Elden Ring Nightreign Update Arrives

Elden Ring Nightreign, FromSoftware's cooperative spin-off, arrives May 30, 2025, priced at $40 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC (Steam).

Before launch, a network test exclusively on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S runs February 14-17, offering five three-hour sessions to evaluate online functionality. Session times are:

Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test Session Times:

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

This "preliminary verification test" allows selected players to experience a portion of the game. Bandai Namco aims to enhance Elden Ring Nightreign through player feedback.

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 powerful Ultimates, to battle new threats in the ever-changing Limveld. A three-day-and-night cycle significantly impacts gameplay, shrinking the map with the Night’s Tide. Each night culminates in a boss battle, with victory leading to greater challenges. The final confrontation is against the Nightlord on the third night. Failure grants relics for character customization and upgrades.

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. Limveld, an ever-changing environment, demands split-second decisions during combat and exploration. The night cycle shrinks the map, presenting escalating challenges. Successful boss battles unlock greater challenges. The final night features a showdown with the Nightlord. Cooperation is key; failure yields relics for character upgrades. Every session offers a unique experience due to shifting enemies, rewards, and the dynamic map. Sites of Grace provide leveling opportunities. Each session resembles an open-air dungeon, granting lasting stat bonuses upon successful completion.

IGN's hands-on preview described Elden Ring Nightreign as "turbocharging" Elden Ring's dungeon crawls into fast-paced speedruns. Further details are available in IGN's interview with game director Junya Ishizaki. [Link to IGN's interview with Junya Ishizaki] [Link to IGN's hands-on preview]