FromSoftware Credits Nintendo for Guiding the Development of Switch 2 Exclusive The Duskbloods to Ensure a Smooth Player Experience
How did the next title from the creators of Elden Ring land as a Switch 2 exclusive? FromSoftware’s president and director, Hidetaka Miyazaki, hasn’t revealed the specifics behind this unique exclusivity deal, but he did share some insights on the advantages of collaborating with Nintendo in a recent interview. The seasoned developer noted that teaming up with the minds behind iconic franchises has significantly enhanced the upcoming PvPvE multiplayer game, The Duskbloods.
FromSoftware is renowned for its cryptic and intricate gameplay. Their titles often feature minimal tutorials that briefly cover blocking, rolling, and parrying, before tossing players into harsh environments with little guidance on objectives or mechanics. This challenging approach has captivated fans of series like Dark Souls and, more recently, Elden Ring. However, it poses a challenge for a multiplayer game aimed at a player base that primarily enjoys Nintendo titles. It seems Nintendo has played a crucial role in helping FromSoftware make this latest game more accessible to newcomers.
“Of course, the game isn’t out yet, so there are more factors to consider, but regarding our current relationship and how things are progressing, the systems and overall ruleset of the game are quite unique. Having a partner who can provide constant feedback, support, and ideas, especially for balancing these complex features, is definitely key,” Miyazaki explained in a recent preview for The Duskbloods.
He added, “Given the complexity of the systems, we’ve historically struggled with onboarding tutorials and ensuring players grasp how the game works and how to succeed. We’ve often just dropped players in and hoped they would figure it out. In this case, Nintendo is the right partner to help convey that information in a way that players can easily understand; it aligns well with their strengths.”
It will be interesting to see how this collaboration plays out. Last year’s Nightreign spin-off certainly streamlined Elden Ring into shorter, more digestible roguelike experiences. However, it still required players to invest significant time to truly grasp its mechanics through trial and error. With online PvP elements being central to The Duskbloods, any gaps in player knowledge could become even more pronounced and punishing.
We’ll get a glimpse of this in the upcoming alpha test. For now, it seems FromSoftware is enjoying its partnership with Nintendo. “When we initially decided to collaborate with Nintendo, we had the chance to discuss the game concept with them, and they appeared genuinely excited and receptive. They seemed very forward-thinking about how to approach it,” Miyazaki shared. “Before even considering the business side, that enthusiasm was incredibly appealing and gave me a lot of reassurance moving forward.”
