The Duskbloods, revealed as part of the recent Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, will not feature fully customizable characters like Elden Ring or Dark Souls, developer From Software has confirmed, but will instead allow players to choose from a cast of “over a dozen” characters that can be customized.
When The Duskbloods was first revealed, many thought it was akin to the PlayStation 4-exclusive Bloodborne. That, however, is not the case, as the game is an eight-player, multiplayer-focused PvPvE title. In a new developer interview with The Duskbloods’ director and From Software president Hidetaka Miyazaki, he revealed more details about the game’s PvPvE nature and the unique “Bloodsworn” characters players will be able to choose from.
Rather than making a character from scratch, players will get to choose from over a dozen unique characters that have their “own identity and appearance,” as well as unique weapons. Each character will have a weapon or tool to deal damage at a distance, as well the ability to summon an NPC to help them in battle.
Every Bloodsworn hero can also be customized. Miyazaki said characters can be “customized to a certain extent, allowing players the fun of building a character that feels like their own.” Customization comes in the form of altering each character’s “blood history and fate,” Miyazaki said, which will have an effect on character abilities, appearance, and even how they might interact with other players. Progression will come from playing matches and completing objectives, which can then be used to further upgrade and customize each Bloodsworn character.
As for what players are actually trying to do during a session of The Duskbloods, Miyazaki said players will be competing to complete objectives, obtain Victory Points, and be the last Bloodsworn standing. There will also be personal objectives or special events to complete that will grant various rewards. Players will have some control over these, as Miyazaki said players can assign a “Role” to their character that may see players rewarded for teaming up with or eliminating a specific target.
It’s a big departure for From Software’s usual RPG fare, but already sounds similar to the studio’s next game, Elden Ring: Nightreign. The multiplayer Elden Ring spin-off also features a roster of hero-like characters to choose from, as players team up to survive and defeat bosses over the course of a match. From Software recently revealed a new playable hero coming to Elden Ring: Nightreign, the bow-wielding Ironeye.
Despite the multiplayer focus of both Nightreign and The Duskbloods, Miyazaki said From Software isn’t giving up on single-player games. He also said the The Duskbloods originally started as a project for the first Nintendo Switch, before revamping the game’s development with the new Switch 2 hardware in mind.
The Switch 2 is still currently set to release on June 5, though preorders in the US have now been delayed as a result of new US tariff policies that could result in a price increase or a delay. The Duskbloods, meanwhile, is slated to release as a Switch 2 exclusive in 2026.