It’s hard to believe that Elden Ring: Nightreign was only announced a little less than a month ago, with how much excitement it’s already been able to build. And now, we know that some people will get to play it soon, in just a bit over the month. Provided they own a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, sign up for the network test here before January 20th, and are selected to partake in it. Players who are selected to partake will be able to hop on and try out Elden Ring: Nightreign over the course of several sessions between February 14th and February 16th. The full list of those sessions will be as follows:
- Session 1: Feb 14th, 3am to 6 am PT
- Session 2: Feb 14th, 7pm to 10 pm PT
- Session 3: Feb 15th, 11am to 2pm PT
- Session 4: Feb 16th, 3am to 6 am PT
- Session 5: Feb 16th, 7pm to 10 pm PT
This network test, as described on Bandai Namco’s site, is a “preliminary verification test in which the selected testers play a portion of the game prior to the full game launch.” Put more simply: this is a chance both for some people to get a small taste of the game early, in exchange for stress testing the game’s servers, mechanics, and stability so that From Software can see what issues they still need to fix. It’s a good deal for everyone.
This is not the first time that From Software has done a network test a few months before a game’s release, as they did it for the original Elden Ring as well, way back in November of 2021 (about three months prior to Elden Ring’s full release in February). However, Elden Ring: Nightreign’s focus on co-op play and its changes to multiplayer mean that a network test may prove to be extremely vital for refining the game ahead of its unknown 2025 release date.
In case you missed the news, by the way, Elden Ring: Nightreign is a standalone game set in the same universe as Elden Ring, but in a different land known as Limveld. In it, you will play as a Nightfarer, teaming up with other Nightfarers to “take on the creeping night,” which seems to include a wide vartiety of enemies both from From Software’s past titles like Elden Ring, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne, and a host of new enemies made for the game. The most unique aspect of the game, and the way in which From Software breaks from their usual formula, is that Elden Ring: Nightreign is built to be a 3-player (but not 2-player) co-op experience, with the entire multiplayer system for the game having seemingly been built from the group up to support a more seamless co-op experience.
If that excites you, and you own a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, then make sure not to miss your chance to sign up for the network test so that you can be among the first players to get a taste of Elden Ring: Nightreign. The sign-ups for the network test began today on this website, and are going to run until January 20th at 6AM PT. If you sign up and are selected, then you will be able to play the network test during selected 3-hour chunks from February 14th until February 16th.
See you in Limveld, Nightfarers. I’ll be looking for allies with a pot on their heads.
