Elden Ring: Nightreign, the multiplayer spin-off from the wildly popular Elden Ring franchise, launched on Friday, May 30, 2025, with high player numbers but a mixed reception. The game, designed primarily as a three-player cooperative experience, dropped players onto the island of Limveld where they must survive three in-game days and ultimately face off against the formidable Nightlord boss. However, many players found solo play particularly brutal, prompting swift developer response.
FromSoftware, the studio behind Nightreign, acknowledged the difficulties solo players were facing shortly after launch. While the game includes a solo mode where enemies and bosses have slightly reduced health, their attack patterns remain unchanged, making the challenge steep for lone adventurers. Players reported frustration not only with the punishing difficulty but also with matchmaking issues, especially on PlayStation platforms.
In response, FromSoftware announced via the official Elden Ring Twitter account on May 30 that patch 1.02 would be arriving in the first week of June to improve the solo expedition experience. The update promises two significant changes: the addition of an "Automatic Revival Upon Defeat" effect, allowing solo players one revival per Nightlord boss battle, and an increase in the amount of runes gained during solo runs. Runes serve as both currency and experience points, essential for leveling up and surviving tougher encounters.
These changes aim to make solo expeditions more manageable. Automatic revival is a particularly welcome feature, as boss battles in Nightreign are designed for three players and can be unforgiving for solo runs. The boost in rune rewards will help players level up faster, improving their chances against formidable foes. FromSoftware also indicated that patch 1.02 would include several bug fixes and other improvements, with more details to be shared later in the week of June 2.
Before patch 1.02's release, the game underwent scheduled maintenance on Monday, June 2, starting at 10 a.m. CEST (9 a.m. UK time, 1 a.m. PDT, 4 a.m. EST). The servers were offline for approximately three hours as patch 1.01.1 was deployed across all platforms, including PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series X and S, and Xbox One. Players were able to return to Limveld around midday that day.
Despite the improvements, players have voiced ongoing concerns, especially regarding the absence of a two-player co-op mode and in-game communication features like voice chat. The lack of a duo option has been a sticking point, with many fans requesting its inclusion. Director Junya Ishizaki addressed these concerns, admitting the two-player mode was "simply overlooked" during development. He expressed regret and assured players that FromSoftware is considering adding this feature in post-launch support. Ishizaki emphasized that while the primary focus was on three-player co-op, significant effort was also made to craft a solo experience.
Nightreign's launch saw impressive engagement, with over 300,000 concurrent players on Steam within the first hour. However, the game received mixed reviews, largely due to missing features that many players expected from a multiplayer title. Critics and fans alike noted the absence of voice chat, crossplay, and duo play options, which affected the overall experience.
Matchmaking issues further complicated matters, especially for PlayStation users. The Elden Ring X account recommended that players double-check their NAT settings and try restarting the matchmaking process to resolve connectivity problems. These technical hiccups added to the frustration of players eager to dive into the game’s challenging expeditions.
Nightreign itself represents a departure from the original Elden Ring’s solitary journey. Instead, it embraces larger-scale cooperative and competitive gameplay, with players assuming the roles of Nightfarers hunting Nightlords over intense, three-day expeditions. The game is available for $40 on multiple platforms, and owning the original Elden Ring is not required to play.
Reviews have been cautiously optimistic about Nightreign’s potential. For instance, NME awarded the game three stars, noting that "Nightreign will live or die by the community that grows around it." They described it as a "playful reimagining" offering approximately 40 hours of combat, but warned that it might not convert those who were not already fans of the original.
Meanwhile, anticipation builds beyond the game itself. In related news, acclaimed filmmaker Alex Garland is reportedly adapting Elden Ring into a movie, with actor Kit Connor, known for his role in Heartstopper, set to star. This highlights the enduring cultural impact of the Elden Ring universe.
As Nightreign continues to evolve, FromSoftware’s commitment to responding to player feedback is clear. The upcoming patch 1.02 and potential future additions like the two-player mode demonstrate a willingness to refine the experience based on community needs. For solo players struggling to keep up in Limveld’s harsh world, these changes could make all the difference.
With the game’s servers back online and patch 1.02 on the horizon, players can look forward to a more forgiving solo journey—though the core challenge and thrill of hunting Nightlords remain intact. Whether Nightreign can fully satisfy both solo adventurers and co-op enthusiasts remains to be seen, but the studio’s active engagement suggests the game’s story is just beginning.
