Fromsoftware's the Duskbloods Has Drawn More Playtest Applications Than Elden Ring Nightreign, According to Producer Yasuhiro Kitao

The comparison is notable because Elden Ring Nightreign's playtest was available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with the full game also on PC and last-gen consoles. The Switch 2, by contrast, has only been available for around a year, giving it a much smaller user base than the other two platforms. Despite the surface-level surprise, there may be logic behind the interest.

Elden Ring Nightreign went on to sell more than 5 million copies, with its DLC alone selling 2 million copies in under a week. That success proved FromSoftware could deliver a multiplayer-focused souls-like, potentially generating more interest in The Duskbloods. While it was known to be multiplayer, the exact structure, playable classes, and mechanics were all a mystery.

The game is also helmed by legendary FromSoftware director Hidetaka Miyazaki. The large number of applications bodes well for The Duskbloods, even though the network test got off to a rough start with server and connectivity issues that led FromSoftware to cancel its first session. The test also introduced players to Zork, one of the game's playable characters who has already become a bit of a meme.

GameSpot's Jake Dekker came away impressed during his hands-on preview, saying he'd "never played anything like it" and couldn't wait to play more. The Duskbloods is still slated to release sometime this year but does not currently have a release date. The playtest was even more popular than Elden Ring Nightreign's, a surprising feat given the Switch 2's smaller install base. The game's success could signal strong demand for the upcoming title.