《The Duskbloods》是FromSoftware近年最受矚目的全新原創作品之一，也是一次明顯跳脫過往單機魂系框架的大膽實驗。由宮崎英高親自監督，並由任天堂發行，確定為Switch 2平台獨佔，於2026年推出。對許多玩家而言，這不僅是FromSoftware首次為任天堂新世代主機量身打造的大型作品，也是將「血之美學」、「黑暗幻想」與多人對戰深度結合的全新嘗試，特別容易讓喜愛《Bloodborne》的玩家產生強烈共鳴。

在世界觀與劇情層面上，延續FromSoftware一貫的碎片化敘事風格，但舞台設定更加偏向蒸汽龐克與末世幻想的融合。背景是一個走向終焉的世界，哥德式維多利亞風格的城市在赤紅暮光下腐朽崩壞，宗教象徵、巨大教堂與機械裝置交錯存在，營造出既神聖又詭譎的氛圍。玩家將扮演被稱為「血誓者」與「黃昏血族」的超人類存在，這兩大族群都與神秘資源「初血」有著深不可測的關聯。初血既是力量的來源，也是世界衰亡的關鍵，引發各方勢力無止盡的爭奪。遊戲並未用大量過場動畫直接講述故事，而是透過角色背景、場景細節、任務目標與隱晦對話，逐步拼湊出世界的真相，在探索與對抗中自行理解這個世界的命運。

在玩法與操作設計上，是FromSoftware首次「從零開始」以多人遊戲為核心構建的作品。主打PvPvE體驗，每一場對局最多可容納八名玩家同時進入同一張地圖。不僅要面對高難度的環境敵人與強大Boss，還必須時時提防其他玩家的威脅或善意。採用預設角色制度，提供超過十多名風格與定位截然不同的角色，每一名角色都擁有獨特的武器、技能與背景命運，同時也允許在外觀與部分能力路線上進行客製化，使角色在保持個性差異的同時，仍能因玩家選擇而產生變化。

操作手感上，延續FromSoftware擅長的高風險高回報戰鬥節奏，但機動性比以往作品更加突出。角色可以進行二段跳、快速位移與空中調整，使戰鬥不再只是地面上的攻防拉鋸，而是更立體、更快速的動態對抗。武器設計依舊充滿重量感與殺傷力，每一次揮擊與閃避都需要精準判斷時機。與此同時，引入「命定宿敵」與「命定伙伴」系統，在進入戰場前或過程中，系統可能指定某位玩家成為你的主要對手，或要求你與特定玩家暫時合作完成特殊事件，讓對局中的關係不斷變化，充滿心理戰與不確定性。

值得一提的是，本作並非單純鼓勵玩家彼此廝殺。對於偏好劇情與探索的玩家，提供較低PvP壓力的進行方式，讓玩家能專注於世界探索、收集血液資源、解鎖新能力與推進背景故事。這種彈性設計，使遊戲同時滿足競技型玩家與敘事導向玩家，避免多人遊戲常見的單一取向問題。

整體而言，《The Duskbloods》展現FromSoftware在創作方向上的一次重要轉折。它保留了熟悉的黑暗美學、高難度戰鬥與耐人尋味的敘事，同時大幅擴展多人互動的深度與可能性。Switch 2獨佔的定位，也讓這款作品在眾多跨平台大作中顯得格外獨特。若最終成品質量如同目前資訊所暗示的那樣成熟，《The Duskbloods》很可能不只是「一款 PvP 新作」，而是FromSoftware下一個時代的重要代表作。

The Duskbloods is one of FromSoftware’s most highly anticipated new original titles in recent years, and it represents a bold experiment that clearly steps beyond the studio’s traditional single-player Souls framework. Supervised personally by Hidetaka Miyazaki and published by Nintendo, the game is confirmed as a Switch 2 exclusive, scheduled for release in 2026. For many players, this is not only FromSoftware’s first major project developed specifically for Nintendo’s new-generation console, but also a work that tightly blends “blood-themed aesthetics,” dark fantasy, and deep multiplayer systems, making it especially appealing to fans of Bloodborne.

In terms of worldbuilding and narrative, The Duskbloods continues FromSoftware’s signature fragmentary storytelling style, while pushing its setting further into a fusion of steampunk and apocalyptic fantasy. The game takes place in a world on the brink of collapse, where Gothic Victorian cities decay beneath a crimson twilight. Religious imagery, towering cathedrals, and mechanical structures intertwine to create an atmosphere that feels both sacred and unsettling. Players assume the roles of superhuman beings known as the “Bloodsworn” and the “Duskbloods,” two factions deeply connected to a mysterious substance called “First Blood.” First Blood serves as both the source of power and the catalyst for the world’s downfall, driving endless conflict among rival forces. Rather than relying on lengthy cutscenes, the story unfolds through character backgrounds, environmental details, mission objectives, and cryptic dialogue, encouraging players to piece together the truth of the world through exploration and confrontation.

From a gameplay and control perspective, The Duskbloods is FromSoftware’s first title built entirely around a multiplayer-first design philosophy. The core experience is PvPvE, with up to eight players sharing a single map. Players must contend not only with high-difficulty environmental enemies and formidable bosses, but also with the unpredictable presence of other players, who may act as allies or threats. The game uses a preset character system, offering more than a dozen distinct characters, each with unique weapons, abilities, and narrative destinies. While these characters maintain strong individual identities, players can customize their appearance and certain ability paths, allowing personal playstyle choices to shape how each character evolves.

In terms of movement and combat feel, The Duskbloods preserves the high-risk, high-reward combat rhythm that FromSoftware is known for, while significantly increasing mobility. Characters can perform double jumps, rapid movement, and aerial adjustments, transforming combat from a purely ground-based exchange into a faster, more vertical and dynamic experience. Weapons retain a strong sense of weight and impact, with every swing and dodge demanding precise timing and judgment. At the same time, the game introduces the “Fated Nemesis” and “Fated Ally” systems, which may designate a specific player as your primary rival or temporarily bind you to another player to complete special objectives. These shifting relationships add layers of psychological tension and uncertainty to each match.

Importantly, The Duskbloods does not simply encourage constant player-versus-player combat. For players who prefer narrative and exploration, the game provides modes or pathways with reduced PvP pressure, allowing them to focus on discovering the world, collecting blood-based resources, unlocking new powers, and progressing through story-driven content. This flexible design helps the game appeal to both competitive players and those drawn primarily to lore and atmosphere, avoiding the narrow focus that often limits multiplayer-focused titles.

Overall, The Duskbloods represents a significant turning point in FromSoftware’s creative direction. It retains the studio’s familiar dark aesthetics, challenging combat, and evocative storytelling, while greatly expanding the depth and possibilities of multiplayer interaction. Its status as a Switch 2 exclusive further sets it apart from the crowded field of cross-platform releases. If the final product lives up to what current information suggests, The Duskbloods may prove to be not merely “another PvP title,” but a defining work for FromSoftware’s next era.