Elden Ring Nightreign Release Date Window, Multiplayer, Classes, And Everything We Know

Your journey is at an end, Tarnished. After braving the Lands Between and ascending from the Realm of Shadow, it's time for you to rest. Oh, wait, what's that? There's another Elden Ring game? Why? Yes, there certainly is. It's none other than Elden Ring Nightreign, a cooperative multiplayer roguelike title where you have to face countless challenges. It looks like your rest can wait, and you need to rise once more.

First announced during The Game Awards 2024, this standalone Souls spin-off developed by From Software and published by Bandai Namco takes you to Limveld, a variant of Limgrave from Elden Ring. There, you and your friends get to do battle against fresh and familiar foes. Now, you're probably wondering about Elden Ring Nightreign's release date, the playable classes, the gameplay mechanics, and its relation to the narrative arc and background lore. Wonder no more, since we've got you covered. Here's everything we know so far about Elden Ring Nightreign.

Elden Ring Nightreign is expected to launch on May 30, 2025. Bandai Namco has confirmed that there will be no microtransactions, though there's a one-time purchase that adds more characters, bosses, and biomes.

Elden Ring Nightreign is a project helmed by Junya Ishizaki, a From Software veteran who has worked on previous Souls titles. Ishizaki initially worked on the first Dark Souls game as a planner for the map and events, before becoming one of Bloodborne's game designers. He was also one of the lead game designers on Dark Souls 3, as well as the battle director for Elden Ring and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.

We also know that From Software president Hidetaka Miyazaki was involved during Elden Ring Nightreign's early conceptualization stages. However, he handed the reins over (pun intended) to Ishizaki.

Elden Ring Nightreign will be available on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. You may now preorder at the following store pages:

• PC (Steam)
• Sony PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
• Microsoft Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S

Here are the editions that you can purchase:

• Standard Edition: $40
• Deluxe Edition: $55 - Includes the base game, digital artbook, mini-soundtrack, and additional DLC (more characters and bosses)
• Collector's Edition: $200 - Includes the base game, additional DLC (more characters and bosses), Wylder statue, Nightfarer cards, hardcover artbook, steelbook, digital soundtrack, and collector's box.

Lastly, you can save up on your purchases by checking out various deals for the PC version, such as discounts on Fanatical, Best Buy, and more.

Since Elden Ring is a multiplayer co-op game, having a huge pool of fellow Tarnished to team up with sounds like an awesome idea. Sadly, Elden Ring Nightreign will not have cross-play across different system families. This means PC players won't be able to buddy up with those on PlayStation or Xbox.

However, Elden Ring Nightreign does offer cross-generation support within the same family of systems:

• PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 gamers can play together.
• Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S gamers can play together.
• PC players can only play with other PC players.

It was possible to play Elden Ring Nightreign early as part of the Network Test, available only on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The registration began on January 10, and the Network Test itself ran from February 14 to 16.

Shenanigans did occur, such as scalpers selling Network Test codes at exorbitant prices, as well as connection issues due to the sheer number of players that wanted to try the game early.

As a standalone spin-off, Elden Ring Nightreign has more leeway when it comes to the story. According to game director Junya Ishizaki, Nightreign involves a sinister entity known as the Nightlord, which players need to defeat. This adventure leads warriors to Limveld, where they do battle against an assortment of foes, including enemies from previously released Souls titles.

From trailers and images, eagle-eyed players have spotted the Nameless King--one of the toughest bosses from Dark Souls 3--as well as the Fire Keeper. Time will tell if veterans will eventually get to face vicious opponents, such as Ornstein and Smough or Artorias. We're keeping our fingers crossed that Bloodborne bosses also make an appearance.

Based on interviews with Famitsu, IGN, and PCGamer, the developers have confirmed that Elden Ring Nightreign will have eight playable classes known as Nightfarers. While you won't be able to make or create a custom character from scratch, you can still acquire alternate skins for these preset characters.

The Network Test allowed players to try four Nightfarers: Guardian, Duchess, Recluse, and Wylder. Apart from their respective starting equipment and stats, Nightfarers have unique skills and ultimate abilities that emphasize a particular playstyle.

Guardian - A tanky and balanced frontliner that has a shield for defense:

• Skill: Whirlwind - Generate a gust of wind that interrupts enemies and knocks them into the air. Note that most bosses only take damage as they can't be knocked back.
• Passive: Steel Guard - Brace for impact with your shield to empower your guard. Stamina is gradually depleted while you're bracing, but not at the moment when you block a hit.
• Ultimate: Wings of Salvation - Leap up into the air and crash back down on the ground; deals damage and creates an aura that increases the defense of your team.

Duchess - An acrobatic fighter that has a spry sidestep dodge:

• Skill: Restage - Creates spectral outlines that represent the attacks that you and your team did recently. This also causes your target to suffer part of the damage that you dealt within the last few seconds.
• Passive: Magnificent Pose - A very fluid dodge maneuver that can be used repeatedly.
• Ultimate: Finale - Causes the entire party to become invisible for several seconds. Attacking or getting hit does not get rid of the cloaking effect.

Recluse - A spellcaster that uses magical abilities:

• Skill: Magic Cocktail - Allows you to extract affinity residues (i.e. fire, magic, holy, and lightning) from attacks done by you and your teammates. On the fourth cast, the Recluse casts a unique spell based on the affinity combination. For instance, a combination of fire, magic, and lightning triggers a massive mana bomb on your fourth cast.
• Passive: Elemental Defense - Find affinity residues that you can collect to restore FP (i.e. mana).
• Ultimate: Soulblood Song - Curses hostiles with blood sigils; restores HP and FP if you attack afflicted targets.

Wylder - A combatant who can get into the thick of the fray:

• Skill: Claw Shot - Shoot a grappling hook that can either pull in enemies or pull you toward hostiles and other objects. This can be used for offense, avoidance, and traversal.
• Passive: Sixth Sense - Cheat death a single time.
• Ultimate: Onslaught Stake - Launches a large iron stake that causes a huge explosion.

Note that more Nightfarer classes are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks. For instance, we've seen an Archer-type class in certain videos.

Since Elden Ring Nightreign is a multiplayer co-op roguelike title, there are numerous mechanics and features to consider. Here are some of the most important facets:

• Up to three players can team up for each run. You can choose to play solo or with a party of three (trio); you cannot start a run with only two players (duo).
• You select a specific major boss at the beginning of each run or match. There are eight types of major bosses to choose from.
• Each run consists of a three-day cycle:
  • During the first two days, you can explore the region, fight various enemies, level up, and collect gear/loot. You also have to defeat a miniboss or sub-boss.
  • On the third day, you have to battle the major boss that you selected beforehand.
• Limveld is an altered version of Limgrave, and the loot that you obtain during your runs is completely randomized.
• At the end of a match, you get to keep a currency that can be used to purchase character skins, gestures, and relics.
• Relics, in a way, offer permanent boosts for your chosen class, akin to a roguelike game where you continue to improve the more you play.

You can check out the debut trailer for Nightreign above, which premiered as a surprise revealed during The Game Awards 2024. Likewise, you can read our Network Test feature article where we checked out various characters and gameplay mechanics, as well as our exclusive interview with game director Junya Ishizaki.

This is everything we know about Elden Ring Nightreign so far. We'll keep you posted as we learn of further developments. For now, you can visit our Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree guides hub as you journey in the Lands Between and the Lands of Shadow.