Elden Ring's Nightreign Expansion Arrives

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 full release, a network test exclusively on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S will run from February 14-17, offering five, three-hour sessions to evaluate online functionality. These sessions are not continuous throughout the four days.

Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test Session Times:

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

This "preliminary verification test" allows selected players to experience a portion of the game. Bandai Namco aims to improve Elden Ring Nightreign through feedback gathered during this large-scale network stress test.

Set in a parallel universe to the original Elden Ring, Nightreign features cooperative gameplay for up to three players. Players, as Nightfarers, battle new enemies, explore a dynamic map, and confront increasingly difficult bosses, culminating in a fight against the Nightlord. The game features a three-day-and-night cycle that significantly alters gameplay.

The official description highlights:

Elden Ring Nightreign begins at the Roundtable Hold. Choose from eight unique characters, each with distinct abilities and powerful Ultimates. Explore Limveld, a constantly changing environment, where the Night's Tide shrinks the playable area. Conquer nightly bosses for greater challenges the following day, culminating in a final confrontation with the Nightlord on the third night. Cooperation is key, but even defeat yields relics for character customization and upgrades. Each session offers a unique experience, with shifting enemies, rewards, and map layouts. Sites of Grace allow leveling up and stat boosts, making each session a rewarding, dungeon-like adventure.

IGN's hands-on preview described Elden Ring Nightreign as a "turbocharged" version of Elden Ring's dungeon crawls, emphasizing fast-paced, action-oriented gameplay. 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]