Nestled in the jam-packed Switch 2 Direct was an unexpected FromSoftware announcement: the company's newest entry, releasing exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2 sometime in 2026. In an even more surprising twist, The Duskbloods is not a traditional FromSoftware game. The lauded developer is foregoing their tried and true single-player format to instead opt for a PvPvE title.

With both Nightreign and Duskbloods, FromSoftware has been focusing part of their attention on multiplayer experiences. However, PvPvE is not a run-of-the-mill sub-genre. Most of the games within its purview can be quite ruthless, competitive experiences, which ultimately makes the games Switch 2 exclusively standout among the console's more traditional, fun for the whole family catalog. The Duskbloods, then, finds itself placed within a surprising genre, and with exclusivity to an even more surprising console.

Nightreign & Duskbloods Show FromSoftware Is Interested In Popular Multiplayer Genres

FromSoftware Is Riding The Wave

As evidenced by their recent genre choices, FromSoftware is pursuing a very heavy push into the multiplayer market. While the studio is no stranger to multiplayer elements (co-op and PvP are Souls staples), these games are the company's first real attempt at full-fledged multiplayer games. What's more, both games find themselves within trending sub-genres (Nightreign is a co-op roguelike, and Duskbloods is PvPvE).

In Nightreign's case, the roguelike genre has shown its resilience as countless new games enter the competitive space constantly. It's a logical choice, as the genre's staple of replayability hinges not on an overabundance of content, such as is the case with Elden Ring's staggering map size, but rather, on the unpredictability of ever-changing runs. It's a genre that has proven to be successful with its tighter scope, despite its undeniable saturation.

The Duskbloods' player count will no doubt be at its peak on day one, but it could fade quickly.

In the case of The Duskbloods, PvPvE is a style of game that can applied, primarily, to two major genres: battle royale and extraction. While other incarnations of this genre exist, unless heavy experimentation is on the docket, The Duskbloods will likely fall into one of the two. Battle royales need no introduction, but extraction games, while popular, can often find themselves limited to a hardcore niche. Look no further than Dark and Darker or Escape From Tarkov, which boast a similar degree of replayability to traditional roguelikes, but with the added element of increased stakes, and exceedingly high skill ceilings.

PvPvE Can Be A Ruthlessly Competitive Genre

A Genre Full Of Brutal Games

The PvPvE genre is one that, regardless of its style, often lends itself to harsh competition. Take the extraction genre, which itself is a twist on battle royales. The heart of the gameplay loop lies in continuously looting items from some version of a dungeon in an ever-present drive to increase the power of a character. However, this continuous character development is offset by the stakes which are unique to the genre. Dying in an extraction game will often see your character's entire inventory lost. It's a perpetual balancing act, where increasing character power brings with it an increased risk of serious loss.

While battle royales can certainly be more casual endeavors, especially when compared to extraction games, PvP will always bring with it a degree of competition.

It's a difficult genre to casually jump into a game with, as the ever-present threat of losing progress looms above each match. Those stakes, though, are what makes the genre exciting from both a PvP and PvE standpoint. As will likely be the case with The Duskbloods, boss fights become even more threatening than typical, often requiring a significant amount of progression to undertake, which raises the stakes of the individual fight. Overall, it's a genre that brings with it an inevitable element of often brutal competition.

The Duskbloods Exclusivity May Disappoint Souls PvP Fans

Dedicated Souls PvP, Only On Switch

This competition is a large part why The Duskbloods' Switch 2 exclusivity is a strange choice. When I think of competitive experiences, Nintendo does not often come to mind. For FromSoftware fans, I have no doubt that the unveiling of this decision came with a few eye-rolls and disappointments, especially with the already prominent backlash over the Switch 2's pricing, which affects The Duskbloods as yet another barrier to entry. And then there's the subscription required to play an online game on Nintendo consoles.

While other consoles aren't strangers to paid online services, PlayStation and Xbox sweeten the deal with free games and bonuses. The Switch, once again, is not typically a console I think of when considering online experiences, and even when those experiences do occur, they are often bookended by antiquated, cumbersome systems.

Multiplayer games live and die by their player bases. Due to being singleplayer, Bloodborne can still be enjoyed just as much today as when it was first released. Conversely, The Duskbloods' player count will no doubt be at its peak on day one, but it could fade quickly. It's a very real concern that The Duskbloods, with the strange circumstances of its release, may not flourish into a long-term title. For Souls PvP fans who have been eagerly awaiting a dedicated experience, The Duskbloods brings with it far too many caveats that sour the whole ordeal.

Business is business, but it's disappointing that The Duskbloods may not be able to enjoy its full potential because of that. In different circumstances, I would have awaited The Duskbloods and its dedicated Souls-like PvP experience with open arms. As of now, though, I'm doubtful it will offer enough incentive to justify the countless purchases that must be made to enjoy it, and I'm not the only one making that realization.