FromSoftware’s Switch 2 exclusive The Duskbloods will be publicly playable for the first time during a closed network test running August 21–24, 2026.
The action RPG, which emphasizes multiplayer elements, is scheduled for release on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, a date reconfirmed by publisher Kadokawa.
This weekend provides the first public opportunity to try The Duskbloods.
FromSoftware is operating a limited network test that will be available to selected participants at specified times across the August 21–24 window.
Players chosen for the test can download the app to their Nintendo Switch 2 consoles after obtaining a download code from the game’s official website.
The author has not launched the test client yet, but based on typical public test behavior, the app often opens to a simple menu and may display a message indicating servers are not available outside active test sessions.
Even so, the presence of the test client on Switch 2 hardware highlights how close the project is to hands-on evaluation by players.
Network test schedule (all times Eastern):
- August 21, 6 a.m. – 10 a.m.
ET
- August 21, 10 p.m. – August 22, 2 a.m.
ET
- August 22, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
ET
- August 23, 6 a.m. – 10 a.m.
ET
- August 23, 10 p.m. – August 24, 2 a.m.
ET
How participation works
Selected testers were invited to retrieve a download code from The Duskbloods’ official website.
Once obtained, the code enables installation of the test client on an eligible Nintendo Switch 2 console for the scheduled sessions.
Developer and publisher context
FromSoftware is the developer behind globally recognized action RPGs, including the multi award-winning Elden Ring.
Parent company Kadokawa has publicly stated that The Duskbloods remains on track for a 2026 release on Nintendo Switch 2.
What this means for Switch 2 owners
For Switch 2 owners and observers of Nintendo-focused events like Nintendo Direct, the network test is the first concrete opportunity to experience FromSoftware’s Switch 2 work in any form.
With the closed test now underway, reporting and impressions from participants will be the earliest publicly available signals about gameplay, online systems, and performance on Nintendo’s next-generation handheld-console hardware.
The action RPG, which emphasizes multiplayer elements, is scheduled for release on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, a date reconfirmed by publisher Kadokawa.
This weekend provides the first public opportunity to try The Duskbloods.
FromSoftware is operating a limited network test that will be available to selected participants at specified times across the August 21–24 window.
Players chosen for the test can download the app to their Nintendo Switch 2 consoles after obtaining a download code from the game’s official website.
The author has not launched the test client yet, but based on typical public test behavior, the app often opens to a simple menu and may display a message indicating servers are not available outside active test sessions.
Even so, the presence of the test client on Switch 2 hardware highlights how close the project is to hands-on evaluation by players.
Network test schedule (all times Eastern):
- August 21, 6 a.m. – 10 a.m.
ET
- August 21, 10 p.m. – August 22, 2 a.m.
ET
- August 22, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
ET
- August 23, 6 a.m. – 10 a.m.
ET
- August 23, 10 p.m. – August 24, 2 a.m.
ET
How participation works
Selected testers were invited to retrieve a download code from The Duskbloods’ official website.
Once obtained, the code enables installation of the test client on an eligible Nintendo Switch 2 console for the scheduled sessions.
Developer and publisher context
FromSoftware is the developer behind globally recognized action RPGs, including the multi award-winning Elden Ring.
Parent company Kadokawa has publicly stated that The Duskbloods remains on track for a 2026 release on Nintendo Switch 2.
What this means for Switch 2 owners
For Switch 2 owners and observers of Nintendo-focused events like Nintendo Direct, the network test is the first concrete opportunity to experience FromSoftware’s Switch 2 work in any form.
With the closed test now underway, reporting and impressions from participants will be the earliest publicly available signals about gameplay, online systems, and performance on Nintendo’s next-generation handheld-console hardware.
