Elden Ring: Nightreign was one of the most surprising announcements at the 2024 Game Awards. Although the co-op spin-off remains quite secretive, a few exciting details that have been confirmed are promising a unique experience set in the world of Elden Ring. While FromSoftware's action-adventure title has its own PvP mode, Elden Ring: Nightreign is shaking up the general multiplayer formula in favor of mixing survival and RPG elements into one game.

This blend makes Elden Ring: Nightreign incredibly intriguing, but when it comes to the game that started it all, multiplayer has proven to be a bit tricky in one specific area. Elden Ring's PvP has faced a significant number of hackers and cheaters that have continued to plague this mode for a lot of players. If Nightreign seeks to expand the world of Elden Ring successfully, bringing a strong anti-cheat method to the game is greatly needed.

Elden Ring Nightreign Weapon Wish List
Elden Ring Nightreign Weapon Wish List

FromSoftware is trying something brand new with Elden Ring Nightreign, and the multiplayer spinoff is going to need a memorable arsenal of weapons.

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Elden Ring: Nightreign Needs to Assure Players That Cheaters Won't Be Rampant

Everything Known About Elden Ring: Nightreign, So Far

  • Three-player co-op
  • Players choose between a variety of heroes with specific skills.
  • Players have to survive a three-day and night cycle.
  • Releasing for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S

Despite the initial announcement and details that have been revealed, there are still plenty of unanswered questions about Nightreign. The promise of fighting through a day and night cycle is compelling, but with the Elden Ring community still facing cheating issues, the team behind this co-op spin-off needs to address any concerns sooner, rather than later.

Elden Ring: Nightreign's map shrinks as players progress, culminating in a final boss fight.

Elden Ring's PvP Can't Seem to Catch a Break From Cheating

What's even more frustrating is that Elden Ring already utilizes anti-cheat methods. However, it clearly hasn't been strong enough, which can leave PvP matches both infuriating and unsatisfying. The Easy Anti-Cheat software used to deter cheaters can also cause significant lag problems, according to some players. In a Reddit discussion about the risk of facing cheaters, user Uncleafie69 stated, "The anti-cheat is incredibly easy to bypass on PC." Cheaters may not appear in every match, but it's not exactly a rare occurrence, either. Elden Ring hackers have continued to find ways to exploit the game's PvP mode, and it makes the prospect of a full-blown co-op title like Nightreign slightly concerning.

While the cheating may not be as bad as it was in the early days of Elden Ring's PvP, it is still definitely present. FromSoftware's impressive legacy has been built on harrowing gameplay that can make players work up a sweat, but being faced with cheating can be more annoying than challenging.

Nightreign Will Hopefully Fare Better Than Elden Ring's PvP Mode

Until more updates are revealed about Nightreign, it's unclear how the game handles cheating. It's likely that FromSoftware will utilize Easy Anti-Cheat once more, but that has yet to be officially confirmed. In the coming weeks, some players will get the opportunity to take part in Nightreign's network test. Once that is over, there will likely be more information on the horizon, assuming the network test goes well.

Elden Ring: Nightreign's network test will run from February 14-17 and will only be available for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S users. During the playtest, participants will only get to play three hours a day.

With Nightreign set to get a 2025 launch, FromSoftware is bound to announce an official release date in the coming months. Thanks to the massive success of Elden Ring, Nightreign has a high bar to reach. Player expectations may be hard to meet, but if FromSoftware secures a way to keep cheaters at bay in a more successful way, then Nightreign has far better luck at being a game with the same longevity as Elden Ring.

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9 /10

Elden Ring Nightreign
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Action RPG
Soulslike
Roguelite
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Systems
PlayStation-1 Xbox-1 PC-1
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Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 78%
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Released
May 30, 2025
Developer(s)
From Software
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

"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.

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!"

Multiplayer
Online Co-Op
Number of Players
1-3
Steam Deck Compatibility
Unknown
Genre(s)
Action RPG, Soulslike, Roguelite