At The Game Awards last night, all eyes were on Elden Ring Nightreign. With FromSoftware’s renowned craftsmanship behind it, that’s hardly surprising. Bandai Namco has just announced that the game will have a network test early next year, and eager players can start signing up in January.
If you haven’t caught wind of Nightreign yet, it’s introducing a fresh co-op element that lets players team up to conquer bosses in the FromSoftware universe. Think of it as Elden Ring with a twist: instead of leaving cryptic messages or popping up to lend a hand—or cause chaos—in battles, you and your friends will tackle challenges together.
This exciting new game is slated for release sometime in 2025, with the network test rolling out shortly after the New Year. Scheduled for February 2025, the test’s registration opens on January 10, so gear up if you want to nab a spot. However, you’ll need to have either a PlayStation 5 or an Xbox Series X/S to join, as those are the only consoles mentioned for this test phase. PC and last-gen console users might feel left out for now.
If you manage to secure a spot, what can you expect? According to Bandai, “The network test is a preliminary verification test where selected players can explore a bit of the game before its official release. This is all about checking the online system’s technical aspects through extensive network load tests.”
Think of these technical hurdles as formidable foes you must overcome, with the ultimate goal being smooth network performance when the game finally drops. It might sound more impressive to tell your friends you’ve gained an ‘aura of stable network load’ for your achievements.
For those hungry for more Elden Ring updates, don’t miss the recent buzz around Sony’s confirmation of its interest in acquiring FromSoftware’s parent company, Kadokawa.
