FromSoftware's Online Lag: Can Duskbloods Fix It?

FromSoftware's new title, The Duskbloods, is set to debut on the Nintendo Switch 2 later this year, featuring an ambitious eight-player PvPvE multiplayer mode. The company's historical online implementations have been hampered by latency and imprecise hit detection, creating a "janky" experience that players have largely tolerated. However, for The Duskbloods, this "jank" is unacceptable, as the game must offer a seamless, lag-free experience from day one to succeed.

The core issue stems from FromSoftware's traditional peer-to-peer (P2P) netcode, which often results in desynchronization between players' game states. This leads to situations where attacks can hit players who are no longer in the attacked location on their screen, a problem exacerbated in PvPvE scenarios with more players. While PVE coop modes have been more forgiving, The Duskbloods' scale to eight players significantly amplifies the network demands, similar to the chaotic launch issues faced by Helldivers 2.

To overcome these challenges, The Duskbloods is expected to leverage Nintendo's modern NPLN network infrastructure, which powers other successful Switch titles. However, relying solely on NPLN might not be enough. Experts suggest a hybrid server architecture, combining NPLN for general tasks with dedicated, high-tick-rate servers for PvP combat, could provide the necessary frame-perfect precision.

The upcoming closed network test this summer will serve as a critical evaluation of FromSoftware's networking capabilities. The game's success will hinge not just on its combat or art direction, but on the robustness of its network performance. A smooth online experience leveraging dedicated servers and NPLN would signal a significant upgrade for FromSoftware's multiplayer engineering, paving the way for a successful new franchise.