While developer FromSoftware had unveiled its next title – The Duskbloods – earlier this year, the developer has been generally quiet about it. According to VICE, an insider has leaked some new details about the title, confirming that it had started development all the way back in 2019. They also noted that the studio has spent more time working on the core gameplay of The Duskbloods than it has on any of its previous titles.
According to the insider, development for The Duskbloods had been greenlit internally at FromSoftware quite some time ago; even before it started marketing for 2019’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. All of this development time has been utilised to create what is apparently “many innovative elements” in the PvPvE gameplay that the team itself is proud of.
“From what I know, The Duskbloods was greenlit even earlier than the marketing period for Sekiro’s release,” said the insider. “It is the FromSoftware title that has spent the longest time purely on gameplay prototyping and validation among all of their games so far. Although it’s PVE and PVP, it reportedly contains many innovative elements that the team themselves are very proud of.”
As for FromSoftware’s overall silence about the title, the studio has reportedly been waiting until it has released the first planned expansion for Elden Ring: Nightreign – The Forsaken Hollows before it starts the marketing for The Duskbloods. Since the expansion is slated for release on December 4, this would indicate that the upcoming The Game Awards 2025 would be a major enough event for FromSoftware to release a new trailer for The Duskbloods.
The Duskbloods was first unveiled all the way back in April alongside the Nintendo Switch 2. The title will be multiplayer-only, throwing 8 players into a PvPvE zone that encourages them to take on AI-controlled enemies as well as each other. According to the studio’s official description, its combat will largely revolve around melee weapons, though there will be other tools available.
FromSoftware has also confirmed that The Duskbloods will offer more than 12 different playable characters, each equipped with their own preferred style of weapons and unique abilities that change how the game is played in fundamental ways. These include changes to even basic character abilities like sprinting and double jumping, which the studio has noted are complemented by each character’s own weapons and abilities.
“The Bloodsworn possess superhuman abilities thanks to special blood, so their actions are more dramatic than anything seen in our previous titles. Even basic character actions in this game, such as sprinting, super jump, and double jump, are designed to be dynamic and stress-free and are complemented by each character’s unique weapons and abilities, allowing for a wide range of creativity.”
In the meantime, Elden Ring: Nightreign – The Forsaken Hollows is bringing with it two new playable characters, a couple of new boss fights, along with a brand new Shifting Earth effect dubbed The Great Hollow. For more details, check out the gameplay reveal trailer from earlier this month.
