One Fan-Requested Elden Ring Nightreign Change Could Cut…

The closed network test for Elden Ring Nightreign has finished, and the game has gone back into the oven to prepare for its late May launch. Assuming there won't be any delays, there's not much time before FromSoftware’s experimental roguelike Soulslike arrives, and many interested players are thankful for that fact. Elden Ring Nightreign offers a return to the world of Elden Ring, but in a shrunken and distorted state that now includes some bosses from the developer’s Dark Souls trilogy as well. What's going on isn't clear yet, but more narrative details should come to light in the full release.

For those not as interested in the story, Elden Ring Nightreign focuses on being a Souls roguelike first and foremost, and in doing so it has built a surprisingly distinct experience out of old parts. Players, alone or in teams of three, have a limited time to explore a large map, scrounging for resources and defeating enemies. After some time, one of Elden Ring Nightreign’s bosses will engage the heroes in an arena, followed by the full process repeating, and then the players being whisked away to fight a Nightlord. It’s a solid framework, but one popular fan request threatens to throw Nightreign off balance.

Elden Ring Nightreign’s Biggest Beta Issue Lingering Until Launch Would Be Devastating

While Elden Ring Nightreign's network test was done to highlight issues, it nonetheless showcased a problem that needs to be resolved before launch.

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By Josh Cotts

Elden Ring Nightreign’s Multiplayer Suite Isn't Ideal Yet

Two-Player Co-op Is Highly Requested For Elden Ring Nightreign

Right from the reveal of Elden Ring Nightreign, a contingent of Elden Ring fans began voicing their concerns over how this title would handle its co-op. Elden Ring already has some issues with how its online multiplayer is set up, ranging from PvP invasions not being automatically enabled like in past FromSoftware titles, to co-op removing horseback riding and erecting walls in the open world. As Nightreign is influenced by mods like Seamless Co-op, it has taken some steps to improve its multiplayer experience, but ended up losing a feature taken for granted in the process.

Invasions are obviously gone in Nightreign, since that's not the point of a co-op roguelike, but so is the rest of the flexibility present in Elden Ring’s multiplayer. Elden Ring Nightreign is run solo or in trios, with duos only occurring incidentally due to disconnects. The game’s health, loot, and enemy formations are all balanced for the first two states, with the third being a severe, unintended modifier to an ongoing playthrough. A dual queue system where two partnered players matchmake with a random third is available, but Elden Ring Nightreign just isn't designed to be played in pairs.

Elden Ring Nightreign Could Support Duos, But It's Risky

That hasn't stopped players from asking for it, however, and FromSoftware has taken notice. Nightreign director Junya Ishizaki, in a media roundtable interview with UnGeek, stated that implementing runs with just two players is something FromSoftware is considering, but isn't currently in the game. While that's nice to hear, this isn't a guarantee of two-player co-op at Nightreign’s launch or later on, as rebalancing the game for a third style of play may not be feasible. It's already unclear how solo play will affect Elden Ring Nightreign’s group-oriented boss fights, so a full two-player balance adjustment could eclipse Nightreign’s scope.

Adding Two-Player Sessions Could Be Worth Elden Ring Nightreign’s Trouble

Still, another option for how to play Nightreign would have its benefits, even with so much uncertainty around. Duos were demanded in popular games like Fortnite and Apex: Legends, as many players simply prefer playing with one friend at a time. Elden Ring Nightreign’s enemy scaling could also quickly shift into duos mode if one member of a trio drops out, like how it seemingly already does if a trio is reduced to one player. It isn't clear if Elden Ring Nightreign will be able to support a dedicated two-player co-op mode, but even a basic shot at one could make the game more inviting.

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