- FromSoftware boss Hidetaka Miyazaki has explained the studio's exclusive partnership with Nintendo for The Duskbloods.
- He says Nintendo's "forward-thinking" approach to the initial idea for The Duskbloods appealed to him.
- Miyazaki explained that Nintendo is "definitely the right partner" to help convey the game's complex mechanics to players.
FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki, the auteur behind popular titles like Elden Ring and Bloodborne, has stated why The Duskbloods is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive. He explained that Nintendo’s “forward-thinking” approach appealed to him and played a key role in moving forward with The Duskbloods’ Nintendo exclusivity.
Miyazaki told IGN that FromSoftware “had an opportunity to discuss the idea for the game with them [Nintendo],” adding that “they seemed very excited and very receptive to the idea. They seemed very forward-thinking in terms of how to do it.”
The FromSoftware boss acknowledges that The Duskbloods isn’t out on Nintendo Switch 2 yet, so “there are more things to consider.”
However, he adds that “the systems and the overall ruleset of the game are very unique, and I think having someone who can constantly give us feedback, support, additional ideas, and the balancing first of all because these features are quite complex and difficult – having this relationship is definitely key to that.”
Miyazaki further comments on the barriers to entry for new players with their Souls games, saying, “The complexity of the systems, the onboarding tutorials, and making sure players understand how the game works and how to succeed in the game is something we’ve historically not been super great at conveying instantly.”
That’s part of why FromSoftware chose Nintendo, as Miyazaki explains: “Nintendo is definitely the right partner for better conveying that information in a way that is understandable to the player; it definitely suits their strengths.”
Indeed, Souls games aren’t everyone’s cup of tea thanks to their punishing difficulty and non-linear storytelling, but the upcoming Nintendo exclusive could take a slightly different approach.
Recently leaked gameplay of The Duskbloods showcased fast-paced combat, along with aerial combos and a wildly different multiplayer experience than FromSoftware’s previous online title, Elden Ring: Nightreign. You can check out The Duskblood characters and classes right here.
The Duskbloods closed network test begins today, so we’ll soon find out how Nintendo’s upcoming exclusive compares to FromSoftware’s other exclusive titles like Bloodborne and Demon’s Souls.
