The Game Awards 2024 recently aired and was packed with surprises but nobody expected another entry in the expanding Elden Ring IP to be announced. Publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment and developer From Software officially revealed Elden Ring Nightreign at the awards show, a new standalone co-op game set in the world of the award-winning action-RPG. The game is scheduled to arrive sometime in 2025 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam.

Elden Ring Nightreign isn’t an expansion like Shadow of the Erdtree but rather a standalone experience meant to be played with others. As Bandai Namco described it, “The world of Elden Ring is getting a standalone multiplayer co-op action survival game that challenges players to band together in order to defeat the Nightlord.” Up to three players per squad will be thrown into PvE combat in the open world, though many locations have changed and new enemies now populate the landscape.



From Software explained that Elden Ring Nightreign isn’t going to be an expansive title like its base game but rather a “condensed RPG experience” that prioritises jolly co-op multiplayer over struggling with bosses by yourself (and your Mimic Tear). Nightreign’s game director Junya Ishizaki explained to IGN in a recent interview:

“Initially when we set out to make Nightreign, we wanted to create what we’re calling a condensed RPG experience. We wanted to take all those elements from Elden Ring that players enjoyed like the exploration, the building of the character, fighting tough bosses, the sense of discovery, and condense that into a shorter, tighter play session.”

The game also seems to be borrowing some mechanics from an unexpected genre: battle royale. As for what you’ll be doing in Nightreign, From Software elaborated:

“Players must choose from eight unique characters, each with their own unique abilities and powerful Ultimates. Their journeys take them to Limveld, 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.”

One point of interest that caught From Software fans’ attention was the appearance of the Nameless King in the trailer, a secret boss from Dark Souls 3. This raises plenty of interesting questions about the lore implications and potentially connected universes of Elden Ring and the Dark Souls games, though we’ll leave that up to the lore experts to dissect.

In case you missed it, The Game Awards 2024 celebrated its 10th anniversary with other big announcements and awards-giving. You can check out all the winners right here.

Watch the trailer for Elden Ring Nightreign below:



Original article on GLITCHED