Elden Ring: Night Reign Makes Me Nervous, but I Trust FromSoft

One of the biggest surprises at this year’s Game Awards was the announcement of Elden Ring: Night Reign. FromSoftware stunned fans by revealing a co-op-focused spin-off that deviates from the typical formula. Known for their meticulously crafted, punishingly difficult RPGs, FromSoftware has decided to take a bold leap with Night Reign. Instead of the sprawling, methodical exploration of Elden Ring, this new title offers a condensed, fast-paced multiplayer experience.

As a huge fan of Elden Ring, I’ll admit I want to play it myself. However, it’s hard not to get nervous about this new direction. The game promises to deliver on the elements we know and love. Things like exploration, boss fights and character building. However, it looks like a faster, more action-packed framework. Now, I trust FromSoftware’s ability to innovate. Although, with such a significant departure from their usual style, I’m nervous about Elden Ring: Night Reign.

FromSoftware describes Night Reign as a “condensed RPG experience.” Gone are the expansive open-world vistas and the hours of slow, deliberate progress through labyrinthine dungeons. Instead, Night Reign thrusts players into short, high-intensity sessions where survival depends on speed, strategy, and teamwork.

Adding to the tension is a shrinking area of safe terrain that pushes players toward the center, much like a battle royale game. An acidic rain will consume players who stray outside the shrinking safe areas at night. The goal of Night Reign differs from traditional Souls titles. Build your character as quickly as possible, coordinate with your squad, and take down the boss at the end of each cycle. Fans have already begun comparing this gameplay loop to games such as Fortnite, not always in a positive light.

At its core, Night Reign retains many hallmarks of Elden Ring. Combat is skill-based and brutal, exploration is rewarding, and bosses are as fearsome as ever. However, the pace is dramatically faster. The cautious dungeon crawls of the original game have been replaced with adrenaline-pumping speedruns. Night Reign demands constant movement and quick decision-making, forcing players to balance risk and reward in a way that feels fresh yet familiar.

This isn’t just a traditional multiplayer Elden Ring. The game will eight distinct “heroes”, each with their own unique abilities and playstyles.

We’ve had a look at four so far:

• Wylder: A balanced all-rounder with a hookshot ability for closing gaps or evading attacks.
• Guardian: A tanky powerhouse with a mini-tornado skill to disrupt enemy swarms.
• Duchess: A nimble rogue with fast attacks and a quickstep dodge.
• Recluse: A mage specializing in ranged magical attacks and healing.

Each hero also has an ultimate attack, which operates on a cooldown timer. Finding ways to combine these abilities with your teammates’ skills is key to overcoming Night Reign’s toughest encounters. These synergies encourage communication and teamwork, making every encounter a test of strategy as much as skill. This differs from Souls games usual drop-in/drop-out multiplayer.

Each session in Night Reign also seems to reshuffle the map. Randomized enemy placements, and unique environmental hazards like active volcanoes or rotting forests could be in your run. Even the bosses you encounter at the end of each day are randomized. The random elements ensure that no two runs feel the same, which is essential for a game designed to be replayed again and again.

These changes lower the barrier to entry to the game. Although, ideally, without sacrificing the depth and challenge that FromSoftware fans expect.

As much as I trust FromSoftware, Night Reign represents a huge departure from their traditional formula. The studio’s greatest strength has always been its ability to craft intricate, immersive worlds filled with secrets and lore. By focusing on short, fast-paced sessions, there’s a risk that Night Reign might lose some of the depth that made Elden Ring so special.

For example, the lore of Elden Ring is deep, intricate and plentiful. However, they’ve said this game will feature no new lore. In fact it’s likely to be non-canon given the appearance of some characters such as what seems to be Dark Souls 3’s Nameless King in the trailer. While this isn’t the end of the world, it makes me wonder why not just create a new IP for this?

Another concern is the emphasis on co-op. While multiplayer was a popular feature in Elden Ring, FromSoftware’s games have always completely enjoyable as a solitary experience. Overcoming immense challenges on your own is in fact the way many insist on playing Elden Ring. I worry that the shift to a team-based dynamic might dilute that for some.

Finally, there’s the question of longevity. Randomization and replayability are great, but will Night Reign have enough variety to keep players engaged in the long term? FromSoftware will need to deliver a steady stream of new content and updates to maintain interest. However, this is something the studio hasn’t traditionally done outside of DLC expansions.

Despite my reservations, I’m optimistic about Night Reign because it’s clear that FromSoftware isn’t just chasing trends. This isn’t a soulless attempt to cash in on the success of Elden Ring. Instead, it’s a thoughtful reimagining of their formula that retains the essence of what makes their games special while experimenting with new ideas.

FromSoftware has a track record of taking risks and succeeding. Bloodborne reinvented the slow, defensive combat of Dark Souls with its aggressive, fast-paced gameplay. Sekiro stripped away RPG mechanics entirely to focus on pure action. While many consider these masterpieces, they also shifted the formula a great deal. If any studio can pull off such a dramatic shift, it’s FromSoftware.

However, I still feel that they could have easily named this something different while still using Elden Ring’s assets. If lore doesn’t seem to matter especially, this could have been seen as a culmination of the entire Souls series. It’ll remain to be seen how much lore there is or isn’t in the game proper.

Ultimately, Night Reign feels like a gamble, but it’s one I’ll stay optimistic about. FromSoftware has earned our trust with years of exceptional games. I’m excited to see how they surprise us this time. Whether Night Reign becomes the next Bloodborne or simply an interesting experiment, one thing is certain: FromSoftware has the chops to make a hit regardless of forumla.

Elden Ring: Nightreign will come to the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC in 2025. Elden Ring is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC, with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC also available.