The Duskbloods Delayed to 2027 for Final Adjustments

FromSoftware has delayed The Duskbloods, its PvPvE multiplayer title for Nintendo Switch 2, from its planned 2026 release to sometime in 2027. The studio confirmed the change through the game’s official account, saying development has reached its final stage but needs more time for adjustments.

The delay matters for Switch 2 owners who had circled the game as one of the console’s marquee exclusives. FromSoftware had reaffirmed a 2026 window as recently as after its closed network test earlier this year, making this reversal a notable shift for a studio known for Elden Ring and Bloodborne.

“While development of ‘The Duskbloods’ is at the final adjustment stage, we have made the decision to move the launch window to 2027,” the studio said in its announcement. FromSoftware also apologized to players waiting for the game, adding: “We apologize to players who have been kindly awaiting the release of this title and thank you for your patience and support.”

Why FromSoftware Pushed the Launch Back

In a follow-up statement, the studio pointed to feedback gathered during the recent playtest as the reason for the extra development time. “During the network test, we saw active interest in the core concepts of the game, including combat, strategic depth, and player expression. To further enhance these aspects, we have decided to move the launch, allowing time for final adjustments to game rules and balancing,” FromSoftware said.

The statement does not name specific systems being reworked beyond those broad categories. It is unclear whether matchmaking, tutorialization or class balance are the focus, and FromSoftware has not said whether another network test will happen before launch.

What The Duskbloods Is

The Duskbloods is an online PvPvE game, a format that mixes player-versus-player combat with cooperative encounters against the environment, supporting up to eight players per match. Nintendo and FromSoftware are co-publishing the title, which is exclusive to Switch 2. Hidetaka Miyazaki, the director behind Elden Ring and Bloodborne, is serving as director on the project.

The game includes multiple playable classes and confirmed co-op support. Nintendo first revealed The Duskbloods during its Switch 2 Direct presentation in April 2025, positioning it as one of the console’s bigger third-party-adjacent exclusives given FromSoftware’s track record.

How the Network Test Shaped the Decision

FromSoftware ran a closed network test from August 21 to 24, 2026, to let a limited group of players try the game ahead of launch. The first day ran into technical trouble: the studio closed the opening session before it started after scheduled testers got stuck at the main menu and repeatedly failed to log in.

Despite that rocky start, the test drew more applicants than Elden Ring Nightreign’s own network test, according to the GamesRadar report on the delay. That level of interest suggests the eventual release still carries weight for FromSoftware fans and Switch 2 owners, even with the extra wait.

What Comes Next

FromSoftware has not given a specific month or quarter within 2027 for the launch, leaving open the possibility that the wait could stretch well beyond a year from the original target. As of this report, the game’s official website spec sheet still listed a 2026 release target, a detail at odds with the delay announcement that FromSoftware has not yet corrected.

Speculation has tied the delay to the looming arrival of GTA 6, though reporting from outlets including Inven Global’s coverage of the announcement frames the decision as unrelated, driven instead by feedback from the network test. FromSoftware has not addressed the GTA 6 question directly. Pricing, bundle plans and any further testing ahead of the 2027 launch remain unannounced.