The Duskbloods, From Software’s new game and one of the Switch 2’s biggest exclusives, was missing-in-action during the September Nintendo Direct.
That normally wouldn’t be too shocking, except for the fact The Duskbloods is still slated to release this year. With less than four months to go until the end of the year, the window for The Duskbloods is closing.
One might have assumed the next game from the creators of Elden Ring would receive a release date as part of the presentation, as well as perhaps a glimpse at some of the maps and playable characters not featured in a recent The Duskbloods closed network test. The fact it wasn’t shown or mentioned at all is more than a little worrying.
The closed network test for The Duskbloods in August didn’t exactly go as planned, with From Software actually cancelling the first day of sessions due to technical difficulties and server issues. Its problems were later resolved for the playtests’ subsequent days, allowing players to jump in and take a stab at The Duskbloods’ unique blend of cooperative and competitive soulsborne action. It wouldn’t be surprising if, given the network test, From Software realized it needed more time to iron out The Duskbloods online multiplayer kinks.
Nintendo could, of course, be waiting to hold a special The Duskbloods Direct in the coming weeks just ahead of the game’s launch. It’s an approach Nintendo has been fond of more recently, holding dedicated Directs for big games like its Star Fox remake, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, and the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. In the case of Star Fox and Ocarina of Time, both games received release dates as part of their dedicated presentations.
A similar scenario could definitely play out with The Duskbloods, though it’s still odd that the game was a no-show at a presentation dedicated to games coming this winter and early next year.
Whether The Duskbloods will release this year, or be pushed into 2027, remains to be seen. Demand, however, is certainly there. A From Software employee recently revealed interest in The Duskbloods playtest surpassed that of Elden Ring Nightreign’s.
Though we didn’t get another look or release date for The Duskbloods, there were some big announcements during the latest Nintendo Direct. Metroid Ravenous, a new 2D entry in the series, is coming early next year. An open-world Kirby game, Kirby and the World Beyond, is slated for Spring 2027.