Elden Ring Nightreign, FromSoftware’s highly anticipated co-operative spin-off, has stormed onto the scene, amassing an incredible two million players within its first day of launch. The developer shared this milestone on social media, celebrating the strong debut of their latest foray into the Lands Between. However, this impressive debut isn’t without its teething issues, as player feedback highlights key areas for improvement in the online experience.
The online co-op adventure made an immediate impact on Steam, rocketing to a peak concurrent player count of 313,593 players within its initial hours of availability. This launch surge comfortably placed it within the top five most played games on the platform in the last 24 hours. While multiplayer titles naturally attract large audiences, and the original Elden Ring boasts an all-time peak of 953,426 (ranking ninth all-time on Steam), Nightreign’s initial pull clearly demonstrates significant interest in FromSoftware’s multiplayer experiment.
Despite the strong player numbers, user reviews on Steam are currently sitting at “Mixed.” A significant portion of the feedback centers on the game’s co-op implementation. Many players have expressed frustration over the inability to play in dedicated two-player (duo) groups, and the challenges of playing with random teammates who may not coordinate, exacerbated by what some describe as poor communication options.
One particular Steam review encapsulates a common sentiment: “No duo option, had random people join to just run off and do their own thing. Let me duo with my mate…” While the game is reportedly at its best with three friends, and solo play is possible (though not initially recommended), the lack of a focused duo mode is a clear point of contention.
Developer FromSoftware has been quick to acknowledge the feedback. They’ve confirmed that a second patch is slated for next week, specifically aimed at improving the game for solo players following some backlash against its strong multiplayer focus. Furthermore, the studio admitted that a dedicated two-player option was “overlooked” during development and is now under consideration for future updates.
A day one patch addressing balance adjustments and bug fixes is already available for download. However, FromSoftware has issued a warning that some PC configurations utilizing the latest graphics cards may experience frame rate drops, an issue they are likely investigating.
Even with these early hurdles, the core experience appears to resonate. Our own Elden Ring Nightreign review hailed it as an “exhilarating rush and a celebration of the studio’s prior achievements Souls veterans will devour,” suggesting a strong foundation beneath the initial co-op wrinkles.
Elden Ring Nightreign is available now on PC (Steam), PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. If you’re diving into this new co-operative challenge, be sure to check out available Elden Ring Nightreign tips and tricks to get started.
Ultimately, Elden Ring Nightreign’s launch is a story of immense initial success tempered by actionable player feedback. With FromSoftware already signaling its intent to address these concerns, the future looks promising for this new multiplayer vision of their celebrated universe.
