Summary
✓Reviewed by Laura Bennett Cologne / San Francisco, August 8, 2026 — Applicants for The Duskbloods closed network test on Nintendo Switch 2 received their selection notifications on August 7, 2026, at exactly 6:00 a.m. PT, FromSoftware and Nintendo confirmed....
Table of contents
Cologne / San Francisco, August 8, 2026 — Applicants for The Duskbloods closed network test on Nintendo Switch 2 received their selection notifications on August 7, 2026, at exactly 6:00 a.m. PT, FromSoftware and Nintendo confirmed. Chosen participants were delivered download codes granting early access to the multiplayer-focused action game ahead of its commercial release, marking the first time players will be able to experience the Switch 2 exclusive from the studio behind Elden Ring and Dark Souls.
The notification window represents a key milestone for one of the most anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 titles. According to Kotaku’s report, the 6:00 a.m. PT timestamp was precisely coordinated, with selected players immediately receiving codes to download a test build. Those who applied between July 22 and July 28, 2026 but were not selected received no notification — a standard lottery-style process used by Nintendo for high-demand beta events.
What Is The Duskbloods?
The Duskbloods is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive developed by FromSoftware — the Japanese studio renowned for its demanding action-RPG catalog — and published in partnership with Nintendo. The game is a multiplayer-focused title featuring up to eight players per session, with a gothic, bloodborne aesthetic that has drawn considerable attention from the FromSoftware fanbase since its reveal earlier in 2026. Unlike most recent FromSoftware titles, which launched across multiple platforms, The Duskbloods was announced as a Switch 2 exclusive, making it a major selling point for Nintendo’s second-generation handheld console. For a deeper look at the Switch 2’s full software lineup surrounding this launch, see our coverage of the Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Lineup.
The game’s reveal generated immediate comparisons to FromSoftware’s wider catalog, particularly given that the studio has consistently pushed the boundaries of the action genre. Players familiar with Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion and its demanding boss encounters will find The Duskbloods’ network test to be the studio’s first public multiplayer stress-test in years.
Network Test Session Schedule
Selected participants will have access to five separate four-hour sessions spread across four days in late August. According to NintendoWire’s coverage of the official announcement, Nintendo stated: “We will be hosting a network test for The Duskbloods on Nintendo Switch 2 from Aug. 21 (Fri.) – Aug. 24 (Mon.).” The full session schedule in Pacific Time is as follows:
| Session | Date | Time (PDT) |
|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | Friday, August 21 | 3:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m. |
| Session 2 | Friday, August 21 | 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. |
| Session 3 | Saturday, August 22 | 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
| Session 4 | Sunday, August 23 | 3:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m. |
| Session 5 | Sunday, August 23 | 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
Each session is strictly four hours long, and access is limited to the download code distributed to selected applicants on August 7. An active Nintendo Switch Online membership is required to participate, alongside ownership of a Nintendo Switch 2 console.
Application and Selection Process
The application window ran from July 22 to July 28, 2026, requiring players to register through the official Duskbloods network test campaign site using their Nintendo Account. The process was described by NintendoLife as a lottery-style draw, with no guarantee of selection regardless of account standing or prior Nintendo online membership history. The result: on the morning of August 7, a subset of applicants opened their email or Nintendo Account notifications to find either a download code — or silence.
The reaction across gaming communities has been immediate. Social media posts from selected players began appearing within hours of the 6:00 a.m. PT notification window, with many sharing screenshots of their access codes. Those who were not selected have begun discussing alternative methods of following the test, including content creator streams, which are expected to be a major outlet for coverage of the sessions given the game’s high profile. The Duskbloods’ combination of FromSoftware’s pedigree and Switch 2 exclusivity makes it one of the most-watched network tests in recent memory — arguably comparable in anticipation to the early Splatoon beta periods on the original Wii U in 2014 or the Nintendo Switch Online launch events.
Why The Duskbloods Matters for Nintendo Switch 2
The Duskbloods represents one of the most significant third-party exclusives to be announced for Nintendo Switch 2 since the console’s launch. FromSoftware, a studio that typically publishes across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC simultaneously, committing to a platform-exclusive title signals a meaningful partnership with Nintendo — and gives the Switch 2 a marquee action title that competes on pedigree with PlayStation-exclusive offerings.
For context, the Nintendo Switch 2’s position relative to competing handheld platforms has been a consistent topic since the console’s reveal. A FromSoftware exclusive — particularly one built around multiplayer, a relative rarity for the studio — adds a dimension to that conversation that raw hardware specs alone cannot. The Switch 2’s performance capabilities are being tested in this network test context as much as the game itself is, with players and analysts watching closely to assess how FromSoftware’s signature dense environments and real-time combat translate to Nintendo’s hardware.
The test’s multiplayer structure — up to eight players per match — is also notable given FromSoftware’s traditional approach to online play. The studio’s prior titles featured asynchronous or limited co-op and PvP mechanics; The Duskbloods appears to place multiplayer at the center of the experience rather than treating it as a secondary mode. The closed network test is specifically designed to stress-test these systems before launch, making the upcoming sessions both a player reward and an infrastructure evaluation.
How to Watch If You Were Not Selected
For the majority of applicants who did not receive a selection notification on August 7, the network test sessions will be accessible through live streaming. Major gaming content creators on Twitch and Kick are expected to broadcast their sessions, and FromSoftware titles have historically attracted some of the largest concurrent viewer counts on streaming platforms. The five session windows — spanning August 21 through August 23 — provide multiple opportunities across different time zones for audiences to tune in.
Nintendo has not confirmed whether a broader open beta or second application window will follow the closed network test. Based on prior Nintendo closed beta precedents — including those for Splatoon 3 and Nintendo Switch Sports — a second or expanded phase is possible but has not been announced as of August 8, 2026.
What to Watch Next
The Duskbloods network test sessions begin on August 21, 2026. In the two weeks between now and the first session, expect coverage to focus on pre-session previews from content creators who received early access, as well as any additional details Nintendo or FromSoftware release about the game’s mechanics, narrative framing, or post-launch content plans.
A release date for The Duskbloods has not been confirmed as of publication. The network test is being treated by industry analysts as an indicator of the game’s readiness for a potential late-2026 launch window, though Nintendo has made no formal announcement in that regard. For players who prefer exploring the full breadth of Switch 2’s launch library while waiting, our Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Lineup guide covers every confirmed title across the platform’s current release calendar. Those considering the platform as a whole may also find our comparison of the Steam Deck OLED useful for context on where the Switch 2 sits in the broader handheld gaming market.
Related Coverage
- Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Lineup: Every Game Confirmed So Far
- Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree: Hidden Bosses and Lore Secrets
- Nintendo Switch vs Steam Deck: Which Handheld Wins in 2026?
- Steam Deck OLED Long-Term Review: The King of Handhelds in 2026
- Twitch vs Kick Creator Splits 2026: Where Should Streamers Go?
