FromSoftware's Bloodborne successor announces free playtest, sign up soon

Later this year, FromSoftware plans to launch what’s affectionately being referred to as ‘Bloodborne 2’, and soon you’ll be able to try it for yourself free of charge.

The Duskbloods was announced last year in one of the most exciting Nintendo Directs we’d seen for a very long time.

FromSoftware, the award-winning studio behind beloved titles such as Dark Souls and Elden Ring, was confirmed to be making a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.

It quickly picked up comparisons to Bloodborne for its darker tones, adding insult to injury for those who are still waiting for a PlayStation 5 port of the Sony-exclusive.

No release date was specified, though it was said it’d launch sometime in 2026. We’re halfway through the year now, and fall/Winter is looking likely, but we can probably rule out November as that’s when Grand Theft Auto VI will drop. Very few games wish to compete with Rockstar’s upcoming blockbuster.

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While no update on its launch has been provided, FromSoftware has finally come back to gamers with an exciting proposition: a free multiplayer playtest.

The Duskbloods is a PvPvE experience which might initially turn some fans away if they were expecting another linear soulsborne. Fortunately, you’ll soon be able to try before you buy.

How to play The Duskbloods on Nintendo Switch 2 early

If you’d like to take part in the network test, you’ll need to fill out the registration form going live on July 22.

You’ll likely need to provide your relevant details, such as the email address associated with your Nintendo account and maybe some information about your console.

The Duskbloods is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2, so unfortunately, base Nintendo Switch players won’t be able to take part. Nintendo announced it’d be discontinuing its last-gen system, so expect this to be the norm for several new games moving forward.

At the time of writing, FromSoftware has been adamant that there are no plans to bring the game to other platforms.

Depending on how many gamers apply for the network test, you’ll then probably have to wait with bated breath to see if you get invited. The test will go live on August 21, which is a Friday and a great week to start your weekend. The test will conclude on August 24.

Hopefully, it all runs smoothly. Admittedly, we wouldn’t peg the Nintendo Switch 2 as the best platform for online multiplayer games, but series like Splatoon have done just fine, to be fair.

Once the network test has concluded, it won’t be long before Nintendo Switch 2 owners can play another FromSoftware game on their consoles: Elden Ring.

Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition brings the Game of the Year winner to the Nintendo Switch 2 with some starting classes and costumes. Players on Xbox, PlayStation and PC platforms will be able to acquire these new additions as paid-for DLC.

If you’d like to take part in the free network test for The Duskbloods, keep an eye out for registration on July 22.