Elden Ring Nightreign's initial network test, currently underway, is experiencing significant server difficulties, preventing many players from participating.
IGN staff participating in the test reported severe server problems, rendering the game inaccessible for the first hour. The issues were so widespread that FromSoftware released a statement acknowledging the server congestion and apologizing for the disruption. They urged players to attempt reconnecting after some time.
The limited availability of the Elden Ring Nightreign network test—five three-hour sessions between February 14th and 17th on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S—further compounds the problem. The current schedule is as follows:
Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test Schedule:
- February 14: 3am-6am PT / 6am-9am ET
- February 14: 7pm-10pm PT / 10pm-1am ET
- February 15: 11am-2pm PT / 2pm-5pm ET
- February 16: 3am-6am PT / 6am-9am ET
- February 16: 7pm-10pm PT / 10pm-1am ET
Bandai Namco describes the test as a "preliminary verification test" allowing selected players to experience a portion of the game before its full release. They emphasized the test's purpose in evaluating the online system's performance and functionality.
While it's preferable that server issues arise now rather than at the May launch, players who set aside time for the test have expressed their disappointment. Hopefully, future sessions will operate more smoothly.
Elden Ring Nightreign is a standalone cooperative spin-off from FromSoftware, set in a world parallel to 2022's Elden Ring. The network test allows three players to team up, battling "new terrors," exploring a dynamic map, overcoming progressively challenging bosses, and ultimately confronting the Nightlord. The test features a three-day-and-night cycle that players must endure.
IGN previously had hands-on time with an early build of Elden Ring Nightreign, describing the gameplay as a "turbocharged" version of Elden Ring's dungeon crawls, emphasizing its fast-paced action. [Link to IGN's hands-on preview]
[Link to IGN's interview with game director Junya Ishizaki]
Elden Ring Nightreign is slated for release on May 30, 2025, priced at $40 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC (Steam).
