Duskbloods Keeps the Most Iconic Soulslike Feature (Not Combat!)

The Duskbloods represents a significant new direction for FromSoftware, building on the live-service multiplayer elements they explored in Elden Ring Nightreign. Although both games share an always-online focus with cooperative and competitive elements, The Duskbloods offers a uniquely innovative experience that sets it apart.

Elden Ring Nightreign is essentially an extension of the Elden Ring universe, but The Duskbloods is a completely new world created by FromSoftware. Development on The Duskbloods began as early as 2019, meaning it was in progress before the massive success of Elden Ring and the positive reception of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. This is important because The Duskbloods isn’t simply a result of those recent hits, or an attempt to expand on Nightreign. Everything suggests this is a bold, original project from FromSoftware – possibly their biggest release since Elden Ring. Therefore, the game’s story and atmosphere are just as crucial as its gameplay and exploration.

The Duskbloods will release exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 sometime in 2026.

How Blood History and Fate Work in The Duskbloods

The Duskbloods’ Lore Will Be Nothing to Sneeze At

Okay, so like all FromSoftware games, they’re being super mysterious about the story of The Duskbloods! But from what I’ve gathered from trailers and interviews, you play as part of a clan called the Bloodsworn – or the Duskbloods, as they’re also known. It seems they’re all competing across different times and places to get something called First Blood. Apparently, this First Blood is connected to the end of humanity – an event they’re calling the Twilight of Humanity. It’s all pretty intriguing, but still a lot of mystery!

Lore in The Duskbloods Will Be Delivered Unconventionally

FromSoftware games, particularly those led by Hidetaka Miyazaki, tell their stories in a very unusual and indirect way. They don’t rely on typical cutscenes or dialogue; instead, characters often speak in riddles and poetic speeches. You learn the most about the game’s story by carefully observing the world around you – the environments, the enemies, and especially by reading the descriptions of the items you find.

While details about how items will work in The Duskbloods haven’t been released yet, Hidetaka Miyazaki has indicated the game will share core storytelling approaches with his previous work. He mentioned this in a recent Nintendo interview, stating:

I always enjoy hiding bits of story and world details in the games I create, letting players piece things together themselves. The Duskbloods is designed with that same approach.

He explained that players will be able to customize their characters in a central hub, and this will be presented as changing their character’s background and destiny. This customization will affect not only how a character looks and what they can do, but also their personality and how they interact with others in the game.

Blood History and Fate and FromSoftware Switching Things Up

Miyazaki later characterized the storytelling in The Duskbloods as “fragmentary,” which is similar to how FromSoftware usually presents its narratives. However, The Duskbloods differs because the story focuses on the player character’s personal history and destiny. In past FromSoftware games, lore pieces typically explained the world around the player, but in The Duskbloods, those pieces might reveal details about the player character themselves.

What Blood History and Fate Could Mean for The Duskbloods

As a fan, I’ve been thinking about what “blood history and fate” really means for these characters. It could just be their personal backstory, but it’s also really interesting to consider that it might relate to who gave them their powers in the first place – their lineage of blood donors, so to speak. It reminds me a lot of Vampire: The Masquerade, where each vampire clan has a specific bloodline tracing back to ancient founders. There are six clans, and each one is defined by its unique blood and the original vampire it comes from.

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That explains the connection to the past, but not necessarily what’s destined to happen. However, given that The Duskblood involves time travel, it’s reasonable to think this “fate” refers to events that haven’t happened yet. Without limits on when things can occur, and with so many characters to play as, the game’s history and fate could create a really rich and detailed story, both for the characters themselves and the world around them. Hopefully, presenting this story through a character customization system will make it easier to understand than the storytelling in other games made by FromSoftware.

Honestly, I’m really curious to see how the whole blood history and fate system will shake out in this game. FromSoftware usually ties character progression, story, and how you customize your character together, but this feels different – way more focused on my character’s story. This ‘Duskbloods’ thing is sounding cooler and cooler, and I’m hoping FromSoft keeps taking risks and it all pays off!

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2025-12-21 17:04