Elden Ring's Nightreign Expansion Unveiled

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

Before the launch, a network test exclusively on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S will run from February 14th to 17th, featuring five three-hour sessions across those days. This "preliminary verification test" aims to evaluate the online system's performance.

Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test Session Times (PT/ET):

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

Set in a parallel universe to the original Elden Ring, Nightreign features three-player cooperative gameplay. Players, as Nightfarers, choose from eight unique characters with distinct abilities and Ultimates. The game takes place in the ever-changing Limveld, a dynamic environment with a three-day-and-night cycle impacting exploration and combat. The shrinking map due to the "Night's Tide" adds a time-sensitive element.

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 isn't final; defeats yield relics for character customization and upgrades. The ever-shifting environment, enemies, and rewards ensure each playthrough is unique. Sites of Grace provide opportunities to level up and enhance stats. Each session is described as an open-air dungeon experience, granting lasting stat bonuses upon successful completion.

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