The short answer is yes, The Duskbloods does have co-op, but it works differently from what most players are probably expecting. FromSoftware has confirmed that the full retail release will support friend invites and party matchmaking, letting you squad up before jumping into online matches. That feature just won't be available during the network test running on August 21, 22, and 23.
Co-op is real, but the network test runs solo matchmaking only
The August network test is strictly random matchmaking. FromSoftware has been upfront about this, stating the restriction is temporary and that gathering friends before matches will be a feature in the full game. So if you were planning to coordinate a premade group for the test sessions, that won't be possible.
Here's the thing: this isn't a sign that co-op is limited or tacked on. The game's entire structure is built around a hybrid PvPvE loop where cooperation is sometimes the only path to victory. Eight players drop into matches together, and while the default goal skews toward last-player-standing, certain match conditions shift into mandatory co-op territory, specifically when major bosses appear that require players to work together to take down.
How co-op actually fits into the PvPvE structure
Director Hidetaka Miyazaki has described matches as fluid and unpredictable. A session can open with players hunting each other and then pivot into a boss encounter where working together becomes the smarter play. Adversarial players can also hang back while others fight a powerful enemy, waiting to strike when their opponents are weakened. The key here is that cooperation and competition aren't separate modes, they coexist inside every match.
Victory Points drive the scoring system, and Miyazaki has noted that avoiding unnecessary fights and capitalizing on battlefield openings is a legitimate path to winning. Each character can also summon a companion creature mid-match, adding another layer of tactical flexibility beyond direct combat.
What Miyazaki said about designing for players who hate PvP
Miyazaki has been candid that he personally dislikes PvP, and The Duskbloods is designed with that in mind. The goal was to create something that appeals to players who typically avoid competitive multiplayer, which explains why the win conditions extend beyond pure combat skill. You can score points through positioning and opportunism as much as through outright fighting.
That framing matters for anyone worried this is just another competitive multiplayer game wearing a FromSoftware skin. The studio is aiming for something that sits between genres, closer to how Elden Ring: Nightreign handled its co-op structure than how a traditional PvP arena game works.
Network test timeline and what comes next
Applications for the network test closed July 28. Successful applicants will be notified at 6:00 a.m. Pacific Time on August 7, with test sessions scheduled for August 21, 22, and 23. The test runs on Nintendo Switch 2 and requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
Progression details remain sparse. Each run starts from zero, and it's unclear whether characters carry permanent upgrades between sessions or rely on per-run relics and stat boosts. The network test should answer those questions directly.
For players looking to get up to speed before jumping in, the The Duskbloods guides collection covers the mechanics, characters, and systems being revealed ahead of launch. Broader tips on multiplayer games and new releases are also available across the gaming guides hub.
