ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN Set to Launch on May 30, 2025, Beta Test Begins This Weekend

Bandai Namco has officially announced that ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN, the cooperative survival action game, will launch on Friday, May 30, 2025. Fans eager to experience the game ahead of release can participate in the upcoming beta test, running from Friday, February 14th, to Monday, February 17th, for those who previously registered.

Nightreign challenges players to survive a three-day cycle within a vast, ever-changing map filled with randomized elements and dynamic events. A looming blue firestorm steadily pushes survivors toward an inevitable boss encounter, ramping up the intensity as the match progresses. To complete a run, players must endure two nighttime boss fights before facing one of the eight formidable Nightlords in a climactic showdown.

Since its initial reveal, additional details have surfaced, confirming the presence of familiar foes from previous Dark Souls games and the inclusion of an infamously punishing poisoned swamp area. These elements, combined with the game's shifting map layout, promise an experience that blends nostalgia with fresh challenges.

While Nightreign requires three players at all times, Bandai Namco has confirmed multiple ways to participate. Solo players can either queue up online to be matched with others or take on the challenge completely alone in offline mode—though without AI companions. Teams can form in different configurations: as a full group of three, as a duo to be paired with a third, or as a lone adventurer joining two others.

A hands-on preview of Nightreign highlighted its fast-paced, teamwork-driven gameplay, enhanced by a fluid parkour system and streamlined leveling. The game condenses the hallmark difficulty, exploration, and boss battles of Elden Ring into a high-speed, repeatable challenge. “Nightreign provides a delectable hit of Elden Ring in a repeatable microcosm,” the preview noted. “It’s got the difficulty, the leveling, the boss battles, and the sense of discovery, but all at high speed for a new type of challenge, while its grim enemy selection is like a best-of Souls mixtape I’m itching to replay.”

The beta test will feature four of the final eight Nightfarers, Nightreign’s set playable heroes, each with unique abilities and playstyles. Available characters include Wylder (an all-rounder), The Guardian (a tank), The Recluse (a mage), and The Duchess (a rogue), offering a diverse range of strategies for players to explore.

With the full release now confirmed for May 30, 2025, and the beta test providing a first look this weekend, anticipation for ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN is only growing. Whether diving into the upcoming test or waiting for the full launch, players can look forward to a unique blend of Soulsborne mechanics, cooperative survival elements, and fast-paced action.