TECHNOLOGY

Nightreign: The New Twist on Elden Ring

Fri May 30 2025
Nightreign, the latest game from the team behind Dark Souls, made a big splash on PC. It quickly became the second-biggest launch for FromSoftware on Steam. However, players are finding it tough to get into the game. Nightreign is not your typical Elden Ring experience. It is a battle royale-style game where players race to collect loot and survive. The game condenses the entire Soulsborne experience into just 45 minutes. This fast-paced format is a big change from the slower, more methodical gameplay of Elden Ring. Players are struggling with the lack of guidance in Nightreign. The game does not do a good job of explaining its mechanics, even by FromSoftware standards. This is making it hard for new players to get started. The game does allow for solo play, but the difficulty is so high that playing with friends is almost necessary. The game's Steam rating is currently at 65 percent, which is the lowest for a FromSoftware release on the platform, except for Dark Souls III's Ashes of Ariandel DLC. Players are complaining about the lack of duo play options and the poor matchmaking system. The game forces players to either go solo or play with a group of three. This makes it hard to find matches with strangers who are willing to coordinate. Communication is another big issue. The game lacks basic communication tools like voice or text chat. Players can only use pings and emotes to communicate, which is not enough for a cooperative game. This is making it hard for players to work together and progress in the game. Before the launch, the game's director mentioned that duo support was not planned for the initial release. However, they are considering it for future updates. It is also unclear if the developers will make the game easier for solo players. The current difficulty is very high, and only the most experienced players can handle it. Nightreign has a lot of potential, but it needs some improvements. The lack of communication tools and the high difficulty are making it hard for players to enjoy the game. Hopefully, the developers will address these issues in future updates.

questions

    Is it fair to say that Elden Ring Nightreign is basically a social experiment to see who has the most friends?
    Is the extreme difficulty in Elden Ring Nightreign a ploy to make players feel more accomplished, or is it a way to hide gameplay flaws?
    How does the requirement to play with friends impact the accessibility of Elden Ring Nightreign for solo players?

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