The Duskbloods: Network Test Dates, Sign-Up and Switch Online Rules

The Duskbloods Closed Network Test runs from August 21 to August 24, 2026, but access is limited to selected Nintendo Switch 2 players. You need a successful application, the code tied to that Nintendo Account, a Nintendo Switch 2, and an active Nintendo Switch Online membership. The original Nintendo Switch cannot access the test, and the July 22-28 registration window is closed.

The Duskbloods Network Test key dates

This is a closed, session-based online test rather than a four-day period of continuous access. FromSoftware is using five separate four-hour sessions to test server load, matchmaking, network stability, multiplayer issues, and balance ahead of The Duskbloods’ 2026 Nintendo Switch 2 launch.

• Applications opened: July 22, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. UTC.
• Applications closed: July 28, 2026, at 1:59 p.m. UTC.
• Selected-player notification: August 7, 2026.
• Network Test client preload: August 18, 2026.
• Playable test period: August 21-24, 2026.
• Client download size: approximately 3.8 GB.

Applying did not guarantee entry. The test is selection-gated, so owning a Switch 2 and paying for Nintendo Switch Online alone does not unlock it. A selected account needs its unique download code before the client can be installed.

All five Network Test sessions in CEST

Each session lasts four hours. The most common scheduling mistake is treating August 21-24 as a single open-access block; the servers are only available during the windows below.

Session	CEST time	Duration
Session 1	Friday, August 21 — 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.	4 hours
Session 2	Saturday, August 22 — 4:00 a.m.–8:00 a.m.	4 hours
Session 3	Saturday, August 22 — 8:00 p.m.–12:00 a.m.	4 hours
Session 4	Sunday, August 23 — 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.	4 hours
Session 5	Monday, August 24 — 4:00 a.m.–8:00 a.m.	4 hours

North American and UK sessions are synchronized to these same global windows, so dates can roll over overnight. Check the session table for the Nintendo Account region used for your application, then convert the time before setting an alarm. The early-morning windows are especially easy to miss.

What you needed to verify before applying

Registration was handled through the official Network Test campaign page. During the application period, players signed in with a Nintendo Account, confirmed their region and age details, accepted the test terms, and submitted the form. The important checks were account and hardware checks, not combat experience.

• Nintendo Switch 2 hardware: the test is exclusive to Switch 2. A first-generation Nintendo Switch is ineligible.
• A working Nintendo Account: it must be linked to the Switch 2 you intend to use.
• Correct account region: keep the Nintendo Account region consistent with the application region and session schedule.
• Current contact details: selection information and the download code are delivered through the selected account’s email or Nintendo Account messaging.
• Real availability: make sure you can play during at least one of the five four-hour sessions before treating an invitation as useful access.

Players who did not submit an application by July 28 cannot join this Network Test as a walk-in player. There is no public Nintendo eShop download that bypasses selection.

Nintendo Switch Online requirement explained

An active Nintendo Switch Online subscription is required to play The Duskbloods Network Test. This is a multiplayer-focused test, so the selected Nintendo Account must have access to Nintendo’s online service throughout the session you plan to play.

The test materials do not specify a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack requirement. Base Nintendo Switch Online is the expected entitlement, but Expansion Pack should not be purchased specifically for this test without a direct requirement from Nintendo or FromSoftware.

On Switch 2, check the entitlement on the same account that received the code through System Settings → Users → Nintendo Account → Nintendo Switch Online. Confirm that the membership remains active through at least August 24, 2026. A Family Membership also works only when the player’s user profile is correctly included in that family group.

What selected players need to do before a session

Your invitation code is bound to one Nintendo Account. Redeem it on that account through the Nintendo eShop’s Redeem Code option, then download the roughly 3.8 GB Network Test client. Do not expect the code to work on a second profile or another Nintendo Account on the same console.

• Redeem the code on the Nintendo Account selected for the test.
• Install the Network Test client before the first planned session rather than downloading at session start.
• Confirm Nintendo Switch Online is active on that exact account.
• Check that the Switch 2 clock and time zone are correct.
• Use docked power or begin with enough charge for a full four-hour session.
• Expect bugs, connection problems, balance issues, and maintenance-style interruptions; finding those problems is part of the test’s purpose.

What The Duskbloods Network Test lets you play

The test is built around matches for up to eight players. Its PvPvE structure rewards more than direct player kills: you gain Virtue by collecting items, defeating enemies, and taking down boss creatures. Virtue drives progression through the match and determines who survives later culling stages.

Respawning does not immediately remove you from a match, and your Virtue remains intact after a respawn. That makes early setbacks recoverable, but falling behind on points still matters when the player count begins to shrink. The match eventually narrows into a reduced-space three-player PvP finale.

The early build includes six Bloodsworn characters. Players can summon companion creatures called kin from glowing map symbols; kin can fight alongside you, provide support, and level up during the match. Bloodsworn can also drink enemy blood to damage targets, restore health, and turn machine-controlled enemies into allies under their command.

Sigils add character-specific side objectives, including tasks such as hunting a designated player or making an altar-based proposal to another player. Those objectives feed into the game’s broader Virtue race, so choosing when to pursue them matters as much as winning a clean duel. Lanro City is one of the areas used in the preview build.

The docked Network Test build has run at around 40 fps in TV mode. Handheld performance was not tested in that session, and the Network Test client is separate from the final 2026 release build.

Three access problems that stop players at launch time

• Using the wrong console: the code and client are for Nintendo Switch 2 only.
• Switching accounts: the selected Nintendo Account, redeemed code, and Nintendo Switch Online entitlement must all match.
• Joining outside a session: even selected players cannot access the servers between the five scheduled four-hour windows.

Network Test progress, characters, and items are not confirmed to carry into the finished game. Treat every session as a limited multiplayer test, keep the selected account and Nintendo Switch Online subscription active, and be online before the scheduled window begins.