Bloodborne Fans Hail The Duskbloods as Switch 2 Exclusive

The most unexpected reveal from the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct might have been a third-party title. Announced near the end of the presentation, FromSoftware is creating an entirely new game called The Duskbloods, which bears some remarkable similarities to the beloved PlayStation 4 exclusive, Bloodborne.

To be clear, The Duskbloods is a brand-new game, scheduled for a global release in 2026 and exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2. Players take on the role of the "Bloodsworn," a faction that has transcended humanity through special blood, engaging in brutal combat to become the "First Blood."

According to a FromSoftware press release, The Duskbloods is a PvPvE experience with "online multiplayer at its core," supporting up to eight players battling for victory. So while the dark aesthetic, firearms, and machinery evoke memories of Bloodborne, it may also share similarities with the upcoming Elden Ring Nightreign, though with a greater focus on PvP rather than purely cooperative PvE.

Beyond cryptic teases and glimpses of terrifying creatures and bosses, we didn’t get much more information. Still, Bloodborne fans have been sharing a wide range of reactions.

"BLOOD! EVERY FIVE SECONDS THEY TALKED ABOUT BLOOD!" one Reddit user commented in the r/Bloodborne thread about The Duskbloods. Another wrote, "That game is 100% Bloodborne 2. I’m guessing the name change is either due to a different setting or Sony's exclusivity rights."

Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 - The Dusk Bloods

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Although The Duskbloods is its own distinct experience, the connections are clear enough for fans to view it as a spiritual successor to Bloodborne. While FromSoftware’s Souls games and Elden Ring have made their way to other platforms — with Elden Ring even getting a Tarnished Edition for the Switch 2 — Bloodborne has remained a PlayStation 4 exclusive since its launch, never even receiving a PC port. Fans have been hoping for a sequel, remaster, or any new Bloodborne content for years.

"Nintendo really got tired of waiting for Bloodborne 2 and just decided to fund it themselves," another commenter noted. Someone else pointed out that, much like Bloodborne, The Duskbloods is currently a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive. "Bloodborne was always an exclusive — this is totally on brand," a replier added.

The announcement certainly ignited excitement among the Bloodborne faithful, though reality began to set in with confirmation that the game appears to be a battle royale style experience, rather than the single-player RPG typically expected from FromSoftware.

Some fans expressed reduced enthusiasm upon learning that The Duskbloods is a PvPvE game. Threads quickly emerged with players sharing their discovery, noting that between the multiplayer focus and Switch 2 exclusivity, their excitement might be tempered.

We should learn more about The Duskbloods soon, as Nintendo plans to publish an interview with director Hidetaka Miyazaki on its website on April 4. This will likely clarify how the game functions, what its PvPvE mechanics entail, and whether it can truly satisfy Bloodborne fans who have been waiting so long for something new.

For a full overview of today’s announcements, check out our recap of everything revealed at the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct.

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