The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive The Duskbloods marks a major change of direction for FromSoftware, but director and company president Hidetaka Miyazaki has clarified that the studio is not abandoning the single-player games that built its reputation. In a new interview, Miyazaki addressed concerns that The Duskbloods and the studio’s recent multiplayer efforts could signal a broader shift in FromSoftware’s development strategy.
Speaking to IGN, Miyazaki explained that the overlap between the multiplayer-focused The Duskbloods and Elden Ring Nightreign should not be interpreted as the studio’s new permanent direction. Instead, he stressed that FromSoftware continues to place major importance on single-player experiences.
The Duskbloods Does Not Mean FromSoftware Is Leaving Single-Player Games
Miyazaki directly addressed the question of whether two multiplayer-focused projects arriving close together represented a major change for the developer. According to him, there was never a deliberate plan for Nightreign and The Duskbloods to define FromSoftware’s future.
“It’s not necessarily some big reveal saying that this is the direction we plan to go moving forward,”
Miyazaki told IGN.
“We still have a heavy focus on single-player content as well. This is just something that happened to work out the way it did.”
That statement should be particularly reassuring for fans of Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring. While FromSoftware is currently experimenting more heavily with online and multiplayer mechanics, Miyazaki made it clear that the studio’s traditional approach remains an important part of its future.
He also added that working extensively on a multiplayer game can actually increase his desire to return to a different kind of project.
“The more you work on something multiplayer for a long time, if anything, it scratches that itch only to want to make something single-player again,”
he said.
The message also matches Miyazaki’s earlier comments to Nintendo, where he similarly stated that the studio still intended to actively develop single-player-focused games alongside its multiplayer experiments.
Why The Duskbloods Is Different for FromSoftware
Although The Duskbloods does not represent a permanent change in direction, the Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive is giving FromSoftware the opportunity to explore ideas that previously did not fit its games. Miyazaki explained that unused multiplayer concepts had gradually accumulated over the years, creating an opportunity to build a completely new type of experience.
The game is a PvPvE multiplayer action title that allows players to battle both other players and computer-controlled enemies. Its Virtue system was influenced by victory-point mechanics commonly found in board games, while the Sigil system draws inspiration from tabletop RPG ideas.
Miyazaki also revealed that Nintendo played an important role in the project beyond simply publishing it. He praised the company for being receptive to the original concept and for helping FromSoftware tackle areas where the studio has historically struggled, including tutorials and explaining complex systems to players.
Official information from Nintendo confirms that The Duskbloods is being developed exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 and is planned for release in 2026.
Miyazaki Sees a Bright Future for Online Games
Despite reaffirming FromSoftware’s commitment to single-player games, Miyazaki remains optimistic about multiplayer experiences. He said online games offer unique emotional experiences because players can interact directly with one another in ways that single-player games cannot replicate.
“As for online games, I would say there’s definitely a bright future,”
Miyazaki said.
“There’s always going to be a need for people to interact with others.”
For now, The Duskbloods represents a new experiment for FromSoftware rather than a replacement for its established style. Nintendo Switch 2 players will get to see the studio explore competitive online action in 2026, while Miyazaki’s latest comments suggest that fans waiting for another major single-player FromSoftware experience still have reason to remain optimistic.
