Miyazaki's New Game The Duskbloods Network Test Collapses at Launch, Players Furious

Summary

The Duskbloods, a PvPvE multiplayer action game developed by FromSoftware and involving Hidetaka Miyazaki, is an exclusive title for Switch 2. Its first network test was held today, but it quickly encountered severe server issues. Shortly after the test began, the official announced login abnormalities and then declared that the day's test session was cancelled due to server failures. This event sparked heated debate among players: some argued that network tests are meant to expose problems and developers should be given time to fix them, while others criticized FromSoftware, despite its online experience from titles like Elden Ring, for failing to ensure basic online play in a public test, revealing insufficient preparation for multiplayer. Notably, The Duskbloods is positioned as a major exclusive for Switch 2, and this mishap could affect players' confidence in the game's launch quality and the online service capabilities of Nintendo's new console. From an industry perspective, it highlights the importance of server architecture and load testing in pre-release multiplayer tests, as well as the need for better expectation management. As of now, the official has not announced a timeline for fixes or follow-up test arrangements, and players are waiting for further clarification. The incident also raises questions about whether it will impact the game's overall reception.