The Duskbloods Network Test Cancellation Raises Questions About PvP and Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusivity

The planned Duskbloods network test was meant to give players their first proper taste of FromSoftware’s new game, but the first session has now been canceled due to server issues. That’s left you wondering if the rest of the weekend’s sessions will still go ahead or if the cancelation impacts the whole schedule. 

Most of the information available right now comes from recent previews since players haven’t had a chance to experience the game themselves. Those previews have also shown different aspects of the game, making it difficult to really know what Duskbloods is trying to offer.

One of the biggest areas of confusion is the game’s focus on PvP. 

Some previews have had a strong emphasis on the player versus player encounters, particularly in the last phase of a match, but other previews have demonstrated that players can also fight enemies, explore the environment, make alliances, and earn Virtue Points in other ways. 

This trend has prompted concern from some that Duskbloods is mainly a PvP game, regardless of the fact that the available information points to there being a number of different ways to play through. There’s also a separate discussion around the game’s Nintendo Switch 2 exclusivity, especially since FromSoftware is known to release its games on different platforms.

The first network test session was canceled when FromSoftware announced that it was experiencing game server issues. The company apologized to players who had been waiting for the first session and explained that the day's session was closed while the team continued working to improve the servers. 

FromSoftware also said that it would announce future schedules at a later date. This means the first session is definitely canceled, but it does not yet confirm what will happen with the remaining sessions planned for the weekend.

The wording of the announcement is also worth paying attention to because FromSoftware referred to future schedules in the plural. That could indicate that multiple new play sessions will eventually be announced, although there is no confirmation about when those sessions will take place.

It is possible that the original weekend schedule will be changed completely, which would mean players may not have the opportunity to play Duskbloods during the planned testing period. For now, there simply is not enough information to say exactly what FromSoftware will do next.

It is important to remember that the purpose of a network test is to find problems like these before the final game is released. 

Server issues during a test can be frustrating, but they also give the developer an opportunity to identify and resolve problems before a much larger number of players enter the game. FromSoftware has experienced similar issues with previous network tests, including server problems that affected Elden Ring Nightreign. 

The cancellation also means you still have not seen the full picture of Duskbloods. The network test would have allowed players to experience some of the game's systems directly, while the recent previews only provide limited information about how everything works together. 

Even so, those previews have revealed that matches revolve around collecting as many Virtue Points as possible. You can earn these points by exploring the environment, finding different things, fighting enemies, and participating in player-versus-player or player-versus-enemy encounters.

The match itself is divided into different phases, with players being eliminated as the game progresses. If you do not have enough Virtue Points by the second phase, the bottom two players out of the eight participants are eliminated. By the end of the third phase, only the top three players remain. 

That description has understandably caused some concern about the amount of PvP in Duskbloods. However, other previews suggest that the final stage does not have to focus entirely on player-versus-player combat. 

There can also be player-versus-enemy situations, meaning the game appears to offer more than one way to approach its different encounters. Looking only at the three-way deathmatch description therefore does not provide the complete picture of how Duskbloods works.

Miyazaki's own comments provide another reason not to describe Duskbloods as a purely PvP-focused game. 

In a recent IGN interview, he explained that he personally is not particularly skilled at high-intensity action games or PvP. He approached the game from the perspective of considering whether there would be systems that could appeal to someone like him, rather than creating an experience aimed only at players who are highly comfortable with intense competitive encounters.

And you have a few other options to progress in Duskbloods without constantly worrying about killing other players. Players can join together in alliances, explore areas for Virtue Points, battle enemies and NPCs, and play various classes with different skills. 

Not all classes or abilities focus on PvP, so you can approach the game according to your own strengths. Even the final three-player phase can create situations where cooperation and different strategies become important.

That does not mean players who are not particularly skilled at PvP will never be at a disadvantage. However, the important point is that Duskbloods appears to give you options rather than forcing every situation into a straightforward one-versus-one battle. 

The three-player final phase, for example, means you may be able to work with another player to deal with a threat instead of relying entirely on your combat ability. There are also parts of the game where you fight enemies instead of other players, so it has more variety than the PvP discussion suggests.

Another major issue with Duskbloods is whether it will be exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2. FromSoftware has partnered with Nintendo throughout the journey, originally intending the game for the first Nintendo Switch before moving it to Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo has also been heavily involved with the game's creative process and is publishing the title. 

Miyazaki recently explained more about why FromSoftware decided to work with Nintendo. 

According to him, the companies discussed the idea for Duskbloods, and Nintendo was excited and receptive to it. He liked the fact that Nintendo was willing to think about how to approach the game before getting into the business side of the partnership. 

Nintendo's involvement also appears to help with some of the game's more complicated systems. Miyazaki explained that the rules and systems in Duskbloods are complex, making feedback, support, additional ideas, and balancing important during development. 

He also acknowledged that FromSoftware has historically been less effective at immediately explaining its games to players, often dropping players into the experience and allowing them to figure things out. Nintendo's experience with tutorials and onboarding could therefore help players better understand how Duskbloods works.

The situation is not exactly the same as Bayonetta, where Nintendo became heavily involved with the series and later entries were available only on Nintendo platforms. A potentially closer comparison is Monster Hunter Rise, which was initially released exclusively for Nintendo Switch before eventually coming to PC. 

However, there is currently no confirmation that Duskbloods will ever come to PC. A PlayStation or XBOX release seems unlikely as well, given how close Nintendo has been with the project and how specifically it was made for the Nintendo Switch 2. 

If FromSoftware does ever release the game elsewhere, PC would likely be the best option for players who don't want to buy Nintendo's new console. Even then, the game could remain a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive permanently.

For now, Duskbloods remains a game surrounded by several unanswered questions. 

The canceled network test has made it harder for players to understand the experience firsthand, while the previews have created debate about how much emphasis the game will place on PvP. 

At the same time, the available information points toward a game with multiple ways to earn Virtue Points, interact with other players, fight enemies, explore, use different abilities, and find a path toward victory.

Until FromSoftware provides another update, you will have to wait for more information about the network test and the game's eventual release plans. The same uncertainty applies to potential versions outside Nintendo Switch 2, particularly a PC release. 

What is clear is that Duskbloods is designed for more than just fighting other players, and Nintendo's involvement has been important to the game's development. The canceled test may be frustrating, but it also gives FromSoftware an opportunity to address the server problems before players get another chance to experience the game.