FromSoftware’s focus hasn’t shifted to multiplayer, Miyazaki says, despite Elden Ring: Nightreign and The Duskbloods

FromSoftware’s leader Hidetaka Miyazaki has revealed that the studio has not transitioned to a primary focus on multiplayer games.

The studio is primarily recognized for its single-player experiences, ranging from the Soulsborne series to the immensely successful Elden Ring. However, the game’s spinoff, Nightreign, is an online cooperative roguelike, while the studio’s Switch 2 reveal, Duskbloods, has been confirmed as a PvPvE title following its announcement earlier this week during the Nintendo Direct.

“As mentioned earlier, this is primarily an online multiplayer title, but this doesn’t imply we as a company have chosen to change our direction towards a more multiplayer-centric approach in future titles,” Miyazaki stated in an interview with Nintendo.

“The Nintendo Switch 2 version of Elden Ring was also announced, and we remain committed to actively developing single-player focused titles that embody our more classic style.”

Nevertheless, he expressed that he finds the PvPvE structure “very intriguing,” adding: “It permits a wide array of game design concepts while enabling us to utilize our experience in crafting challenging enemy encounters.”

Throughout the interview, Miyazaki provided further details about The Duskbloods. Initially, it was designed for the current Switch, but the design transitioned to the newer console as its “emphasis on online features allowed us to remain as faithful to the original vision as possible.”

Regarding characters and setting, player characters are referred to as “Bloodsworn” and possess superhuman capabilities through the power of special blood.

“Conceptually, they bear similarities to vampires, but they are not depicted as the horrifying creatures typically associated with traditional vampirism,” Miyazaki elaborated.

“We aimed to extract the romantic elements we found fascinating from themes like vampires and ‘blood,’ reinterpreting them into the Bloodsworn.”

He continued: “In The Duskbloods, the Bloodsworn are vying for something known as ‘First Blood’. As human civilization approaches an end, First Blood flows in an event referred to as the ‘Twilight of Humanity’. The Bloodsworn are summoned to the Twilight of Humanity through a variety of different events and locations to claim First Blood.”

“As a result, there is no fixed era or location where The Duskbloods unfolds. There will be more traditional Gothic or Victorian-style environments alongside those portraying the last years of early modern history, like the one glimpsed in the trailer with the train passing through it.”

Due to the special blood, normal actions are dynamic and superhuman, like sprinting, high jumps, and double jumps.

“Additionally, while this isn’t directly correlated with the Bloodsworn, the setting allows for the inclusion of firearms and similar weapons, with each character equipped with some method of ranged attack,” Miyazaki confirmed. “I believe this is one of the game’s distinctive features compared to our previous titles. I’m hopeful that these new action elements will be something players appreciate.”

Players will choose from over a dozen unique characters, each with their own identity and distinctive weapons. In terms of gameplay loop, Duskbloods includes a hub area from which up to eight players can join a match. Upon returning, they receive rewards to further customize their character. Matches generally aim for the last player standing, although victory conditions may vary in certain instances—for instance, defeating a boss.

Moreover, how players conduct themselves is as crucial as direct combat, Miyazaki clarified. “The Duskbloods incorporates ‘Victory Points,’ which ultimately determine the match’s outcome,” he explained. “While direct combat is certainly essential, it isn’t the only way to earn Victory Points. Some players may prefer to influence the score by avoiding combat and instead engaging in more opportunistic behavior. How you earn points is entirely up to you.”

“Furthermore, each character can summon a being to aid in combat, granting players significant freedom regarding how they engage – and succeed.”

The game also features an event system that can dynamically alter the course of a match—something FromSoftware has similarly integrated into Nightreign.

Another intriguing feature is the introduction of “roles” for each player, beyond the initial mission of obtaining First Blood. For example, players might wish to eliminate a specific opponent or view another player as their ally. Roles are determined by blood customization.

Indeed, character customization may serve as the means through which players discover the desired lore fragments reminiscent of Souls games. By c