Duskbloods: A Game That Feels Like a Charming Nintendo Adventure

FromSoftware’s latest title, The Duskbloods, immerses players in a dark, Victorian Gothic universe that embraces some quirky elements—think steam trains, dinosaurs, and even a giant frog lady. However, game director Hidetaka Miyazaki recently shared that the initial concept for The Duskbloods was quite different. In a recent interview, he revealed that the game’s art style has undergone a “drastic” transformation since its inception in 2021, when the team initially envisioned a design that leaned more towards a “Nintendo” aesthetic.

During a roundtable Q&A, Miyazaki discussed the evolution of The Duskbloods over its five-year development journey. He noted, “At the very, very start of development, we were playing around with the idea of having the characters be sort of short, almost like three head-lengths tall. Working with Nintendo, we thought maybe that would be a better fit.”

While he didn’t delve into further specifics about the art design beyond the idea of smaller characters, it sparked thoughts of Nintendo’s Mii characters and the RPG Miitopia. Miyazaki reflected on the tiny character concept, stating, “We did it, and it just did not work the way that we thought it would. So we were like, ‘Let’s just, let’s back off a bit there.'”

For fans of FromSoftware who might be yearning for a touch of cuteness amidst the usual grimness, Miyazaki mentioned that the idea of smaller characters isn’t entirely off the table.

In terms of gameplay, Miyazaki confirmed that the PvPvE structure has been a core element since the beginning. “There have definitely been a lot of adjustments made to the overall balancing and implementation of the systems. But I think in terms of the core concept, it’s actually quite similar to what it was from the very beginning,” he explained. “The only two points we had at the start were that we wanted something like the Virtue system, allowing players to enjoy matches without solely relying on PvP skills. They could do their own thing and still enjoy competing. We also aimed to create unexpected drama that builds throughout the match without requiring players to actively engage.”

The Duskbloods is set to launch on the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, and fans are eagerly awaiting more updates.