Duskbloods Network Test Cut Short on Day One, Remaining Sessions Now Unscheduled
FromSoftware shut down the first Duskbloods network test session before its scheduled finish on Friday, after players who had been selected for the test spent the morning stuck on the title screen instead of in matches. The session had been set to run from 3:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. PDT, and it was closed early. The Duskbloods is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, so the test affects only Switch 2 owners who applied and were picked.
The studio first said it was investigating login failures on the game server for what it calls The Duskbloods Network Test Ver. A short while later it confirmed the session was over for the day.
What FromSoftware said about the Duskbloods network test servers
In its own announcement, the studio apologised to players who had been waiting to get in, said the day's session was closed, and added that it would keep working on the servers and announce future schedules later. That last part is the detail worth holding on to: the studio did not reaffirm the four sessions still on the original calendar.
Earlier in the window, a regulation update was pushed for the Network Test Ver. build. It applies after you launch the game and connect to the game server, rather than as a download from the eShop listing, so anyone who gets a later session should let the client reach the server once before assuming it is up to date.
Which Duskbloods network test sessions were scheduled
The test was always built as five four-hour windows rather than one continuous weekend. These are the times as originally published, in Pacific time:
- Friday 21 August, 3:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. PDT — opened, then closed early
- Friday 21 August, 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. PDT
- Saturday 22 August, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. PDT
- Sunday 23 August, 3:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. PDT
- Sunday 23 August, 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. PDT
Those four remaining slots are the published schedule, not a confirmation. FromSoftware's wording points to a revised calendar, and the original notes already warned that session dates and times could change or be cancelled. Treat any of them as provisional until the studio posts again.
Who can actually play, and what the test needs
This is a closed test, not an open beta. Applications ran in late July and closed on 28 July, selections were announced on 7 August, and download codes went out on 18 August at 6:00 a.m. PDT. If you did not apply in that window, there is no way in now.
Participants need a Switch 2 system and an active Nintendo Switch Online membership, which is sold separately — the same subscription requirement that governs the console's other online play and its scheduled Nintendo Switch Online maintenance windows. Matches in the test build support up to eight players at once.
What to try if your session connects
FromSoftware's guidance for unstable connections is unglamorous and specific: Wi-Fi can behave badly depending on your physical setup, and a wired connection is the recommended fix. A LAN adapter or the dock's Ethernet port is the practical answer for anyone whose console sits a few rooms from the router.
Worth separating clearly from the server story: none of this tells you when the game itself arrives. Nintendo has already pushed back on one circulating date, which we covered when Nintendo called the September 24 release date inaccurate. A load test being rough is normal and is the reason load tests exist — it is not a launch-date signal in either direction.
For context on the hardware this one is locked to, the console's pricing shifted again recently with the Switch 2 price increase in the UK. And if you are juggling test weekends, the other big one running now is on a different schedule entirely — see our breakdown of the Modern Warfare 4 beta preload times.
The studio has not given a time for its next update, and it has not said whether the remaining sessions shift, stretch or get replaced outright. Until it posts a revised schedule, the only confirmed fact about the rest of the weekend is that the original one is no longer guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Duskbloods network test down?
The first session on 21 August was closed early by FromSoftware after players could not log in to the game server. The studio apologised, said that day's session was over, and stated it would announce future schedules later. It has not given a time for its next update.
When is the next Duskbloods network test session?
The originally published schedule had four sessions left: 21 August 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. PDT, 22 August 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. PDT, and two on 23 August at 3:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. PDT. FromSoftware has said it will announce future schedules at a later date, so treat those slots as provisional rather than confirmed.
Can I still sign up for the Duskbloods network test?
No. Applications closed on 28 July 2026 and participants were selected in the order they applied, with the results announced on 7 August. Download codes went out on 18 August. There is no late entry, and the test is closed rather than open to everyone.
What do you need to play the Duskbloods network test?
A Nintendo Switch 2 console and an active Nintendo Switch Online membership, which is sold separately. The game is a Switch 2 exclusive, so it does not run on the original Switch, PS5, Xbox or PC. Selected players also need the network test build downloaded to the console.
How do I fix Duskbloods connection problems?
FromSoftware advises that Wi-Fi can be unstable depending on your physical setup and recommends switching to a wired connection. Using the dock's Ethernet port or a LAN adapter is the practical fix. The day-one login failures, though, were server-side and could not be solved from the player's end.
