges on their own terms. This allows players to enjoy the experience in various ways, even if they don’t want to be locked into a continuous, high-stakes PvP battle.

The game’s visual promise has also generated considerable excitement. Leaked gameplay footage ahead of the network test showcases stunning new mechanics, including incredibly slick aerial combat and buttery smooth movement options. Most strikingly, players will witness unique transformations, where characters can even turn into a dinosaur, adding a layer of surreal, dynamic action to the world.

The evolution of the Souls universe, now through the lens of multiplayer action, signals a fascinating new chapter for FromSoftware. With a closed network test currently rolling out, the team is meticulously refining this ambitious vision for the 2026 launch on the Switch 2, promising a side of FromSoftware that is both familiar and delightfully, wonderfully strange.