{"rewrite":{"id":"r_e5ef9c0f24d52a91775c1059","clusterId":"c_757ac9d5a092c22d066f5fc2","slug":"the-duskbloods-hands-on-reveals-a-board-game-like-pvpve-where-virtue-beats-pure-skill","model":"deepseek-v4-flash:free","headline":"The Duskbloods Hands-On: FromSoftware's PvPvE Puts Virtue Before Victory","summary":"FromSoftware's new Nintendo Switch 2 action game The Duskbloods, directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, holds a network test from August 21 to 24, 2026. Ahead of that, media hands-on sessions and a group interview with Miyazaki revealed the game's core loop. In The Duskbloods, up to 8 players compete across four phases, earning victory points called Virtue to survive elimination. Virtue comes from defeating enemies, looting items, completing events, and, within designated Ritual Grounds, defeating other players. Outside those areas, PvP yields little benefit, so the game emphasizes strategy over direct combat skill. Players choose from six fixed characters in the network test, each with unique melee and ranged weapons, bloodline arts, and mobility options including air jumps and dashes. The full version will add customization and over 10 character bases. Miyazaki confirmed the game is not an extraction shooter and that PvPvE was a loose label. He also said the final battle can be PvE against a boss, and that ranked matches and seasons are planned.","whyItMatters":"The Duskbloods reframes FromSoftware's approach to online play, using a board-game-like Virtue system to let players win without direct PvP skill, a deliberate departure from the extraction-shooter format the term PvPvE usually implies.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eAlbert: an orthodox vampire swordsman, the tutorial character, fights with a saber, machine gun, and blood-blade projectiles.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eYang of the Bloody Hand: axe and fire user, \u0026#34;a person in pajamas,\u0026#34; relies on a rapid-dodge bloodline art despite heavy openings.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eTan Lan: throws the dual-purpose Moon Ring Blade like a chakram, has a stealth bloodline art, and can turn nearby regular enemies into minions all at once.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eLayla the Sniper: katar melee plus a sniper rifle, \u0026#34;can also pull out a machine gun from her body like a jack-in-the-box\u0026#34;; her long lock-on range makes her strong against NPCs.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eElder Samir-Patres: rapier, spirit-bird ring, blood swamp, and a bloodline art that transforms him into a dinosaur; in the test he carried the \u0026#34;Fleeting Love\u0026#34; Brand.\u003c/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eZoke: diving suit, undersea cable, spear gun, missiles, and a human-rocket charge; one Automaton writer calls him \u0026#34;robot-like,\u0026#34; and Miyazaki cited him as the clearest example of the game\u0026#39;s broad vampire design.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"In The Duskbloods, you can win without ever defeating another player: Virtue points come from hunting, looting, and even praying. Miyazaki says the term PvPvE is 'not entirely accurate' for this game.","twitterPost":"FromSoftware's The Duskbloods lets you propose marriage mid-match. Equip the Fleeting Love Brand, find your destined partner, give them flowers. In the hands-on, the writer got rejected and attacked.","threadsPost":"The Duskbloods' Virtue system lets players win without direct combat, which is a deliberate design choice from Hidetaka Miyazaki. The PvPvE label is loose because the game is more about objectives than fighting. That shifts the skill ceiling from reflexes to strategy.","newsletterBlurb":"FromSoftware's The Duskbloods network test starts August 21. Hands-on reports describe a PvPvE that prioritizes a board-game-like Virtue system over direct combat, with alliances, familiars, and even in-match marriage proposals. Miyazaki clarifies it is not an extraction shooter.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"4Gamer.net\",\"url\":\"https://www.4gamer.net/games/897/G089770/20260818037/\",\"title\":\"[Play Report] FromSoftware's Mystery-Shrouded New Action Game \\\"The Duskbloods\\\" Is Packed with Too Many Elements. The High-Freedom Strategy Beyond Just PvP Is Fun\"},{\"source\":\"4Gamer.net\",\"url\":\"https://www.4gamer.net/games/897/G089770/20260807028/\",\"title\":\"[Interview] \\\"The Duskbloods\\\" is a PvPvE you can enjoy even avoiding player combat. Hidetaka Miyazaki discusses the true nature of this \\\"strange game\\\"\"},{\"source\":\"GAME Watch (Impress)\",\"url\":\"https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/preview/2134234.html\",\"title\":\"Switch2 \\\"Duskbloods\\\" Hands-On Report! Even Those Bad at PvP Can Be One of the \\\"Final Three.