Summary
- The trailer for FromSoftware’s upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, The Duskbloods, features an enigmatic winged rat creature at the very end.
- The Duskbloods director Hidetaka Miyazaki has revealed that the winged rodent is FromSoftware’s attempt at a cute “Nintendo-esque” character.
- Miyazaki also confirmed that the winged rodent is an “elderly gentleman” and will offer advice to players between matches.
FromSoftware boss Hidetaka Miyazaki has explained the ideation of the peculiar winged rat creature in the studio’s upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive: The Duskbloods. The newest FromSoftware project has been grabbing a lot of attention thanks to its multiplayer trappings and clear Bloodborne influences, but The Duskbloods also features some interesting character design inspiration.
Arguably the most surprising game announcement at the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct held earlier this week, The Duskbloods is the next original IP from FromSoftware, the developer behind Elden Ring, Bloodborne, and Dark Souls. The Duskbloods will launch exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, a decision that took many FromSoftware fans aback given the Japanese studio’s multiplatform proclivities in recent years. Additionally, The Duskbloods is a PvPvE multiplayer experience, inciting further intrigue about the game.
Related
The Duskbloods May Continue an Important Theme of Elden Ring
FromSoftware carries a lot of similar themes over from past games, and The Duskbloods seems to be leaning into one from Elden Ring heavily.
Aside from the usual departures from the FromSoftware formula, The Duskbloods‘ reveal trailer ended with a mysterious winged rodent that had illuminated engravings on its body and was lying down in a seemingly defeated manner. Many were confused about the creature’s significance to the game, and to that end, The Duskbloods director Hidetaka Miyazaki has offered a clarification. In a recent Nintendo Creator’s Voice blog post, Miyazaki revealed that the winged rat is meant to be “something cute” and an attempt by FromSoftware to do something “Nintendo-esque” in the wake of a new partnership between both gaming giants.
The Duskbloods’ Winged Rat Creature is an Old Man Who Will Offer “Advice and Guidance” to Players
Nintendo is typically associated with whimsical, family-friendly characters, while FromSoftware’s characters are essentially the polar opposite – bleak, complex, and often tragic. Therefore, it’s quite commendable that FromSoftware went to the lengths of fusing its DNA with Nintendo’s to ideate an emblematic character for the studio’s first dedicated Switch 2 game. Miyazaki added that the winged rodent is actually “an elderly gentleman,” and as for its role in The Duskbloods, the director said it functions similarly to the Fire Keepers from the Dark Souls games, remaining in the hub area and offering “advice and guidance” to players between matches.
I suppose you could say we tried doing something a little Nintendo-esque… although I will say this character is actually an elderly gentleman.
Further details surrounding the winged rat creature will likely be known close to The Duskbloods‘ launch next year. During this interview, Miyazaki also revealed that The Duskbloods includes over a dozen playable characters and is structured around eight-player matches. Customization options exist but will be limited, indicating a tighter focus on gameplay balance and class identity.
