Hidetaka Miyazaki, the Japanese video game director known for creating the 'Soulslike' genre, has discussed his upcoming multiplayer game, The Duskbloods. The game, a Switch 2 exclusive, represents a shift from the single-player action games his audience typically expects.
The Duskbloods involves eight players battling ghoulish horrors and each other, with the number of survivors reduced over three phases, culminating in a final three-way battle. Miyazaki expressed nervousness about the release, acknowledging the shifting tastes and trends of the audience.
The game explores themes of ruin and rebirth, a recurring motif in FromSoftware's titles. Miyazaki, who describes himself as a pessimist, believes this outlook is evident in his work, where players repeatedly face challenging odds and experience rebirth at bonfire checkpoints.
While primarily pitting players against each other, The Duskbloods also incorporates temporary alliances and conflicting objectives, drawing inspiration from Miyazaki's interest in tabletop role-playing games. Players can form alliances, which Miyazaki describes as a sense of secure trust rather than traditional romance.