Elden Ring: Nightreign's Arrival Draws Near

Elden Ring Nightreign, a standalone cooperative spin-off from FromSoftware, launches May 30, 2025, priced at $40 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam. This announcement precedes a network test exclusively on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, running February 14-17, 2024, in five three-hour sessions.

Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test Session Times (PT/ET):

• February 14: 3am-6am / 6am-9am
• February 14: 7pm-10pm / 10pm-1am
• February 15: 11am-2pm / 2pm-5pm
• February 16: 3am-6am / 6am-9am
• February 16: 7pm-10pm / 10pm-1am

This network test, described by Bandai Namco as a "preliminary verification test," aims to evaluate the online system's performance and functionality.

Set in a parallel universe to the original Elden Ring, Nightreign features three-player cooperative gameplay. Players select from eight unique Nightfarers, each with distinct abilities and Ultimates, to battle new threats in the ever-changing Limveld. A three-day-and-night cycle significantly impacts gameplay, shrinking the map with the approach of Night’s Tide. Each night culminates in a boss battle, with victory leading to increased challenges. The final confrontation occurs on the third night against the Nightlord.

The official description highlights:

Elden Ring Nightreign begins at the Roundtable Hold. Players choose from eight unique characters, each with their own abilities and powerful Ultimates. Their journeys take them to Limveld, an ever-changing environment, where they must make split-second decisions during combat and exploration, facing a night cycle that shrinks the map. Defeat grants relics for character customization and upgrades. Each session offers a unique experience, with enemies, rewards, and the map itself dynamically changing. Sites of Grace provide opportunities to level up. Successful runs grant lasting stat bonuses, bringing players closer to defeating the Nightlord.

IGN's hands-on preview described Nightreign as "turbocharg[ing] the cautious dungeon crawls of Elden Ring into propulsive, slash ‘n’ dash speedruns." Further details can be found in IGN's interview with game director Junya Ishizaki. [Link to IGN's interview with Junya Ishizaki] [Link to IGN's hands-on preview]