FromSoftware announced on October 29, 2026 via the game’s official X account that The Duskbloods, its Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive multiplayer action game, has moved from a 2026 launch window to 2027. The studio said development is at the ‘final adjustment stage’ and that the extra time will go to game rules and balancing.
What FromSoftware Said
The statement reads: “While development of ‘The Duskbloods’ is at the final adjustment stage, we have made the decision to move the launch window to 2027. We apologize to players who have been kindly awaiting the release of this title and thank you for your patience and support. During the network test, we saw active interest in the core concepts of the game, including combat, strategic depth, and player expression. To further enhance these aspects, we have decided to move the launch, allowing time for final adjustments to game rules and balancing.”
The message does not name a month, quarter, or specific release date in 2027, and it does not list which rules will change or say whether another public test will run before launch.
What The Duskbloods Is
Nintendo’s official game description for the Closed Network Test describes The Duskbloods as a PvPvE multiplayer action game. It features battles between up to eight players and combat against enemies. Players take the role of a member of the ‘Bloodsworn of Dusk’, a fighter who has gained powers beyond human limits through special blood, and battle over the ‘First Blood’.
The project comes from FromSoftware, the studio behind Dark Souls and Elden Ring. The Duskbloods is a multiplayer PvPvE game with no announced solo campaign, and the ‘First Blood’ objective frames each match as a fight over a central resource.
A Delay Tied to the Network Test
The delay statement ties the decision directly to the August 2026 Closed Network Test. FromSoftware said the test showed “active interest in the core concepts of the game, including combat, strategic depth, and player expression.” The studio then frames the move as a way “to further enhance these aspects” through final adjustments to game rules and balancing.
FromSoftware ran a closed test on the Switch 2, observed how players approached eight-player PvPvE combat, and decided to tune the rules before release. For a game built around eight-player PvPvE matches, balance pressure is higher than in a typical solo action game. Each player’s build, the enemy threats, and the fight over the ‘First Blood’ all interact in the same match, so a small rule change can alter combat pacing, player expression, and the strategic value of different approaches.
Switch 2 Lineup Impact
The Nintendo Switch 2 now loses one of its major third-party exclusives from the 2026 window. The Duskbloods was slated for 2026 as a FromSoftware multiplayer game available only on Switch 2. Moving it to 2027 removes it from the console’s 2026 holiday slate, and with no other FromSoftware Switch 2 project announced for 2026, the studio’s presence on the console drops to zero for the year. For Switch 2 owners who wanted a FromSoftware multiplayer title in 2026, the wait now stretches into an unspecified point in 2027.
What ‘Final Adjustment Stage’ Signals
The phrase ‘final adjustment stage’ points to tuning work on game rules and balancing. FromSoftware gives no narrower 2027 date, so the actual release window remains open until the studio provides another update.
