The Duskbloods is bringing tabletop-style ideas into its multiplayer matches, but not in the usual roll-for-stats way. FromSoftware boss and game director Hidetaka Miyazaki said the game’s Virtue and Sigil systems grew in part from his own experiences with tabletop and board games.
Speaking with IGN, Miyazaki explained that two parts of the game were especially influenced by that experience. “There are two points I would say that can specifically be pulled from the board games,” he said.
Virtue rewards players for more than winning fights
The first is the Virtue system. Players can earn it by completing side objectives, defeating mini-bosses that roam the map, or controlling king-of-the-hill-style zones. Those activities give each match goals beyond simply hunting down every other player.
That approach reflects the kind of board-game design where success can come from pursuing several competing objectives. A player may still need to fight, but direct player-versus-player combat will not be the only path toward progress.
Sigils can change relationships between players
The second system, Sigils, adds a more personal layer to each match. A Sigil can create a specific relationship or objective between players, potentially turning one opponent into an ally, target, or something much stranger in between.
One example allows a player to propose to another competitor with a bouquet of flowers. The other player can accept—or answer with the pointy end of a sword. Another Sigil can place two specific players at odds with each other, giving them a conflict that may not apply to everyone else in the match.
Miyazaki described Sigils as closely resembling the role-playing elements found in tabletop RPGs. His earlier experiences with those games often centered on rolling dice to determine parts of a character, but he wanted The Duskbloods to give players control over relationships and other match elements as well.
Closed network playtests are underway ahead of the game’s full release later in 2026. The Duskbloods will launch as a Switch 2 exclusive.
Would these tabletop-inspired systems make your matches more interesting, or would you rather keep the focus on combat? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow the publication on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
The Duskbloods
Developed by FromSoftware
An online multiplayer PvPvE game where 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. The moontears will flow for one and one alone.
- Platforms Nintendo Switch 2
- Perspective Third person
- Modes Single player, Multiplayer
- Release December 31, 2026
- Publisher FromSoftware, Nintendo
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Age Rating
