Article / News

Elden Ring Nightreign is FromSoftware’s New Co-op Roguelike Action RPG

Elden Ring Nightreign Screenshot of a knight fighting a purple beast at night

Rise, Tarnished! Or should I say, Nightlords?

At last night’s Game Awards 2024, Developer FromSoftware and publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment unveiled Elden Ring Nightreign, a spin-off multiplayer co-op action RPG with roguelike elements set in the same world as Elden Ring. The Roundtable Hold will be ready for players sometime in 2025 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.

As seen in the Elden Ring Nightreign trailer, any Souls fans can easily spot the Nameless King from Dark Souls III at 2:11. Three players may choose from eight characters with unique abilities and Ultimates. Party together to defeat powerful bosses each night cycle and even face a stronger Nightlord opponent every third night. Every run wouldn’t go to waste, as players can gain relics that can be used for upgrades on their subsequent attempts. For those who want to take up that extra challenge, the developer also confirms Nightreign can be played solo if you dare.

UPDATE Dec. 13th @ 9:00 am: Talking to IGN’s Tristan Ogilvie, game director Junya Ishizaki (whose previous roles include level designer on Dark Souls and Bloodborne, and combat designer on Dark Souls III and Elden Ring) revealed a bit more information about Nightreign. The whole interview is worth a read, but in it, Ishizaki noted that they’re taking inspiration from several genres — including MMOs, shooters, and even board games. He confirms Nightreign is meant to be a spin-off with a completely separate (but parallel) story to Elden Ring, and that George R. R. Martin is not involved in the creation.

When asked about launching a game like this in the wake of some failed multiplayer games like Concord, Ishizaki quickly (and thankfully!) pointed out that Elden Ring Nightreign is not a live service game, and that it’s a full game you’re buying into. There is a ton more information in IGN’s interview and hands-on experience with the game, so I encourage you to check those articles out as well!

Elden Ring Nightreign Overview

The world of ELDEN RING™ is getting a standalone multiplayer co-op action survival game that challenges players to band together in order to defeat the Nightlord.

Developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc., the upcoming game, ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN will thrust players into co-op multiplayer PVE combat against a harsh and unforgiving world.

Players take on the night together in an all-new experience from the team at FromSoftware. ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN will be a multiplayer-focused return to Roundtable Hold, set in a universe parallel to the events of ELDEN RING. Players must choose from eight unique characters, each with their own unique abilities and powerful Ultimates. Their journeys take them to Limveld, an ever-changing map, where they will have to make split-second decisions when it comes to combat and exploration in the face of a night cycle that shrinks the map with the coming Night’s Tide. At the end of each night, players will face a powerful boss and, if victorious, awaken to bigger challenges. Each session will culminate in the third night when they must face off against the chosen Nightlord. Individuals can fight the night alone, but strength will come in numbers. Nightfarers must learn to cooperate to take down these challenges, combining their unique abilities together for an unparalleled experience in the ELDEN RING universe.  All is not lost for those who fall in defeat. Unsuccessful runs will grant players relics to allow them to customize and upgrade their characters tailored to their personal play styles. 

ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN is unlike any experience created before by FromSoftware. In this condensed action RPG, players will never experience the same journey twice as enemies, rewards and Limveld is ever-shifting and evolving each session in the realm of the Nightlord. Defeating greater enemies and venturing into the more dangerous parts of Limveld will uncover more powerful weapons and greater Rune rewards. Find Sites of Grace to give each Nightfarer a chance to level up and gain crucial power. With each session-based adventure being akin to playing through an open-air dungeon, every journey provides an opportunity to grow lasting stat bonuses. Successful runs against the night bring players ever closer to defeating the realm of the Nightlord and unraveling the story behind each Nightfarer in this parallel world. 

Key Features

RISE TOGETHER

Join forces with other players to take on the creeping night and the dangers within featuring 3-player co-op.

BECOME A HERO

Take command of uniquely skilled heroes, each possessing their own abilities and distinct flair. While individually formidable, their skills create powerful synergies when they unite as a team.

TAKE ON THE NIGHT

Overcome a relentless environmental threat that sweeps through a land that changes between each game session and defeat the magnificent boss of that night!

Elden Ring Nightreign Screenshots

Elden Ring Nightreign debuts on PS5, PS4, XSX, XB1, and PC via Steam in 2025. The three-player roguelike is a fresh take on the series, and I’m here for the Monster Hunter vibes I’m getting from it.

Stay tuned here at RPGFan for all the RPG announcements from The Game Awards 2024!

Mike Salbato contributed to this article.

Partial source: IGN

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Tin Manuel

Tin Manuel

Tin is a designer and a writer by day and an adventurer in whatever game she is playing at night. She gets giddy talking about RPGs (specifically JRPGs), new releases, and reveres almost every female protagonist. She has two cats and two dogs, whom she loves dearly. She’s forgetful at times, but she will always remember Aerith’s death frame by frame in 480p.

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