The first The Duskbloods network test session is off to a rough start after server problems prevented many participants from logging in and even forced FromSoftware to end its first scheduled session early. FromSoftware’s upcoming The Duskbloods marks a notable shift toward multiplayer for the studio, built around PvPvE matches with up to eight players, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Some technical trouble was always a possibility given what FromSoftware actually wanted to accomplish with the recent The Duskbloods network test. The developer specifically designed it to put its servers under heavy load and identify multiplayer problems across different network environments, collecting information it can use to adjust the game before release. Selected Switch 2 owners were originally supposed to participate in several sessions running from August 21 through August 23, with matches supporting multiple players to test precisely the stress points FromSoftware needed them to test. So overall, finding problems with The Duskbloods’ multiplayer was part of the assignment.
The Duskbloods Network Test Ends Early After Server Issues
Unfortunately, many players struggled to get far enough to actually even test The Duskbloods. On August 21, participants began reporting login problems shortly after the first session started, leaving users unable to connect to the game’s servers and enter matches. FromSoftware Player Support acknowledged it was investigating the issue, but the situation didn’t improve enough to keep the session going. The studio eventually closed the first Duskbloods network test session early, then announced it on Twitter and apologized to players who had been waiting, saying it would keep improving the servers before sharing information about future sessions.
Players have responded with plenty of frustration, understandably. Some participants said they woke up early or rearranged their schedules specifically for the chance to play, only to spend their time attempting to connect to no avail. At the same time, the situation has already become something of a joke within the community, with one popular Reddit response describing it as a test that “failed successfully.” Others have taken a more forgiving view, pointing out that breaking the servers during a test is preferable to discovering the same weakness when The Duskbloods launches and paying customers are trying to play.
That distinction matters when judging how concerning the situation really is. Being unable to play is obviously a disappointing first impression for the people selected to participate, but a network test is fundamentally different from a finished game’s launch. FromSoftware deliberately invited players to put unfinished infrastructure under pressure, and the first session appears to have exposed a more severe connection problem than anticipated. What matters now is whether the studio can use what it learned to improve stability. For a multiplayer FromSoftware game centered on eight-player PvPvE matches, dependable servers will be every bit as important as combat balance in the full release.
FromSoftware originally planned additional testing periods following the August 21 opening, but the studio’s latest statement leaves their status uncertain. Rather than confirming that the remaining sessions will proceed as scheduled, it says more information about future testing will be announced later. If the servers stabilize quickly, this rough start could ultimately become little more than an inconvenient but useful stress test. However, if the same connection problems continue, they may become a bigger concern for The Duskbloods as it moves toward its planned 2026 release date. For now, the first Duskbloods gameplay session may have been a bad time for players, but potentially a valuable one for FromSoftware.
- Released
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2026
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer
- Number of Players
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1-8 players
