Get ready to brave the shifting lands of Limveld, Tarnished! The upcoming Elden Ring Nightreign experience will soon let players dive into its perilous world, battling for survival either as lone wolves or in formidable groups of three. However, if you and your favorite co-op partner were planning a duo adventure, you might need to make room for one more.
In a recent interview with IGN, Elden Ring Nightreign director Junya Ishizaki shed light on the decision to primarily focus on solo and trio gameplay. When asked why a dedicated two-player option without a matchmade third wasn’t included, Ishizaki candidly admitted it was an oversight.
“The simple answer is that this is simply something that was overlooked during development as just a two-player option, so we’re very sorry about that,” Ishizaki explained. He elaborated that the core design philosophy was built around a three-player co-op experience. “As we said before, we set out to make this a multiplayer co-op game for three players, balanced for three players, so that was the main focus and it’s at the core of Nightreign.”
Despite this focus, Ishizaki empathized with players wanting different group sizes. “Of course, I myself as a player understand that and often want times where I’m just playing myself, so this is something that we considered from the start,” he continued. “And so we did put a lot of effort into creating this experience that was playable for solo players… In putting all our efforts into that aspect, we kind of overlooked and neglected the duos aspect, but this is something that we are looking at and considering for post-launch support as well.”
So, for players teaming up with just one friend, be prepared to welcome a randomly matched third Tarnished into your quest. Who knows, you might just find your new favorite legendary companion!
The good news for solo adventurers is that Elden Ring Nightreign is being tailored to accommodate them. Ishizaki confirmed that the game’s parameters “adjust dynamically depending on the number of players in that session,” ensuring lone wolves won’t be unfairly overwhelmed. Solo players will also have access to self-revive options to aid their solitary journey.
Ultimately, Elden Ring Nightreign is designed with three-player squads in mind. While dedicated duo support might arrive in a future update, having an extra ally will undoubtedly be beneficial against the fearsome challenges awaiting in Limveld.
Mark your calendars: Elden Ring Nightreign is set to launch on May 30, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
