Earlier this week, Bandai Namco and FromSoftware announced the release date for Elden Ring: Nightreign while also sharing pre-order details for the upcoming action role-playing game. In revealing the multiple editions available for pre-order, it was confirmed that the game will have post-launch content in the form of paid downloadable content.
The Deluxe Edition of Elden Ring: Nightreign, available for $54.99, will include a code for the DLC. Bandai Namco stopped short of revealing exactly what this DLC will consist of; however, the PC Gamer spotted a line on the game's Steam page that offered more details:
"Additional DLC — Additional playable characters and bosses," the now-removed line read.
Elden Ring: Nightreign is a standalone spin-off of Elden Ring, the action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and the 2022 Game of the Year. Described as a "condensed action RPG," Elden Ring: Nightreign has been designed as a multiplayer co-op action survival game.
Teaming up in squads of three – or daring to go solo – players must choose one of eight Nightfarers, each with different abilities, to outlast a three day-and-night cycle. Players must make split-second decisions about combat and exploration across a map that can fluctuate with different biomes, weapons, and enemies in order to become stronger, and outrun the encroaching circle of fire to be able to take on terrifying bosses at the end of each day. This culminates on the third day, where if players were successful in surviving the night must take on one of the Nightlords – new bosses for this version. Nightfarers must learn to cooperate to take down these challenges, combining their unique abilities together for an unparalleled experience in the ELDEN RING universe. All is not lost for those who fall in defeat. Unsuccessful runs will grant players relics to allow them to customize and upgrade their characters tailored to their personal play styles.
Although Elden Ring received post-launch content, the first full-fledged expansions, Shadow of the Erdtree, didn't arrive until more than two years after the game's release. Elden Ring: Nightreign, however, is an online game and appears to be more of a live service game.
Based onthe game's price point, there probably won't be as much depth as the original Elden Ring. There are eight playable classes at launch and probably a handful of bosses and scenarios to encounter during your time in Limveld. To keep players engaged for longer, it makes sense that FromSoftware would deliver paid DLC.
The Elden Ring: Nightreign Network Test kicked off today and will run through the weekend. This will be the first time many of us get to go hands on with the game and experience the challenge first-hand. It's also going to be the first time we get to see what sort of bosses we'll face, although I'm sure many surprises will be left for launch.
Without knowing exactly what bosses we'll face in Elden Ring: Nightreign at launch, it's hard to guess what sort of additional bosses will come via DLC. But there's certainly no shortage to choose from in FromSoftware's portfolio of bosses. It's possible that some of Elden Ring's most iconic boss fights, like Lady Maria, could be added as a fun challenge to take on in co-op form.