Elden Ring Nightreign Removing an Iconic Feature is a Necessary Evil

FromSoftware didn’t announce a sequel to Elden Ring during The Game Awards 2024, but it did announce a spin-off called Elden Ring Nightreign. The reveal of Nightreign came as a surprise to many FromSoftware fans for a multitude of reasons. Some gamers didn’t think FromSoftware would return to the world of Elden Ring so soon, especially since it had just released the critically-acclaimed Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Others, meanwhile, weren’t really expecting a spin-off of any kind, considering FromSoftware typically wasn’t known for releasing side games in its flagship franchises. Nonetheless, Elden Ring Nightreign‘s announcement became one of the biggest highlights of The Game Awards in the eyes of many fans.

Although Elden Ring Nightreign looks similar to Elden Ring from a distance, it is actually quite different from the acclaimed 2022 RPG in a lot of ways. Unlike its predecessor, the game is focused primarily on co-operative multiplayer, and it features significantly more fluid, fast-paced combat. Elden Ring Nightreign takes place in a procedurally-generated version of Limgrave and, as such, is more of a roguelike rather than a traditional Soulslike. Interestingly, Elden Ring Nightreign is also not going to include a major feature that was present in Elden Ring and many of FromSoftware’s other Soulslikes: the ability to leave comments on the ground for other players to see. The removal of this iconic gameplay mechanic is disappointing, but understandable, especially considering what type of game Nightreign is.

Elden Ring Nightreign Ditching the Messaging Mechanic from Elden Ring Makes Sense

Most of FromSoftware’s Soulslikes Allow Players to Leave Messages for Others to See In-Game

Since the release of 2009’s Demon’s Souls, FromSoftware has incorporated a unique communication mechanic into almost all of its Soulslikes (excluding the singleplayer-only Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice). Instead of a traditional direct message or chat system like in most other multiplayer games, many of FromSoftware’s recent titles allow players to interact with others by leaving messages in certain areas within a game. These messages are sometimes used by players to warn fellow gamers of nearby dangers and to provide tips to beginners. In many instances, though, they are used simply to leave joke comments or to mislead people to get them killed in-game.

Elden Ring Nightreign Won’t Give Players the Ability to Leave Messages For a Few Reasons

During a recent interview with IGN Japan, Elden Ring Nightreign director Junya Ishizaki stated that the upcoming RPG would limit the amount of asynchronous multiplayer mechanics that were present in the original Elden Ring. Although he noted that players would still be able to see the ghosts of other players, he confirmed that the game would not include the “ability to leave messages.” Considering Elden Ring Nightreign‘s multiplayer slant, players will probably be able to send messages to one another in other ways, but they won’t be able to interact as easily with others as they could in Dark Souls or Bloodborne.

Some may be concerned about what the removal of this feature in Elden Ring Nightreign could mean for future FromSoftware games, but there shouldn’t be much to worry about. There are, after all, some good reasons for its omission in the upcoming RPG. As Ishizaki himself stated, the gameplay loop of Elden Ring Nightreign is far more condensed compared to its Dark Souls counterparts. The game is meant to be played in short, 40-minute rounds, and because of this, players won’t have the time to go around reading messages that others left on the ground.

One other aspect of Elden Ring Nightreign that’s important to keep in mind when discussing this topic is its procedurally-generated environments. Since no two levels in the RPG will ever be the same, leaving messages in these areas would kind of be pointless. In a game with no consistent level designs, the communication method in Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring wouldn’t really work as intended, considering how context-specific the messages that players leave usually are. Therefore, it’s not surprising that FromSoftware decided to get rid of this beloved mechanic in Elden Ring Nightreign.

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Elden Ring Nightreign

ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN is a standalone adventure within the ELDEN RING universe, crafted to offer players a new gaming experience by reimagining the game’s core design.

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Join forces with other players to take on the creeping night and the dangers within featuring 3-player co-op.
 

Take command of uniquely skilled heroes, each possessing their own abilities and distinct flair.

While individually formidable, their skills create powerful synergies when they unite as a team.

Overcome a relentless environmental threat that sweeps through a land that changes between each game session and defeat the magnificent boss of that night!

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Released

2025-00-00

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Multiplayer

Online Co-Op

Steam Deck Compatibility

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Unknown

Number of Players

1-3

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