It's time for players to answer the call, as FromSoftware and Bandai Namco have officially opened the registration gates for the first ever network test for the highly anticipated standalone expansion, Elden Ring: Nightreign. While the full game itself is still slated for a release sometime in 2025, this early peek is a crucial step for the developers to ensure everything runs smoothly for the grand launch. The announcement, made on the official Bandai Namco EU website, invites eager Tarnished to sign up for a chance to participate in this preliminary trial, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the Lands Between.

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Registration is Live, But Details Are Still Shrouded in Fog

Here's the deal: you can register right now, starting from January 10th. The registration page is wide open, with no announced end date in sight, so there's no need to rush—but you probably will anyway, right? The catch? Bandai Namco is playing its cards very close to the chest. They haven't revealed when the actual test will begin, how long it will last, or most importantly, what content players will get to experience. The official description is purposefully vague, stating the test is "a preliminary verification test in which the selected testers play a portion of the game prior to the full game launch." The primary goal seems clear: this is a stress test. The announcement emphasizes that "various technical verifications of online systems will be examined by conducting large-scale network load tests." In other words, they're inviting a crowd to see if their servers can handle the pressure before the real invasion of players happens for real in 2025.

What We Know About Nightreign's New Direction

So, what is Elden Ring: Nightreign shaping up to be? Based on the reveals so far, it's a fascinating evolution. Announced in a stunning surprise at The Game Awards last year, Nightreign is confirmed to be a standalone title set within the beloved Elden Ring universe. However, it's taking a sharp turn from its predecessor's formula. The multi-award-winning action-RPG is morphing into something new. The biggest headline? Three-player cooperative play is being positioned as a central pillar of the experience.

  • Co-op Focus: Get your friends ready, because the journey through the night seems designed for a trio. You can venture out solo, but the game is clearly built with teamwork in mind. Interestingly, the developers have clarified it won't support two-player teams—it's either solo or a full three-person squad.

  • Not a Live Service: In a move that might relieve some fans, FromSoftware has confirmed that despite its multiplayer focus, Nightreign will not be a live service game. This suggests a more traditional, complete package upon release.

  • A Missing Staple: Prepare for a quieter world. One iconic Elden Ring feature that will be conspicuously absent is the ability to leave messages—or read the hilarious, helpful, or misleading notes of others—on the ground. FromSoftware has its reasons for removing this social feature, aiming to craft a different kind of shared experience.

  • Platform Walls Remain: Unfortunately, for those with friends spread across different gaming ecosystems, Nightreign will not feature cross-platform play. Your co-op sessions will be confined to players on the same platform as you.

A New Dawn for the Franchise?

The shift from a sprawling, solitary Souls-like RPG to a more focused, co-op oriented "boss hunt" game is a bold one. FromSoftware is essentially trying to bridge two worlds. Can the intricate combat and atmospheric world-building that defined Elden Ring translate successfully into a format built around coordinated team takedowns? That's the million-rune question. The network test will be the first real-world experiment in answering it. While players hunt for secrets and test the servers, FromSoftware will be watching closely, gathering data to refine this new vision. The success of this test could be a major indicator of how the full release will be received when it finally arrives in 2025.

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For now, the path forward is to register and wait. The anticipation is building, and the community's eyes are fixed on the horizon, waiting for the first glimpse of what the night will bring. Will Nightreign capture the magic of its predecessor in a new form, or will it carve out a completely unique legacy? Only time—and a successful network test—will tell. One thing's for sure: the Lands Between are about to get a lot more crowded.