The Game Awards 2024 surprised many with the announcement of Elden Ring: Nightreign, a standalone spinoff. Departing from the main game’s action RPG formula, Nightreign offers a roguelike co-op experience. Teams of up to three players strive to survive three in-game days, accumulating gear and battling bosses from various FromSoftware games. Given the original Elden Ring‘s lack of cross-platform play, a key question arises: does Nightreign embrace this much-requested feature? Let’s delve into the details of cross-platform support for Elden Ring: Nightreign.
Cross-Platform Play in Elden Ring: Nightreign
A knight sitting at the roundtable hold in Elden Ring Nightreign.
Unfortunately, Elden Ring: Nightreign does not offer cross-platform play. This means PlayStation, Xbox, and PC players will remain siloed within their respective platforms. This mirrors the co-op functionality of the original Elden Ring, upon which Nightreign is based. While understandable from a technical perspective, it’s disappointing for a game heavily reliant on cooperative gameplay. Solo play is possible, but the experience is clearly designed for teamwork. If your friends own the game on different platforms, you won’t be able to join forces.
Cross-Progression in Elden Ring: Nightreign
Similarly, Elden Ring: Nightreign lacks cross-progression. Your game progress is tied to the platform you initially choose. Purchasing the game on a second platform means starting anew. While less impactful in a roguelike context, it’s still an inconvenient limitation.
The Impact of No Cross-Platform Support
The absence of cross-platform play and progression in Elden Ring: Nightreign has implications for the game’s community. It restricts player interaction and potentially fragments the player base. While the core gameplay loop of surviving three days and battling bosses remains engaging, the limited connectivity may impact the game’s long-term appeal.
Conclusion: No Cross-Platform for Nightreign
While Elden Ring: Nightreign presents a unique and exciting twist on the Elden Ring formula, the lack of cross-platform support and cross-progression is a notable drawback. This decision restricts cooperative play and potentially limits the game’s reach. Hopefully, FromSoftware will consider implementing these features in future updates to enhance the overall player experience.
