Bloodborne Fans Hail Switch 2 Exclusive: The Duskbloods

The biggest surprise of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct might have been a third-party title. Announced toward the end of the presentation, FromSoftware is working on a completely new game titled The Duskbloods, which bears some remarkable parallels to the beloved PlayStation 4 exclusive, Bloodborne.

The Duskbloods is a brand-new game, to be clear, scheduled for a global release sometime in 2026 and exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2. Playing as the "Bloodsworn," a faction that has transcended humanity through special blood, players will engage in brutal combat to become the "First Blood."

According to a press release from FromSoftware, The Duskbloods is a PvPvE experience with "online multiplayer at its core," featuring battles for supremacy among up to eight players. So while the blood, guns, and machinery evoke memories of Bloodborne, it may also share significant ground with the upcoming Elden Ring Nightreign, albeit with a stronger PvP focus rather than purely cooperative PvE.

Beyond cryptic hints and glimpses of terrifying creatures and bosses, details remain scarce. Still, the Bloodborne community is having a wide range of reactions.

"BLOOD! EVERY FIVE SECONDS THEY MENTIONED BLOOD!" exclaimed one commenter in the r/Bloodborne subreddit discussion about The Duskbloods. Another stated: "That game is absolutely Bloodborne 2. I suspect the name change is due to a different setting or Sony's exclusivity rights."

Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 - The Dusk Bloods

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Even though The Duskbloods is a distinct entity, the connections prompting fans to view it as a spiritual successor to Bloodborne are easy to spot. While other Souls games and Elden Ring have reached multiple platforms—with Elden Ring even getting a Tarnished Edition confirmed for the Switch 2—Bloodborne has remained a PlayStation 4 exclusive since launch, never even receiving a PC port. Fans have longed for a port, sequel, or any related content for years.

"Nintendo really got tired of waiting for Bloodborne 2 and decided to fund it themselves," suggested another commenter. A reply noted that, much like Bloodborne, The Duskbloods is currently a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive. "Bloodborne was always exclusive, so this is on brand," added another replier.

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

Some commenters began expressing muted enthusiasm upon learning The Duskbloods is a PvPvE experience. Threads have emerged where fans discover this detail and subsequently note that, between the multiplayer focus and Switch 2 exclusivity, their eagerness for The Duskbloods has somewhat diminished.

More information about The Duskbloods is expected soon, as Nintendo will publish an interview with director Hidetaka Miyazaki on its website on April 4. This will presumably clarify how The Duskbloods will function, what its PvPvE gameplay entails, and whether it can truly satisfy the Bloodborne fans who have clung to hope for so long.

For a full rundown of today's announcements, check out our summary of everything revealed during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct.

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