The road to the Lands Between's next chapter, Elden Ring Nightreign, has been paved with good intentions, a healthy dose of FromSoftware's signature cryptic communication, and a few spectacular network stumbles. The game's recent series of network tests, meant to be a tantalizing appetizer for the hungry Tarnished masses, quickly became a masterclass in multiplayer mayhem. The central culprit? A seemingly innocent feature: multiplayer passwords. For two consecutive days, FromSoftware made the executive decision to disable this beloved tool, plunging co-op enthusiasts into a state of password purgatory. The official word was sparse—apologies were issued, but explanations were not. This left the community to engage in its favorite pastime: wild, yet often astute, speculation. Was it a desperate fix for crumbling servers, or a deliberate stress test? Only the developers, likely sipping tea in a dimly lit office, know for sure.

The saga began with the inaugural network test on Valentine's Day, 2025. Instead of roses and co-op jolly cooperation, many players were greeted with connection errors and frustration. The session, slated for three hours, proved unstable for many, with servers becoming as responsive as a sleeping Mimic Tear after just 20 minutes. Initial player reports on social media began to paint a picture: those attempting to use multiplayer passwords seemed to be hitting a digital brick wall faster than others. This anecdotal evidence was later corroborated by limited testing, suggesting the password system itself might have been a contributing factor to the network instability. It appears the simple act of trying to play with a friend could summon a different kind of invader: the dreaded connection timeout. 😅

In a move that surprised few but disappointed many, FromSoftware responded by pulling the plug on passwords for the very next test session. The restriction was confirmed ahead of time, with the studio offering its customary polite apologies for the inconvenience. The pattern repeated the following day, leaving players to wonder if they'd ever be able to reliably link up with their chosen companions in the chaotic, beautiful world of Nightreign. The community's theories flourished:

• The Glitch Theory: 🐛 The most popular belief was that the password matchmaking code had a critical bug. Disabling it was a surgical strike to stabilize the servers while the coders scrambled to find the root cause.

• The Stress Test Theory: 🔥 Perhaps this was all part of the plan? By forcing random, password-less matchmaking, FromSoftware could gather more chaotic, unpredictable data on server load and player interaction patterns.

• The "We Have No Idea Either" Theory: 🤷 This is FromSoftware, after all. Sometimes the solution is just to turn it off and on again, but on a global scale.

As of the latest updates, the password restrictions were tentatively scheduled to be lifted for the final rounds of testing. This pointed strongly toward the first theory being correct—a temporary fix for a technical gremlin. The broader implication, however, was a testament to the game's ambition. Elden Ring Nightreign is not just a re-skin; it's a full-fledged roguelike soulslike experience built upon the original's foundation, and its networking needs are evidently complex. The fact that FromSoftware is actively considering rebalancing the entire game to allow for two-player parties based on this early feedback is monumental. It shows a developer listening, even as its servers occasionally cough and sputter.

Looking ahead to the game's release on May 30, 2026, these network tests, for all their hiccups, have been invaluable. They've confirmed the game's sprawling availability across PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and importantly, last-gen consoles and PC. They've also given us a peek at the development philosophy. The table below summarizes the key takeaways from this rocky yet revealing preview period:

Aspect	What We Learned	The Vibe
Network Stability	Initial major issues, improved with patches and restrictions.	From "unplayable" to "manageably chaotic."
Password Matchmaking	Was a likely source of early problems, leading to a 48-hour ban.	A necessary sacrifice that hurt the soul(s).
Developer Responsiveness	FromSoftware is monitoring feedback and considering significant gameplay changes.	Cautiously optimistic. They're listening, in their own silent way.
Game Scope	Testing limited to new consoles, but full release is cross-generation.	The old hardware shall not be forsaken!
Core Gameplay Loop	The roguelike soulslike mechanics are in place and being stress-tested.	Brutal, rewarding, and perfect for short, intense sessions.

In the end, the Elden Ring Nightreign network test served its purpose. It was a brutal, unvarnished look at the game's current state. Players got to experience the new Formless Master under the golden sky (when they could connect), and FromSoftware got a mountain of data, most of which was probably error logs. The temporary disabling of multiplayer passwords was a stark reminder that creating a seamless online experience for a game of this scale is a Herculean task. Yet, the promise of refined co-op, the commitment to a wide array of platforms, and the sheer potential of the roguelike format have left the community more eager than ever. The Tarnished have endured worse; a couple of days without passwords is but a minor inconvenience on the path to becoming the next Elden Lord. The true test begins on May 30. Until then, the memory of those failed connections will simply be another tale of hardship to share at the Roundtable Hold. ⚔️✨