It sounds like fans were eager to learn everything they could about From Software’s The Duskbloods, as one of the game’s producers has revealed the Switch 2 exclusive saw higher playtest sign-ups compared to Elden Ring Nightreign.
Speaking during a livestream hosted by Japanese gaming publication Famitsu (and translated by GamesRadar+), From Software producer Yasuhiro Kitao stated the number of applications for The Duskbloods playtest eclipsed that of the developer’s previous multiplayer experiment.
“We were really surprised,” Kitao said.
Given that Elden Ring Nightreign’s playtest was available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S (the full game was also available on PC and last-gen consoles) the fact that The Duskbloods received more interest on Switch 2 sounds like it should be impossible. The Switch 2 is also a relatively new console, having only been available for around a year, meaning its user base is much smaller compared to that of the other two consoles.
While it is surprising on the surface, perhaps there is some logic to be deciphered here. Elden Ring Nightreign went on to sell more than 5 million copies, with its DLC alone selling 2 million copies in under a week. The game’s popularity and success proved From Software could make a wildly fun, multiplayer-focused souls-like, perhaps generating more interest for The Duskbloods.
It also probably helped that there was almost no information known about The Duskbloods prior to the closed network test, encouraging players who wanted to learn more to sign up. While players knew it was multiplayer in nature, the exact structure of The Duskbloods, its playable classes, and its mechanics were all a mystery. The Duskbloods being helmed by legendary From Software director Hidetaka Miyazaki also doesn’t hurt.
Such a large number of playtest applications bodes well for The Duskbloods, even if the network test got off to a rough start with server and connectivity issues that saw From Software cancel its first session. The test also served as the world’s first introduction to Zork, one of the game’s playable characters that has already become a bit of a meme.
GameSpot’s Jake Dekker came away impressed during his hands-on The Duskbloods preview, saying he’d “never played anything like it” and “couldn’t wait to play more.” The Duskbloods is still slated to release sometime this year but does not currently have a release date.