Elden Ring: Nightreign Abandons Key FromSoftware Element

Summary

• Unlike most modern Soulsbornes, Elden Ring Nightreign won't feature an in-game messaging system.
• FromSoftware has opted to exclude its signature messaging feature from Nightreign due to the game's design not allowing enough time for players to read and write messages.
• Despite this, Nightreign aims to enhance other asynchronous features from Elden Ring.

Elden Ring Nightreign will not include the ability for players to leave messages for one another, as confirmed by a senior FromSoftware official. This decision to remove the iconic messaging system from Elden Ring Nightreign is driven by practical considerations.

The feature, which allows players to create messages using pre-approved words, has been a hallmark of FromSoftware's games. It fosters community engagement by enabling players to assist each other, share misleading tips like "hidden path ahead," or enjoy situational humor. This system has been integral to the Soulsborne experience, cherished by many fans.

However, according to game director Junya Ishizaki in a January 3 interview with IGN Japan, this feature will not return in Elden Ring Nightreign. Ishizaki explained that the game's multiplayer-first design, with sessions expected to last around 40 minutes, does not accommodate the time needed for players to engage with written messages. The focus is on delivering a more streamlined and intensely paced experience.

Nightreign Isn't Ditching All of Elden Ring's Asynchronous Features

While Elden Ring sessions can last for hours, FromSoftware anticipates that Nightreign will be played in shorter bursts. This shift aims to enhance the game's intensity and pacing. Despite the absence of the messaging system, Nightreign will retain and even improve upon some of Elden Ring's other asynchronous features. For instance, the bloodstain mechanic will return, allowing players to witness how others died and even loot their ghosts.

FromSoft Wants Elden Ring Nightreign To Be 'Compressed'

The exclusion of player-to-player messaging aligns with FromSoftware's vision for Elden Ring Nightreign as a more intense, multiplayer-focused experience compared to its predecessor. The game's three-day structure supports this goal, aiming to create what Ishizaki described to IGN Japan as "a compressed RPG" with high variety and minimal downtime.

Elden Ring Nightreign's reveal trailer at TGA 2024 confirmed a 2025 launch, though FromSoftware and Bandai Namco have not yet provided a more specific release date.