\\\" Expectations High for New FromSoftware Title with Both PvE and PvP\"},{\"source\":\"GAME Watch (Impress)\",\"url\":\"https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/interview/2133935.html\",\"title\":\"Switch 2 \\\"The Duskbloods\\\" Hidetaka Miyazaki Interview! FromSoftware's Latest Aiming to Be \\\"a Game Where You Can Win Without Direct Combat\\\"\"},{\"source\":\"Automaton\",\"url\":\"https://automaton-media.com/articles/reportjp/20260820-461510/\",\"title\":\"FromSoftware's New Game 'The Duskbloods' Hands-On Impressions: Uniting, Fighting, and Falling in Love-A Totally New PvPvE That's Pure 'FromSoftware Style'\"},{\"source\":\"Automaton\",\"url\":\"https://automaton-media.com/articles/interviewsjp/20260820-461487/\",\"title\":\"FromSoftware's New PvPvE 'The Duskbloods' Heavily Reflects Director Hidetaka Miyazaki's 'Favorites': Love of Blindfolds, Love of Vertical Maps, and a Full Load of Quirky Systems\"},{\"source\":\"Denfaminicogamer\",\"url\":\"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/?p=1610965\",\"title\":\"FromSoftware's New Title 'The Duskbloods' Hands-On Preview Report: The One Who Accumulates the Most 'Virtue' Wins-A FromSoftware-Style PvPvE. Form Alliances, Strike from Behind, or Suddenly Propose\"},{\"source\":\"Denfaminicogamer\",\"url\":\"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/kikakuthetower/260820n\",\"title\":\"フロム新作『ダスクブラッド』先行プレイレポート。「美徳」を一番積んだ者が勝つ、フロム流のPvPvE。同盟を組むもよし、背後から襲いかかるもよし、突然求婚するもよし\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":66349,"outputTokens":1936,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1787238621,"createdAt":"2026-08-20T15:03:35.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-08-20T15:06:44.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-21T21:31:56.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_757ac9d5a092c22d066f5fc2","canonicalTitle":"［プレイレポ］フロムの謎に包まれた新作アクション「The Duskbloods」は，要素が盛りだくさんすぎ。対人だけではない自由度の高い戦略性が楽しい","representativeArticleId":"a_8fbcc7253e04dafaa4aa9464","sourceCount":7,"writtenSourceCount":7,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"The Duskbloods\"],\"studios\":[\"FromSoftware\"],\"people\":[\"Hidetaka Miyazaki\"],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"written","firstSeenAt":"2026-08-20T14:00:00.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-08-22T03:20:02.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-22T03:32:06.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"4Gamer.net","url":"https://www.4gamer.net/games/897/G089770/20260818037/","title":"［プレイレポ］フロムの謎に包まれた新作アクション「The Duskbloods」は，要素が盛りだくさんすぎ。対人だけではない自由度の高い戦略性が楽しい"},{"source":"GAME Watch (Impress)","url":"https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/preview/2134234.html","title":"Switch2「ダスクブラッド」試遊レポ！ 対人苦手でも“最後の3人”になれる。PvEもあればPvPもあるフロム新作に期待"},{"source":"Denfaminicogamer","url":"https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/260822d","title":"『ダスクブラッド』ネットワークテスト第2回はこのあと11時より開始。最大8人で戦うマルチプレイPvPvEアクションゲーム。プレイヤーはそれぞれ特徴的なキャラを選択し「始まりの血」を巡る壮絶な戦いに身を投じる"},{"source":"Automaton","url":"https://automaton-media.com/articles/reportjp/20260820-461510/","title":"フロム・ソフトウェア新作『ダスクブラッド』先行プレイ感想。団結したり、戦ったり恋したり、“フロム流”すぎるまったく新しいPvPvE"},{"source":"Inside","url":"https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2026/08/22/186600.html","title":"フロムのSwitch 2新作『The Duskbloods』宮崎英高氏インタビュー(後編)「変なゲームだと思います。そこも含めて楽しんでもらえたら」"},{"source":"GameBusiness.jp","url":"https://www.gamebusiness.jp/article/2026/08/22/27760.html","title":"フロム新作『The Duskbloods』は「上手い人だけが楽しめるゲームにはしたくない」―PvPvEを選んだ理由を語る宮崎英高氏インタビュー"},{"source":"Game Spark","url":"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/08/21/171061.html","title":"フロム新作『The Duskbloods』ネットワークテスト初日は中止に―サーバー障害復旧せず、今後の実施は改めてお知らせ"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["The Duskbloods"],"studios":["FromSoftware"],"people":["Hidetaka Miyazaki"],"type":"news","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["The Duskbloods network test runs from August 21 to 24, 2026, on Nintendo Switch 2.","The game supports up to 8 players in a PvPvE format, with matches divided into 4 phases.","The network test includes 6 playable characters, while the full version will have over 10 character bases.","Virtue points determine survival across phases, with the final battle being a three-way duel or a PvE boss fight.","The game is directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki and is scheduled for release on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026."]}