FromSoftware, the masterminds behind soulslike epics, craft worlds we adore, even if their multiplayer mechanics sometimes feel like charmingly archaic rituals. While summoning phantoms in Dark Souls and Elden Ring has its unique appeal, the community has often yearned for smoother, more direct co-op. With the new Elden Ring: Nightreign, even its dedicated matchmaking system has left some players wanting, particularly when it comes to simple two-player sessions.
But where official support might be “under consideration,” the modding community moves at lightning speed. Enter LukeYui, the celebrated creator of Elden Ring’s revolutionary seamless co-op mod. In a feat that’s rapidly becoming his signature, LukeYui has already engineered a solution for Nightreign’s multiplayer – and he did it breathtakingly fast.
In a Patreon blog post published just 12 hours ago (at the time of this writing), a mere 16 hours after Nightreign’s PC debut, LukeYui revealed his progress: “Elden Ring: Nightreign was released today. I played a little bit this evening and managed to get together a functional multiplayer system without connecting to the matchmaking servers (and therefore not needing to run EAC).”
Do the math: that’s a working prototype for seamless, EAC-free multiplayer whipped up in approximately four hours.
The benefits of this unofficial system are immediately apparent. LukeYui highlights, “you can opt to play with just 2 players (instead of matchmaking with a random) and also being able to play mods when they are eventually made for more replayability and customisation.” As if that wasn’t exciting enough, he tantalizingly adds, “There’s also potential for a player cap increase in the future.” Imagine the glorious chaos!
Naturally, there’s a question of how FromSoftware might view such an alteration, especially one that bypasses their anti-cheat measures. While they’ve been relatively hands-off with mods like the seamless co-op for the base Elden Ring, a system designed to circumvent official online infrastructure for Nightreign might raise an eyebrow, primarily to protect the intended player experience from potential hackers.
For now, LukeYui isn’t making firm commitments: “I’m not committed to making this a public mod as of yet, however if people would like it just let me know and I’d get a release ready.” Given the excitement his work consistently generates, it’s safe to say many fans are already hoping he does. The prospect of a 50-player Limgrave showdown against Margit? Yes, please – it’s exactly what the Fell Omen deserves.
This rapid development is fantastic news for players seeking a more flexible and customizable Nightreign experience, showcasing once again the incredible talent and dedication within the modding community.
