Is Elden Ring: Nightreign a DLC?

At The Game Awards 2024, several promising projects were announced, some of which are already expected in 2025, including Elden Ring: Nightreign!

Let’s take a look at what this game is and what role it plays in the Souls-like games. Also, let’s think, Is Elden Ring: Nighreigh a DLC or a full-fledged title?

What is Elden Ring: Nightreign

Elden Ring: Nightreign is a co-op action RPG from FromSoftware, set to launch in 2025. A spinoff of Elden Ring, it features teams of three exploring a procedurally generated Limgrave, working together over three in-game days to face a final boss. With a shrinking gameplay area like in battle royales, the map resets after each day's minor boss fight. While playable solo, it’s designed for teamwork and intense strategy.

New Elden Ring Game is directed by Junya Ishizaki, a veteran designer from Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Dark Souls III, and Elden Ring. This and more we’ve written in the What Do We Know So Far style article. Unlike its predecessor, Elden Ring, the narrative for Nightreign does not involve George R. R. Martin.

Elden Ring: Nightreigh – Not a DLC

So if after that, you still ask – is Elden Ring: Nighreigh a DLC? No, it doesn’t. It's an independent project, where co-op gameplay is key, featuring rogue-like elements and a battle royale mechanic.

Given that it's a Souls-like game, this project can be considered an innovative fresh take, and at least a top contender for 2025. Adding pop-game mechanics in the medieval aesthetic game sounds like something nobody has seen before.

Can you beat Elden Ring: Nightreign alone?

You can play solo or with two others, surviving a 3-day cycle, making quick decisions in combat, and exploring across shifting maps to grow strong enough to defeat terrifying bosses at the end of each day.

So, is Elden Ring: Nightreigh single-play? Yes, you can choose to play alone or on the team. Single-player is available, but the developers are focusing on co-op, with many interesting mechanics designed to be best experienced through team combinations.

Does Elden Ring: Nightreigh Have Crossplay & Crossplatform

Elden Ring: Nightreigh is set to launch on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. While the game is cross-platform, allowing players on different devices to enjoy it, it won't feature cross-play, meaning players will only be able to team up with others on the same platform. Despite this, the game promises a rich co-op experience, with mechanics designed to be best enjoyed in a team.

In Elden Ring: Nightreign, the class system shifts away from deep stat customization, adopting a more straightforward "hero/champion" approach. It’s ain’t a traditional level-up system from the original Elder Ring title.

Progression focuses on unique abilities and playstyles, with perks carrying over between runs and level-ups boosting fixed stats. This keeps the gameplay simple, emphasizing roles and abilities over traditional stat-based progression.

Elden Ring: Nightreigh Main Gameplay Mechanic Day & Night Cycle

This mechanic creates an atmosphere of constant tension, where players must work together to survive. During the day, players can focus more on exploration and preparing for the night, when every move could be life-threatening. The shift between day and night adds depth to the gameplay, forcing players to adapt to changing conditions and rely on both combat skills and teamwork.

Nightreign is structured around a three-day cycle, with each day lasting about 15 minutes. You’ll explore freely at first, marking points of interest for your team, but as night falls, the playable area shrinks. Stay too far out, and you’ll be killed by acid rain, making the game similar to Fortnite, but with medieval forts and knights.

Will Elden Ring: Nightreign Be Free to Play?

Elden Ring: Nightreign is expected to cost around $30, according to the developers, aligning with the price of a classic title.

Given its innovative nature, there will likely be many eager players, so the game comes with a price. The question remains whether its non-free access means there will be no microtransactions.

Conclusion

Nightreign is a highly anticipated project that will likely attract players from Fortnite and other mainstream battle royale communities into the Souls-like scene. The combination of elements is intriguing, and there’s a strong desire to try it out in multiplayer. Given that it’s being developed by a veteran of Dark Souls Junya Ishizaki, it inspires immense trust, which is a big part of the excitement surrounding the game.