2026 Release Reconfirmed
Kadokawa's latest earnings report explicitly reconfirms that The Duskbloods remains on track for a worldwide 2026 release on Nintendo Switch 2. This addresses months of community uncertainty following a quiet period after the game's initial announcement.
A specific release date has not been revealed. Given the 2026 window and Kadokawa's reporting cycle, a Nintendo Direct reveal — likely this summer — is the expected venue for a date announcement.
The same report confirms Elden Ring is also coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, making the platform increasingly essential for FromSoftware fans.
What Is The Duskbloods?
Announced during the April 2025 Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, The Duskbloods is FromSoftware's first Nintendo home console exclusive since Lost Kingdoms II in 2003 — a gap of 23 years. More significantly, it is directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, the creative force behind Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring.
This marks the first time Miyazaki has directed an entirely new IP since Bloodborne in 2015.
Core Details
Genre: Multiplayer Action RPG (PvP and PvE)
Players: Up to 8 simultaneously
Character Roster: 12+ playable characters called Bloodsworn — vampire-like figures each with distinct weapons, abilities, and combat philosophies. The reveal trailer showed characters ranging from a steampunk jetpack flier to a creature that bites enemies to absorb their abilities.
Map Structure: Multiple maps supporting both competitive PvP matches and cooperative PvE objectives.
Why This Game Matters
The Bloodborne Successor Question: The gothic atmosphere, vampire aesthetic, and fast-tempo combat shown in the reveal trailer drew immediate comparisons to Bloodborne — a game that remains PlayStation 4/5 exclusive and has seen no PC port or remaster. For fans who have waited years for something in that design space, The Duskbloods represents the most credible candidate currently in development.
FromSoftware's First Multiplayer-First Game: Every prior FromSoftware title was designed around a solo experience with PvP added as a secondary feature. The Duskbloods inverts this — multiplayer is the core design priority. How FromSoftware's storytelling and environmental design philosophy translates to a multiplayer-forward structure is one of the most interesting unknowns in the game.
Nintendo Platform Access: This is the first time FromSoftware's full-production-value games have been available on Nintendo hardware. Switch 2 owners who have never experienced Miyazaki's design work will have direct access to a new entry in that lineage.
Community Reaction
Since the Kadokawa reconfirmation, community response has been strong.
""After months of silence this is exactly what I needed to hear. 2026 is suddenly much more interesting." — ResetEra
""Elden Ring AND The Duskbloods on Switch 2 — Miyazaki fans now need to own Nintendo hardware and that's genuinely wild." — r/Eldenring
""The Bloodborne comparisons in the trailer were obvious and I don't care. I want this." — r/FromSouls
What's Next
The next major reveal will almost certainly come at a Nintendo Direct, likely in summer 2026. The 2026 release window gives limited room for further delay before Kadokawa's reporting becomes an issue — which suggests a concrete date is coming soon.
Both The Duskbloods and Elden Ring for Switch 2 remain confirmed targets. The combination makes Nintendo Switch 2 a significantly more compelling platform for action RPG players than it was at launch.