The Duskbloods network test applications are open today, giving Nintendo Switch 2 owners their first real shot at playing FromSoftware’s most unusual project in years before it launches.
If you’ve been waiting to get your hands on the studio’s follow-up to Elden Ring, this is the moment. Applications went live this morning at 7 am PT / 10 am ET / 3 pm BST through the official Duskbloods website, and the window stays open until July 28 at 6:59 am PT. Miss that deadline and you’ll have to wait for the full release.
How to apply, step by step
Head to the official network test site and submit your application there — there’s no in-game sign-up process, so don’t waste time digging through the Nintendo eShop looking for it. FromSoftware has said applications are processed in the order they’re received, and spots are limited, so there’s a real incentive to apply early rather than waiting until the last day of the window.
You’ll need two things to be eligible: a Nintendo Switch 2 console, and an active Nintendo Switch Online membership. No Switch 2 or lapsed membership means no test, regardless of how fast you apply.
Selected applicants will be announced on August 7 at 6 am PT. If you’re chosen, you’ll receive a download code through the network test website, and the pre-release build becomes available on the Nintendo eShop starting August 18. The actual test sessions run August 21 through 24, split into five separate four-hour windows — so even successful applicants will only get limited hands-on time, not unrestricted access for the full four days.
What The Duskbloods actually is
This is a genuinely big swing for FromSoftware. Everything the studio has built its reputation on — Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Elden Ring — centers on solo exploration with optional multiplayer bolted on. The Duskbloods flips that completely. It’s multiplayer-only, with no offline mode, and it requires an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription just to play at all.
Players take on the role of the Bloodsworn, fighting both AI enemies and up to seven other players simultaneously in a PvPvE format across settings pulled from different historical eras — Gothic, Victorian, and early modern locations all make an appearance. Temporary alliances can form mid-match, but the game is built around a single winner: whoever ends up claiming the “First Blood,” a mysterious blood-based power that transforms both your character and your combat style as the match goes on.
Director Hidetaka Miyazaki has confirmed he’s still directly involved with the project, and FromSoftware has stated single-player titles remain in development elsewhere at the studio — so this isn’t a full pivot away from what the studio is known for, just a genuinely different experiment running alongside it.
Why the network test matters
FromSoftware has been clear that the main purpose here is technical, not promotional. The stated goal is checking server load and observing how the game handles many players in different network environments simultaneously, ahead of a release window the studio still hasn’t nailed down beyond “sometime in 2026.” Given how much of The Duskbloods’ identity depends on stable eight-player matches actually working, this test carries more weight than a typical pre-launch demo would.
It’s also worth noting FromSoftware is treating the test with real secrecy — the Switch 2’s capture button will reportedly be disabled entirely during sessions, and sharing screenshots or clips isn’t permitted. If you’re also tracking other big Switch 2 exclusives this year, our breakdown of Splatoon Raiders’ unexpected development history is worth a look, and if you want a sense of what else publishers are lining up around Gamescom 2026, that’s shaping up to be one of the biggest shows in years.
If you want a shot at playing The Duskbloods months before launch, the window is short and competitive. Apply on the official site before July 28, make sure your Switch Online membership is active, and keep an eye out for that August 7 selection announcement. Given how central online stability is to this particular game, how this test goes could tell us a lot about whether FromSoftware’s biggest departure yet is actually ready.