2 Million Descend into Nightreign: Elden Ring Spinoff Hits Big Numbers Despite “Brutal” Difficulty & Mixed Reviews

Elden Ring’s much-anticipated roguelike spinoff, Elden Ring Nightreign, has stormed onto the scene, drawing a massive influx of players eager to test their mettle in FromSoftware’s latest challenging creation. Despite a launch punctuated by criticisms regarding its difficulty and design, the allure of Limveld has proven strong.

In its first 24 hours, a staggering two million Nightfarers rose to challenge the darkness, as announced by Bandai Namco via the official Elden Ring X account. “Darkness fell over Limveld, and two million Nightfarers rose up against it,” the publisher stated. “Thank you for your support.” While this figure is about a third of the original Elden Ring’s phenomenal day-one player count, it still represents a colossal launch, achieving sales numbers that many full game releases would celebrate over their entire lifespan.

However, this initial surge of enthusiasm has been met with a harsh reality for many. Early adopters have voiced frustrations, leading to a “Mixed” rating on Steam, with only 64% of reviews currently positive. This gives Nightreign the unfortunate distinction of being FromSoftware’s worst-reviewed game launch on the platform to date.

Key criticisms fueling the mixed reception include:

• Brutal singleplayer difficulty: Many find the solo experience overly punishing.

• Matchmaking woes: Players report struggles coordinating effectively in randomly assembled parties.

• Arbitrary difficulty tuning: Some feel the challenge doesn’t always feel fair or well-balanced.

Interestingly, this isn’t uncharted territory for an Elden Ring-related release. When the acclaimed Shadow of the Erdtree DLC launched in 2024, it faced a similar baptism by fire. Players, confronted by its seemingly vertical difficulty curve, also left it with a “Mixed” rating (61% positive) shortly after release.

Yet, time and perhaps player adaptation (or masochism, as some FromSoft fans might jest) proved redeeming for the DLC. Shadow of the Erdtree now sits comfortably with a “Mostly Positive” overall Steam review rating. This precedent offers a glimmer of hope for Nightreign. FromSoftware has demonstrated an ability to see its more punishing content eventually win over its dedicated “sicko” fanbase.

The path to redemption for Nightreign may lie in future updates. The community is watching closely to see if singleplayer balance patches or the potential introduction of a duos mode could address current frustrations and help the roguelike spinoff earn a more permanent and positive place in the hearts of Elden Ring enthusiasts. Only time will tell if Nightreign can navigate its challenging launch to become another celebrated, albeit fiercely difficult, FromSoftware experience.