FromSoftware delays Switch 2 exclusive The Duskbloods to 2027

FromSoftware's The Duskbloods won't make it out this year. The studio behind Elden Ring has pushed its Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive multiplayer game from 2026 into 2027, Engadget reports, citing an announcement on the game's official X account. No new release date was given.

Why the game slipped

According to the studio's statement, the network test held in August showed strong interest in the game's core ideas: combat, strategic depth and the ways players can express themselves. To build on those parts, FromSoftware says it decided to move the launch and use the extra time for final adjustments to the game's rules and balancing. Engadget notes that the game is already in the final stages of development, so this reads as a polish delay rather than a restart.

For a competitive, online-focused title, balance is not a cosmetic detail. Small changes to weapons, abilities or match rules can decide whether a multiplayer game feels fair at launch, and fixing that after release is much harder once players have settled on dominant tactics.

A short history of The Duskbloods

• April 2025: FromSoftware revealed The Duskbloods during Nintendo's Switch 2 showcase, presenting it as a gothic, steampunk-tinged multiplayer action game built only for the new console.
• August 2026: a network test let players try the game online.
• October 2026: the launch moves to 2027.

Not the studio's first Switch 2 delay

This is the second time FromSoftware has needed more time on Nintendo's hybrid. Its Elden Ring port for Switch 2 was originally due in 2025 but only arrived this August, after reports that it was struggling with performance, Engadget says.

The timing may help anyway. The rest of 2026 is crowded with major releases, including the Ocarina of Time remake for Switch 2, and a quieter window in 2027 gives a new multiplayer game more room to build a player base.

What it means for Switch 2 owners

If you were planning your holiday games around The Duskbloods, you'll need to wait. Switch 2 games increasingly rely on fast storage, so if you're expanding your console in the meantime, our explainer on microSD Express cards covers which cards the system accepts. We'll update this story when FromSoftware announces a firm date.