The Duskbloods is a game that can only be played with others online. It’s made by the same team behind Elden Ring and Dark Souls, from software. In this game, eight players face off in fights against each other and against enemies that come from the game’s monsters and bosses. If you thought it would be like Elden Ring: Nightreign but with a Bloodborne feel, that’s not quite right. This game isn’t just about taking down big bosses; it’s also about competing with other players to see who can be the top Bloodsworn. That said, it can be a little tricky to understand, so here’s a simple explanation of how multiplayer works in The Duskbloods.
Is The Duskbloods only for player-vs-player (PvP) battles? Not exactly. The game is a PvPvE type game, which means it’s primarily about fighting computer-controlled enemies and bosses, but players will also have opportunities to fight each other. So, while PvP does happen, it’s not the main focus—you’ll spend most of your time battling against monsters and bosses.
If the idea of fighting other players makes you uneasy, don’t worry. The game’s director, Hidetaka Miyazaki, said that you don’t need to be great at PvP to succeed. He even admitted that he’s not very good at PvP in other games, either. So, you can enjoy The Duskbloods without needing to worry about being perfect at fighting other players.
To give you an idea of how the multiplayer works, here’s a quick overview. Every match in The Duskbloods is like a multi-round tournament. You and seven other players compete to earn Virtue Points by doing various tasks such as defeating bosses, collecting items from specific places, or stealing from defeated players.
The first round is open, with players running around trying to gather points in any way they can. The second round is similar but might include special events or effects to make things more interesting. At the end of this round, the two players with the fewest Virtue Points are out of the game, eliminated by the game’s dark force, Dusk.
Then, a Ritual Site appears on the map, inviting players to fight each other for big Virtue Point rewards. After this, the bottom three players are eliminated.
This leaves the last three players to battle in the final PvP fight. The last person standing wins the match. So, even though fights between players are common as the game progresses, they’re not the only thing you’ll do—most of the game focuses on fighting monsters.
If you want a tougher challenge, you can also choose ranked matches instead of casual play.
And if you’re wondering whether The Duskbloods will be available on PC, Xbox, or PlayStation, just know that it’s happening across those platforms, but it’s mainly online multiplayer.
If you want to see the game in action, there are videos available from GamesRadar+ that show gameplay and tips.
In summary, The Duskbloods is a multiplayer experience that mixes battling enemies with the chance to fight other players, but it’s not solely focused on PvP. Most of the game involves fighting against the game’s creatures and bosses, with player battles happening in a structured, tournament-style format. Whether you’re into PvE or PvP, there’s a way to enjoy this game at your own pace.