Elden Ring fans rejoice! FromSoftware isn’t done with the Lands Between just yet. Fresh off the heels of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, a new Elden Ring experience is on the horizon: Elden Ring Nightreign. Unveiled at The Game Awards 2024, Nightreign is generating significant buzz, rivaling even Ghost of Tsushima 2 and GTA 6 in anticipation. This isn’t a direct sequel, however. Elden Ring Nightreign offers a unique twist on the formula, promising a fresh experience within a familiar world. Here’s everything we know about this intriguing new title.
A knight hanging from a big glowing eagle in Elden Ring Nightreign.A knight soars through the skies of Limveld on a spectral eagle.
Release Window and Platforms
Currently, Elden Ring Nightreign is slated for a 2025 release. Given the recent launch of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, this relatively quick turnaround is surprising, even for the prolific FromSoftware. The game will be available on the same platforms as Elden Ring: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Unfortunately, a Nintendo Switch release isn’t currently planned.
A knight sitting at the roundtable hold in Elden Ring Nightreign.A familiar sight, but with a new purpose: The Roundtable Hold returns in Nightreign.
Unveiling the Gameplay Trailer
The Game Awards 2024 reveal trailer provided our first glimpse into Elden Ring Nightreign’s gameplay. The trailer showcases Limveld, a parallel world to Elden Ring’s Limgrave, with familiar yet distinct landscapes. A mysterious narrative unfolds, hinting at “seekers of redemption” brought together by an unknown force. As expected from FromSoftware, the story remains cryptic, but the roguelite nature of the game suggests a potentially even less prominent narrative focus than previous titles.
A Roguelite Twist on the Soulslike Formula
Elden Ring Nightreign departs significantly from the traditional Soulslike formula. Instead of a single-player action RPG, Nightreign is a three-player cooperative roguelite experience. Players choose from a set roster of characters, each with unique abilities, and venture into procedurally generated worlds filled with randomized enemies, locations, bosses, and loot. An encroaching barrier, reminiscent of battle royale games, adds another layer of challenge, although Nightreign is strictly PvE. Survival within the shrinking zone culminates in a final boss encounter, chosen at the outset of each run.
A mage looking at a purplpe landscape in Elden Ring Nightreign.Limveld offers a fresh, yet familiar, world to explore.
Character Classes and Combat
Currently, four character classes have been revealed: Wylder (a knight), Duchess (a rogue), Guardia (a tank), and Recluse (a mage). A total of eight classes are planned. Unlike previous Soulslike titles, players won’t create custom characters. Each class has predefined weapons, abilities, and an ultimate skill. The trailer showcases Wylder’s grappling hook, used for both combat and traversal. All characters appear to possess the ability to glide on magical birds, and parkour elements, such as wall-running, are also present.
Combat retains the core mechanics of Elden Ring, including stamina management, dodging, and light and heavy attacks. However, movement speed is significantly increased, Torrent is absent, and fall damage has been removed. Enemies and bosses from Elden Ring and previous FromSoftware games are featured.
Progression and Pre-orders
How progression between runs will function remains unclear. While pre-orders aren’t yet available, you can add Elden Ring Nightreign to your Steam wishlist. A closed network test for PS5 and Xbox Series X is scheduled for February, with sign-ups opening on January 10th. Visit the official Bandai Namco website for more details.
