Everything You Need to Know About The Duskbloods August Test

The Duskbloods’ 2026 release date is still on the cards, and FromSoftware is giving fans a chance to play it in August, through a Network Test on Nintendo Switch 2 that will give the servers a good kicking before launch.

It’s no secret that the Nintendo Switch 2’s first year has been lacking must-have exclusives, with Pokémon Pokopia and Donkey Kong Bananza carrying the system on their backs. There’s one third-party game that fans have been dying to play, and it’s The Duskbloods, a multiplayer action RPG by FromSoftware that’s set in a gothic/industrial world that kind of looks like the one from Bloodborne.

While Nintendo and FromSoftware are adamant that The Duskbloods is launching in 2026, there’s no word on a release date, which is troubling, given how many games are avoiding a certain title in November. The game is still coming, as the official The Duskbloods Twitter/X account has given new details about the upcoming Network Test, which is set to launch in August.

How To Join The Duskbloods Network Test

The most important thing to note about The Duskbloods is that it’s a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, meaning FromSoftware fans on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox will have to sate themselves on Elden Ring Nightreign if they want their multiplayer fix. The Duskbloods is only on the Nintendo Switch 2, and with the console’s price increasing in September, fans should consider buying one sooner rather than later.

To sign up for The Duskbloods Network Test, players will need a Nintendo Account and will need to sign up via the event’s official website, where they’ll be asked to provide their country of residence and language. The sign-ups will begin July 22nd (Wednesday) at 16:00 CEST and end on July 28th (Tuesday) at 15:59 CEST. Fans will be made aware if they’ve been picked on August 7th (Friday) at 15:00 CEST.

The Network Test itself is set to run at specific times and on specific days, running from August 21–24. The dates and times for The Duskbloods Network Test are:

The goal of the Network Test is to see how well the game runs, how the servers hold up under pressure, and to give the developers a chance to fine-tune the gameplay balance of certain moves and weapons. Each match can accommodate up to 8 players, and FromSoftware has warned that bugs are a distinct possibility.

It’ll be exciting to finally see what The Duskbloods is made of, as while the game had an amazing debut trailer, barely anything has been shown since. Fans are concerned that it’s suffering the same fate as Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition and is struggling to run on the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware, despite being made for the system.

If The Duskbloods Network Test works out well, then it shouldn’t be too long until the game launches. The big question then is whether FromSoftware’s next big game will be pushed to 2027 or go up against the titan that is Grand Theft Auto 6 at the end of the year.