Why Nightreign Could Revolutionize Multiplayer in Elden Ring 2!

I’m equally eager for “Elden Ring: Nightreign,” but what really gets me pumped is the potential enhancements a possible sequel could bring to the Elden Ring series, given the innovative approach in this standalone title. Notably, “Nightreign” is a fresh installment in the franchise, albeit not a direct follow-up to 2022’s hit game. The new game emphasizes solo or cooperative play and offers several distinct features that set it apart from the original release.

In the latest addition, players are tasked with investigating randomly generated iterations of the Limveld region in the Realm Between. However, this location goes by a different name in Nightreign, namely Limgrave. You must survive three consecutive in-game day phases which are under constant threat from an encroaching circle, similar to zones found in battle royale games. Defeating a boss concludes each day. This sequence enables you to prepare for the ultimate confrontation with the final boss at the end of the three-day period. Although you can engage in solo play, FromSoftware encourages collaborative gameplay in Elden Ring Nightreign with friends.

Elden Ring’s Sequel Should Have Open-World Multiplayer

The Game Could Learn From Nightreign

As a movie critic, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the release of “Nightreign,” a game that promises a unique co-op experience. However, when it comes to games developed by FromSoftware, such as “Dark Souls,” “Bloodborne,” and the upcoming “Elden Ring,” multiplayer aspects have traditionally taken a backseat. While these games do offer multiplayer options, they are usually limited to specific areas or paths.

With the arrival of “Nightreign,” I can’t help but hope that the sequel to “Elden Ring” will learn from this and fully embrace an open-world multiplayer experience. In “Nightreign,” players can summon allies in certain zones, often during legacy dungeons or boss fights. It’s a feature that, if extended to future FromSoftware games, could elevate the gaming experience to new heights.

Improvements can be made by enabling players to traverse the entire open world alongside companions. The aim isn’t to alter the winning formula of the 2022 release, but rather to extend it, providing players with additional choices and allowing them to experience the game entirely with their friends if they wish. FromSoftware has been criticized for its limited multiplayer options, but with Nightreign focusing solely on this aspect, it could serve as a guide on how to integrate that more broadly in future games like an Elden Ring sequel or other core Souls series titles.

A Fully-Fledged Multiplayer Soulslike Experience In Elden Ring 2 Could Be Revolutionary

Exploring With Friends Would Be Memorable

A key feature for the potential sequel of Elden Ring 2 might be the inclusion of a full-blown multiplayer mode, allowing players to traverse the game world together. While the cooperative aspect of Elden Ring has evolved significantly over time, it currently doesn’t support simultaneous exploration of the open world with friends. The possibility of doing so in a sequel, preserving the same gameplay and map design, could make for an enjoyable and immersive experience. Currently, the cooperative mode is primarily focused on challenging areas where progression is straightforward and combat is tough. In this regard, coop in Elden Ring serves as a valuable aid.

In essence, it’s true that certain open-world regions can be just as challenging, if not more so, compared to traditional dungeons and boss battles. For me, for instance, Furnace Golems in the Shadow of the Erdtree‘s open-world sections prove particularly difficult, even surpassing Bayle the Dread or Messmer the Impaler. If cooperative play were more readily available throughout the game’s open world, my friends and I could journey together through the entire game, offering mutual support, instead of having to coordinate our arrivals at specific areas to play together simultaneously.

With Nightreign, FromSoftware is ingeniously pushing the boundaries and refining their cooperative play mechanics. These insights might be utilized in the Elden Ring sequel, for instance. Indeed, there’s a significant distinction in the gameplay structure between these two titles, particularly since the Souls series map often evolves with story events that unfold. Regardless, there are effective methods to facilitate collaborative progression and ensure a shared narrative journey for players. For example, FromSoftware could establish some proximity constraints, allowing players to traverse together at a set distance.

In Elden Ring Nightreign, a lesson from the coop might prevent players from wandering too far apart in a game with an expansive open-world map. This is to avoid one player discovering something before another who hasn’t reached that point yet. For instance, fighting the first Tree Sentinel together with a friend may not affect the battle’s outcome, but the shared experience would be unforgettable. An improved multiplayer feature in Elden Ring 2 could enhance gameplay for some players without altering its core nature.

Improved Multiplayer In An Elden Ring Sequel Wouldn’t Diminish The Game’s Challenges

The Solo Experience Wouldn’t Be Affected

The reason for this is that the fundamental design of the game wouldn’t need to change significantly. It could still maintain its reputation for being tough, a trait it is well-known for. For example, if a player dies in combat, they would still have to wait to respawn. Moreover, the health and attributes of enemies could be adjusted according to the number of players in a multiplayer group, similar to how bosses scale in the current Souls games. This way, Elden Ring 2 would maintain the same level of difficulty as the original game, while allowing players to explore it cooperatively.

For players who relish the solitary journey through the expansive game world of Souls games, it’s entirely possible that they find satisfaction in playing alone. Although the multiplayer aspect could be enticing, these titles will persistently accommodate solo progression, as most Souls series have traditionally done so. In essence, players who prefer to navigate the open-world map at their own pace, confronting enemies one by one and gradually mastering attack patterns to advance forward, can continue to do so. Just like how the current version of Elden Ring offers, they are free to ignore the multiplayer experience entirely.

I think that “Nightreign” could be an excellent title for delivering a souls-aligned multiplayer experience to gamers, despite the fact that its gameplay mechanics differ significantly from what is typically found in traditional Souls games. Nevertheless, Nightreign offers valuable insights into the possibilities of FromSoftware’s server capabilities for multiplayer and potential solutions for creating a successful open-world multiplayer experience in future installments like an Elden Ring sequel.

2025-05-27 03:07