Ever since The Duskbloods reveal as a Switch 2 exclusive during a Nintendo Direct last year, I've wondered why FromSoftware opted for exclusivity on the hybrid platform of all things, with the studio previously only having exclusive titles on PlayStation systems in the form of Demon's Souls and Bloodborne.
In a recent interview with IGN, Hidetaka Miyazaki finally revealed all, explaining that one of 2026's hardest games is a Nintendo exclusive because "we had had an opportunity to discuss the idea for the game with them and I think they seemed very excited and very receptive to the idea; they seemed very forward-thinking in terms of how to do it. Before considering the business aspect of it, that alone was something that I found very appealing and gave me a lot more reassurance for moving forward with this."
As a FromSoftware lover who longs to see more of its titles on Switch 2, the seemingly strong collaborative partnership between the studio and Nintendo fills me with hope that maybe Dark Souls 2 and Dark Souls 3 will appear on the console at some point.
Speaking specifically, about the working partnership, Miyazaki says "in terms of the relationship currently and how we think it's going, up until this point - the systems and the overall ruleset of the game are very unique, and I think having someone who can constantly give us feedback, support, additional ideas, and the balancing first of all because these features are quite complex and difficult - having this relationship is definitely key to that."
More than that, Miyazaki notes that when it comes to explaining complex features and tutorials, FromSoftware has "historically not been super great at conveying" them. As a longtime SoulsBorneRing fan, I can say that I come to grips with new games very quickly, but there's certainly a steep learning curve for new players that can be off-putting. Putting it bluntly, Miyazaki explains that "Nintendo is definitely the right partner for better conveying that information in a way that is understandable to the player; it definitely suits their strengths."
This weekend, yours truly and a bunch more lucky players get to give The Duskbloods a try in the official network test, allowing us to taste the multiplayer action in a world that seems to be a spiritual successor to Bloodborne, a game many of us long to see a remake of. Oh, and if you happened to hear about the September 24th release date, it's best not to get your hopes up, with Nintendo firmly shutting that information down as "inaccurate."
So, did you manage to get into the network test? If so, let me know on the Pocket Tactics Discord - maybe we'll see each other on the battlefield this weekend. I wish you luck; it's time to git gud.