The Duskbloodswas among the most unexpected and impactful reveals of the recent Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, which certainly wasn’t lacking in big surprises. FromSoftware and Nintendo are perhaps not the most likely couple, especially for spawning a game that manyhave defaulted to calling “Bloodborne 2,“but at the end of the day, more FromSoftware projects are good for the industry, and many are eagerly anticipating this upcoming Gothic nightmare.
It’s also good to see FromSoftware partnering with other publishers, even if it comes at the cost of broader console accessibility. Were the studio to remain monogamous to Bandai Namco Entertainment, the company that published theDark Soulsgames andElden Ring, there’s a chance that it would lose much of its leverage on the business end. Put another way, diversifying publishing partners allows FromSoftware to stay in demand, ultimately retaining its creative freedom and seizing greater negotiating power. This is precisely what the company did in 2015 when it pivoted away from Bandai Namco to partner with Sony forBloodborne, and again just a few years later, when it teamed up with Activision forSekiro: Shadows Die Twice. This agnostic approach to publishing, continued viaThe Duskbloods, could make for an interesting future for FromSoftware.
FromSoftware Is One Decision Away from Completing a Rare Trifecta
After The Duskbloods, Xbox Will Be the Only Platform Without a FromSoftware Exclusive
Sony got a head start in the FromSoftware exclusivity battle, linking up with the now-famous studiofor the originalDemon’s Soulsback in 2009, laying the groundwork forBloodborneduring the next console generation. Needless to say, Sony and FromSoftware have an ostensibly strong working relationship, though it would appear that Nintendo is nudging its way in, getting FromSoftware to make an exclusive game for its new platform. Naturally, this raises the question: when will Xbox get its own FromSoftware game?
Clearly, FromSoftware isn’t opposed to console exclusivity, despite some of the challenges that this release method poses. Considering Microsoft’s vast resources, it certainly wouldn’t be impossible for it to entice theElden Ringdeveloper with a good deal, mirroringwhat happened with Hideo Kojima’sOD, which is being published by Xbox. Kojima is an icon in the industry, but FromSoftware is arguably much bigger at this point, with more mainstream appeal, so it wouldn’t be too surprising to see Xbox reaching for a piece of its pie.
Of course, this all hinges onXbox’s multiplatform release strategy, which is currently a bit obfuscated; many assume that Xbox will completely abandon hardware exclusivity in the future, though it’s still unclear just how far the company will go in this regard.
Xbox Has Already Laid the Groundwork for an Exclusive FromSoftware Game
In light ofThe Duskbloods' reveal, it’s interesting to look back at just how close Microsoft could have been to having a FromSoftware exclusive of its own. 2019 GOTYSekiro: Shadows Die Twicewas famously published by Activision, just three years before theCall of Dutyowner would be absorbed by Microsoft. Unsurprisingly, FromSoftware has not announced any plans for aSekirosequel, but with Activision under Microsoft’s belt, and FromSoftware and Activision presumably walking away fromSekirowith positive impressions of each other, there’s a chance that another Activision-published, Xbox-exclusive FromSoft game could see the light of day.
More than most other AAA developers, FromSoftware’s moves are hard to predict. TheDark Soulsstudio is remarkably inconsistentwith its choice of projects, release strategy, and the like, but its unparalleled batting average makes it interesting to watch. That is to say, nothing should be ruled out when speculating about FromSoftware’s future; if it’s willing to release a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, then an Xbox exclusive doesn’t seem too unlikely.
WHERE TO PLAY
Developed for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, The Duskbloods is a PvPvE title with online multiplayer at its core, where up to 8 players vie for supremacy among themselves and against challenging foes.
Play as the “Bloodsworn”; a group that has transcended human strength thanks to their special blood, and throw yourself into a violent fray for “First Blood” as the twilight of humanity approaches.
