Upcoming 'Elden Ring' Nightreign Update 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).

A network test, exclusive to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, precedes the launch, running February 14-17. Access isn't continuous; play is limited to five three-hour sessions:

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

Bandai Namco describes the test as a "preliminary verification" to assess online functionality and performance.

Set in a parallel universe to the original Elden Ring, Nightreign features three-player cooperative gameplay. Players, as Nightfarers, battle new threats across a dynamic map, culminating in a confrontation with the Nightlord. The game features a three-day-and-night cycle that significantly alters gameplay.

Here's an official summary:

Elden Ring Nightreign begins at the Roundtable Hold in a parallel universe. Choose from eight unique characters, each with distinct abilities and Ultimates. Explore the ever-changing Limveld, making crucial decisions during a night cycle that shrinks the playable area. Confront powerful bosses nightly; victory unlocks greater challenges. The final night's battle against the Nightlord concludes each session. Failure yields relics for character customization. The ever-shifting enemies, rewards, and map ensure unique experiences. Sites of Grace offer leveling opportunities, and successful runs grant lasting stat bonuses. Each session resembles an open-air dungeon, fostering character growth.

IGN's hands-on preview described Nightreign as "turbocharging" Elden Ring's dungeon crawls into fast-paced speedruns. See IGN's interview with director Junya Ishizaki for further details. [Link to IGN interview would go here]