We included Elden Ring and Armored Core developer FromSoftware among our notable Summer Game Fest no-shows, and that's not technically true anymore: The studio piped up during today's Nintendo Direct to say, "Yeah, Duskbloods network test sometime this summer, I guess."
The Switch 2 exclusive's new trailer is even more cryptic than its first. It's the sort of mood piece that would make more sense as an initial teaser than a follow-up.
We got a few shots of gothic exteriors and stained glass windows, then close-ups of John Bangs (give this fella a haircut!) and some manner of rat man with glowing tattoos (I like the cut of his jib, at least). The narration? You better believe it's ominous and incomprehensible.
FromSoft's playing the hits, Duskbloods is not beating the Bloodborne 2 allegations, and I'm just miffed that this next game from one of my favorite studios is an exclusive (however temporarily) for the Switch 2, a worse handheld PC shackled to Nintendo's domineering software walled garden.
It feels like it's just about that time, you know? "Freaky teaser trailer for FromSoft's next big thing" o'clock. Elden Ring Nightreign certainly isn't getting support, so the studio can spare that manpower. Duskbloods' Nintendo-exclusive, multiplayer nature makes it feel like it can't possibly be FromSoft's next big thing, could it?
I'm still lighting a candle for an Armored Core 6 expansion-sequel in the series tradition, which seems less and less likely with each passing year. If nothing else, at least we have Elden Ring's Tarnished Edition DLC to look forward to. Bandai Namco has yet to reveal a price, but the pack will add two new classes, plus a number of new weapons and armor on August 28.
