Elden Ring Nightreign Excludes Dark Souls’ Best Feature for a Compelling Reason

I’ve always been captivated by how FromSoftware approaches multiplayer design. Forget about hanging in a lobby with friends or sending game invites; the studio has crafted a unique online experience with its distinctive charm. You get to watch the spectral echoes of other players who have fallen, lend a helping hand to those who need it most, and, my personal favorite, leave messages on the ground. Whether these messages are genuinely helpful, puzzling, or just plain deceitful, they infuse games like Dark Souls and Elden Ring with a vibrant sense of life. Naturally, I’m a bit disappointed to share that this feature won’t be making a return in Elden Ring Nightreign, although there is a logical reason behind it.

As we find ourselves in the eagerly awaited release year of Elden Ring Nightreign, FromSoftware is taking a bold step by adding a roguelike twist to their iconic formula, and I can’t wait to dive in. You and up to two pals will venture into Limveld, a dynamic open-air dungeon that regenerates every three days. Given these changes, the cherished tradition of leaving behind messages for fellow players—a hallmark since Demon’s Souls—is being phased out in Nightreign.

“You’ll still be able to spot the ghosts of other players, but we’ve decided to remove the messaging feature,” shared Junya Ishizaki, the director of Elden Ring Nightreign, in an interview with IGN Japan (via Twisted Voxel). “We took this step because in a game session averaging around 40 minutes, there simply isn’t the luxury to pen your own messages, nor the inclination to read those from others.”

Nightreign is shifting gears from the leisurely cadence of Elden Ring to a faster-paced, cooperative style, making the absence of the messaging feature understandable. Although saying goodbye to this aspect is sad, with less than an hour to explore and tackle as many bosses as possible in Limveld, pausing to read an obscure note about a tortoise dubbed a dog would indeed be a diversion one can do without.

Ishizaki further describes Elden Ring Nightreign as a “compressed RPG,” where the typical highs and lows of an adventure are condensed into a brief timeframe. This is why each session is randomized, featuring eight formidable bosses you must conquer to face the principal antagonist.

And here’s some exciting news: you’ll soon be able to register for the Elden Ring Nightreign demo in just a few days, with a network test scheduled for February 2025. While the specifics of the demo remain under wraps, it’s clear that FromSoftware is keen on testing the game’s connectivity features well in advance.

If you were lucky enough to unwrap FromSoftware’s newest offering during the festive season, don’t miss our roundup of the most powerful Elden Ring builds and the top-tier weapons to equip on your journey.

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