FromSoftware producer Yasuhiro Kitao revealed during a Famitsu live stream that the closed network test for The Duskbloods attracted more applicants than the earlier playtest for Elden Ring: Nightreign.
The remark highlights growing interest in FromSoftware’s multiplayer testing on Nintendo’s latest hardware and offers a rare window into player engagement ahead of formal launches.
The Duskbloods is an upcoming title from FromSoftware.
Elden Ring, the studio’s landmark release, launched on February 25, 2022, and was published by Bandai Namco Entertainment.
FromSoftware has built a reputation for challenging single-player and multiplayer design across franchises including Dark Souls, Sekiro, and Elden Ring, and the studio’s approach to network tests and playtests is closely watched by players and industry observers alike.
Kitao’s comments, delivered on the Famitsu broadcast, were direct: the team was surprised that more people applied for The Duskbloods closed network test than had signed up for the Elden Ring: Nightreign playtest.
He noted the newness of the Nintendo Switch 2 as a contextual factor and pointed to differences in public perception between the two tests.
Kitao explained that many players initially overlooked the Nightreign playtest because of its multiplayer focus, but that the title drew significant player interest after launch as people experienced it firsthand.
As a result, he said, a larger-than-expected group of players decided to apply for The Duskbloods test this time around.
Rewritten in journalistic terms, Kitao’s observation was: FromSoftware was surprised to find higher application numbers for The Duskbloods’ closed network test than for the Nightreign playtest.
He attributed that shift to the Switch 2’s recent arrival and to Nightreign’s multiplayer nature, which may have led players to skip the initial playtest but embrace the game after experiencing it post-launch — prompting more applications for subsequent tests.
The revelation is notable because closed network tests and playtests serve as key feedback channels for developers, especially when adapting to new hardware like the Nintendo Switch 2.
FromSoftware’s ongoing use of public testing windows will remain an important indicator of player appetite and the studio’s multiplayer ambitions as it prepares these titles for wider release.
The remark highlights growing interest in FromSoftware’s multiplayer testing on Nintendo’s latest hardware and offers a rare window into player engagement ahead of formal launches.
The Duskbloods is an upcoming title from FromSoftware.
Elden Ring, the studio’s landmark release, launched on February 25, 2022, and was published by Bandai Namco Entertainment.
FromSoftware has built a reputation for challenging single-player and multiplayer design across franchises including Dark Souls, Sekiro, and Elden Ring, and the studio’s approach to network tests and playtests is closely watched by players and industry observers alike.
Kitao’s comments, delivered on the Famitsu broadcast, were direct: the team was surprised that more people applied for The Duskbloods closed network test than had signed up for the Elden Ring: Nightreign playtest.
He noted the newness of the Nintendo Switch 2 as a contextual factor and pointed to differences in public perception between the two tests.
Kitao explained that many players initially overlooked the Nightreign playtest because of its multiplayer focus, but that the title drew significant player interest after launch as people experienced it firsthand.
As a result, he said, a larger-than-expected group of players decided to apply for The Duskbloods test this time around.
Rewritten in journalistic terms, Kitao’s observation was: FromSoftware was surprised to find higher application numbers for The Duskbloods’ closed network test than for the Nightreign playtest.
He attributed that shift to the Switch 2’s recent arrival and to Nightreign’s multiplayer nature, which may have led players to skip the initial playtest but embrace the game after experiencing it post-launch — prompting more applications for subsequent tests.
The revelation is notable because closed network tests and playtests serve as key feedback channels for developers, especially when adapting to new hardware like the Nintendo Switch 2.
FromSoftware’s ongoing use of public testing windows will remain an important indicator of player appetite and the studio’s multiplayer ambitions as it prepares these titles for wider release.
