Get ready for an exhilarating new chapter in the Elden Ring universe with the launch of **Elden Ring Nightreign** on May 30, 2025. Priced at $40, this eagerly anticipated title will be available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam, as confirmed by publisher Bandai Namco. This standalone co-operative spin-off from FromSoftware takes players into a parallel world, promising a fresh and dynamic gaming experience.
Before the full release, Bandai Namco has scheduled a network test exclusively for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, starting on February 14 and concluding on February 17. This test won't run continuously but will feature five specific three-hour sessions, designed to stress-test the game's online systems and enhance its performance. The sessions are scheduled as follows:
Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test Session Timings:
- 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 network test as a "preliminary verification test" where selected testers will experience a portion of the game, helping to refine the online system's functionality and performance. "We are looking forward to your cooperation to make Elden Ring Nightreign even better," they stated.
Elden Ring Nightreign introduces players to a cooperative adventure set in a world parallel to that of the original Elden Ring. In this game, up to three players can team up as Nightfarers to battle new terrors, explore an ever-changing map, and face increasingly challenging bosses, culminating in a showdown with the Nightlord. The network test will feature a unique three-day-and-night cycle, adding an element of urgency and strategy as players navigate the shrinking map during the Night's Tide.
Here's an official overview of what to expect:
The all-new adventure in Elden Ring Nightreign begins at the Roundtable Hold, set in a universe parallel to the events of Elden Ring. Players must choose from eight unique characters, each with their own abilities and powerful Ultimates. Their journeys take them to Limveld, an ever-changing environment, where they will have to make split-second decisions when it comes to combat and exploration in the face of a night cycle that shrinks the map with the coming Night’s Tide.
At the end of each night, players will face a powerful boss and, if victorious, awaken to bigger challenges. Each session will culminate in the third night when they must face off against the chosen Nightlord. Individuals can fight the night alone, but strength will come in numbers. Nightfarers must learn to cooperate to take down these challenges, combining their unique abilities together for an unparalleled experience. All is not lost for those who fall in defeat. Unsuccessful runs will grant players relics to allow them to customize and upgrade their characters tailored to their personal play styles.
Elden Ring Nightreign is unlike any experience created before by FromSoftware, Inc. In this condensed action RPG, players will never experience the same journey twice as enemies, rewards, and Limveld itself are ever-shifting and evolving with each new session. Defeating greater enemies and venturing into the more dangerous parts of the map will uncover more powerful weapons and greater Rune rewards. Finding Sites of Grace gives each hero a chance to level up and gain crucial power. With each session-based adventure being akin to playing through an open-air dungeon, every journey provides an opportunity to grow lasting stat bonuses. Successful runs against the night bring players ever closer to defeating the Nightlord and unraveling the story behind each Nightfarer in this parallel world.
Last year, IGN had the chance to go hands-on with an early build of Elden Ring Nightreign at FromSoftware. Our impressions were overwhelmingly positive, noting that the game "takes the cautious dungeon crawls of Elden Ring and turbocharges them into propulsive, slash ‘n’ dash speedruns." For more insights, check out IGN's interview with game director Junya Ishizaki.
