Nintendo’s Move with The Duskbloods: Seizing PlayStation’s Overlooked Opportunity

Nintendo has been riding high on the buzz surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2, and their latest direct presentation has only added fuel to the fire. The unveiling of the upgraded Joy-Con 2 with mouse controls and the GameChat feature has fans eager for the console’s release. However, it’s not just the hardware that’s got everyone talking—it’s the selection of both first-party and third-party games slated for the system. Of particular interest is The Duskbloods, which might just be the most intriguing title on the horizon.

Set against a backdrop of Victorian fantasy, The Duskbloods will focus heavily on melee and gun combat, with themes of blood and lunar elements. The game has naturally sparked comparisons to FromSoftware’s Bloodborne, a classic revered for its gothic horror vibe. Since its release in 2015, fans have been pleading with the creators of Elden Ring for a follow-up to Bloodborne, which has stood as one of FromSoftware’s landmark achievements. The studio, along with Sony, has curiously left this potential goldmine untouched. Now, it seems Nintendo has stepped in, effectively giving the green light for what can only be described as Bloodborne 2 in spirit.

Many gamers have all but given up on hoping for a direct sequel to Bloodborne, and perhaps that’s for the best. Not every iconic game needs a follow-up, and part of Bloodborne’s allure is in its stand-alone nature. Creating a sequel could diminish its unique identity. Still, this doesn’t preclude FromSoftware from revisiting its striking Gothic aesthetic and dark, mysterious lore through a new storyline or game. We’ve seen the allure of these themes in other works like Lies of P, proving the appetite for such games remains strong.

FromSoftware has a reputation for rarely producing sequels outside of its major franchises like Armored Core and Dark Souls. Instead, they cleverly adapt and evolve ideas across different titles. Elden Ring, for instance, ingeniously borrowed from Dark Souls without being tethered to it, offering fresh gameplay while still resonating with fans of the series. It seems plausible that The Duskbloods might attempt a similar feat with the soul of Bloodborne, channeling its inspiration while not being a direct continuation.

It’s a little baffling that Sony, which first published Bloodborne, hasn’t capitalized on its potential, especially after seeing the dominance of Elden Ring in the gaming world. One would expect them to rush back to FromSoftware with open arms. Meanwhile, Nintendo has seen an opportunity and seized it. The reasons behind FromSoftware’s choice to align with Nintendo for The Duskbloods could be varied—known only to industry insiders—but the outcome is certainly unexpected. This strategic move could see fans flocking to Nintendo’s new console to experience a game that feels unmistakably like Bloodborne, even if it doesn’t carry the name. Whether Sony will respond or not remains to be seen.