The Duskbloods House of Night Hub Areas

The House of Night is The Duskbloods’ main hub area. FromSoftware designed it as the central space where players prepare for Dusk Battles, customise their Bloodsworn, train mechanics, and review gameplay data. The August 2026 Closed Network Test build included a subset of the hub’s planned features; retail launch adds more. Pair this page with House of Night Hub for the high-level overview.

The hub uses a wheel layout that you can rotate through. Each spoke of the wheel corresponds to a hub area with a specific function. Press playtesters consistently called the hub approachable but underpopulated compared to what FromSoftware described in the Creator’s Voice interviews.

Wheel of Blood

The Wheel of Blood is the central navigation tool in the House of Night. Rotating the wheel moves between hub areas and serves as the main menu for everything outside of active matches.

In the Network Test build, the Wheel of Blood included:

• Dusk Battle: queue for online PvPvE matches.
• Bloodsworn Selection: switch your active Bloodsworn and toggle Sigils.
• Battle Remembrance: training missions and lore entries.
• Archive: gameplay data, leaderboards, and tutorial videos.
• Courtyard: free-form combat practice with training dummies.

Retail launch adds a second-floor story NPC that did not appear in the test build. FromSoftware confirmed this NPC drives the story progression that the Network Test build omitted.

FightinCowboy first impressions and hub walkthrough

Dusk Battle

The Dusk Battle entry on the wheel opens matchmaking. You can queue solo or in Duos Mode (paired with another selected player). Private lobbies are confirmed for the retail launch but were not available in the test.

Press coverage flagged that matchmaking in the test prioritised fast connections on Switch 2 over geographic proximity. Expect a region-selection option in the retail launch.

Bloodsworn Selection

The Bloodsworn Selection area lets you:

• Switch your active Bloodsworn from the six confirmed in the test (Albert, Bloodhand Jan, Senator Samir Patres, Trang Lanh, Sniper Layla, Zork).
• Toggle Sigils before each match. Choosing a Sigil at this stage activates the per-match objective system.
• Preview each Bloodsworn’s weapons and Bloodsworn Skill animations.
• Review unlocked Bloodlines and equip cosmetic variants.

Retail launch adds the remaining four-plus Bloodsworn (Miyazaki confirmed more than ten total). Expect a character select screen that scrolls rather than wheels once the roster expands.

Read Bloodsworn Roster Overview for the full kit breakdown of every confirmed fighter.

Battle Remembrance

Battle Remembrance is the hub’s training and lore section. In the Network Test build, Battle Remembrance included:

• Tutorial missions that teach combat fundamentals (parry, dodge, combos).
• Lore entries that unlock as you play matches and progress through the story.
• Match replays that let you review your last few matches.

Retail launch expands Battle Remembrance significantly. FromSoftware described it as the primary story progression space, with NPC dialogue triggered by match outcomes.

Archive

The Archive holds your gameplay data:

• Match history: list of recent matches with outcome, length, and Bloodsworn used.
• Leaderboards: top Virtue scorers, longest win streaks, and highest-rated Kin summons.
• Tutorial videos: short clips that explain specific mechanics.
• Patch notes: changes from the previous build.

The Archive is your first stop when the meta shifts after a patch. Leaderboards reset between major updates in the Network Test build.

Courtyard

The Courtyard is a free-form combat area where you can:

• Practice combos against stationary training dummies.
• Test parry timing with a fixed-attack dummy that swings at a set rhythm.
• Try Bloodsworn Skills without a match timer.

Press coverage called the Courtyard undercooked in the Network Test build. FromSoftware confirmed that the retail launch adds a more elaborate practice area with PvE Trespassers that simulate match conditions.

Second-floor story NPC

The most significant missing feature from the Network Test build is the second-floor story NPC. Director Hidetaka Miyazaki confirmed during the Tokyo press interview that the second floor of the House of Night will host a story-driving NPC that progresses through the Twilight of Humanity arc as you play.

Press coverage speculated that this NPC could be the same character referenced in the Creator’s Voice interview who narrates the Bloodsworn customisation system. Treat this as confirmed for retail launch but not yet seen.

Wheel of Blood rotation tips

Press playtesters shared three tips for using the Wheel of Blood efficiently:

• Practice queue rotation: opening the wheel during a loading screen avoids a brief freeze before matchmaking.
• Sigils first: set your Sigil in Bloodsworn Selection before opening Dusk Battle. Once matchmaking starts, the Sigil toggle locks.
• Match history review: rotate to Archive after every few matches to track your Virtue gains and losses. Patterns become visible quickly.

Hub areas you will see at retail launch

In addition to the test build areas, retail launch is expected to add:

• Customisation chambers: deeper Bloodline and cosmetic unlock interfaces.
• Alliances and Duos registration: social menu for arranging Duos teams.
• Story rooms: the second-floor NPC and surrounding event rooms.
• Seasonal event spaces: themed rooms for limited-time events.

Press coverage did not confirm every space, but FromSoftware described the retail House of Night as substantially larger than the test build.

Frequently asked questions

Can I invite friends through the hub?

Private lobbies are confirmed for retail launch. The Network Test build did not support invites.

Does the Wheel of Blood reset between matches?

No. Your selections persist between matches.

Will the second-floor NPC be voiced?

FromSoftware did not confirm voice acting for the NPC, but Creator’s Voice described the character as central to the story. Expect at least subtitle-driven dialogue.

Can I practice against players in the Courtyard?

Not in the test build. Retail launch may add 1v1 practice modes.

Related pages

• House of Night Hub — high-level hub overview
• Bloodsworn Roster Overview — character kit details
• Battle Remembrance lore — story context
• Builds hub — customisation theory