Exciting News: Elden Ring Nightreign to Offer Early Access Network Test Next Year—Sign-Ups Open Soon

Elden Ring Nightreign made headlines at The Game Awards yesterday, as one would expect when FromSoftware is involved with something as critically acclaimed as this. Bandai Namco has just announced that a network test is set for early next year, with sign-ups opening in January.

If you missed the announcement, Nightreign is all about co-op gameplay, inviting multiple players to join forces against formidable bosses from the FromSofftverse. Think of it as Elden Ring made even better with friends, moving beyond leaving cheeky notes or occasionally popping in to shake things up.

The game is slated for a 2025 release, and you won’t have to wait too long into the new year to get a sneak peek with the network test. The test is scheduled for February 2025, and you’ll be able to register starting January 10. However, it’s currently only available for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S users, leaving PC and last-gen console players out of the loop for now.

So what’s in store for you if you manage to snag a spot? Bandai explains: “The network test is an initial verification trial where selected players will experience a segment of the game before its official launch. It aims to evaluate various technical aspects by running large-scale network load tests.”

Think of these technical elements as bosses you tackle alongside your in-game foes, with the ultimate win being a rock-solid network performance at launch. You can even spin it into something grand and boast to your friends about mastering the ‘aura of stable network load.’

For more buzz around Elden Ring, you might want to check out Sony’s recent admission of their interest in acquiring FromSoftware’s parent company, Kadokawa.