You know that feeling when you finally beat Malenia for the tenth time, and you look around the Lands Between, and it's... quiet? The summon signs are few, the invasions are sparse. That's the bittersweet fate of our beloved single-player Soulsborne worlds. But 2026 is shaping up to be a game-changer! After digesting the incredible reveal of Elden Ring: Nightreign—a game that's flipping the script by making co-op the star—I can't help but think the stage is perfectly set for something even more radical. The true endgame, the ultimate test of skill, has always been player versus player. And now, more than ever, it's time for FromSoftware to give that community a forever home with a dedicated, standalone PvP game.
The Nightreign Blueprint: Multiplayer Reimagined
Let's talk about why Elden Ring: Nightreign is such a big deal. For years, Soulsborne multiplayer felt like trying to have a deep conversation through two tin cans and a very long, frayed string—clunky, restricted, but somehow magical when it worked. Nightreign is cutting that string and giving us fiber-optic broadband. It's taking inspiration from those legendary community mods that removed the old barriers, promising the most seamless co-op experience FromSoftware has ever crafted. This isn't just a spin-off; it's a statement.
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The Paradigm Shift: By centering an entire game around cooperative play, Nightreign proves FromSoftware is willing to evolve its multiplayer DNA. It's like they've finally decided to build a concert hall specifically for duets, after years of only allowing musicians to jam in their garages.
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The Ripple Effect: This new approach signals a potential shift for all future Soulsborne titles. If co-op can get this treatment, why should PvP—the mode with arguably the most dedicated and hardcore fanbase—be left in the dusty corridors of dying player counts?
The PvP Paradox: Infinite Depth, Finite Lifespan
Our current PvP playgrounds—from the chaotic arenas of Lordran to the sprawling fields of the Lands Between—are incredible. They're built on a foundation of:
| Soulsborne Strength | Why It's Great for PvP |
|---|---|
| Deep Progression | Stats, levels, and gear create meaningful investment and identity. |
| Limitless Buildcraft | The variety is staggering. A duel can be against a lightning-spewing wizard, a poison-infusing rogue, or a colossal weapon-wielding tank. No two fights are the same! |
| High-Skill Ceiling | Spacing, timing, mind-games—it's a brutal and beautiful dance. |
But here's the heartbreaking catch: these worlds are built for a single-player journey. Once most Tarnished become Elden Lord, they move on. The player base slowly dwindles, like a magnificent bonfire slowly burning down to embers. For those of us who live for invasions and duels, watching our favorite battlegrounds become ghost towns is a special kind of pain. We're left clinging to the fading echoes of glory.
The Vision: A Timeless Colosseum
This is why a standalone PvP game isn't just a cool idea—it's a necessity. Imagine a platform built from the ground up for competition, designed to last for years, not just until the next single-player release. It would be the eternal festival of blades the community has always craved.
How could it work? Let's dream a little:
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A Legacy of Arenas: Instead of one setting, the game could be a "Greatest Hits" compilation of iconic PvP locations from every Soulsborne title. Fight in Yharnam's cathedral one match, and in Leyndell's royal capital the next.
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Rule-Set Galore:
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Bloodborne Mode: Regain health by attacking aggressively! All weapons have trick forms. The combat would be as fast and furious as a hornet's nest stirred with a stick.
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Elden Ring Mode: Spirit Summons are allowed, and mounted combat on spectral steeds becomes a wild, chaotic battlefield.
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Dark Souls Pure Duel Mode: No flashy arts, just the fundamentals of spacing and roll-catching. The purest test of skill.
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Persistent Progression: A unified, evergreen progression system for your PvP character—cosmetics, titles, arenas—that doesn't get reset by a new game cycle.
Why Now? The Nightreign Catalyst
Elden Ring: Nightreign has opened a door we didn't even know was there. It's shown that FromSoftware is willing to isolate and amplify one aspect of their formula into a full experience. If they can build a whole game around cooperative exploration, then building one around competitive combat is the most logical next step.
Think of it this way: Nightreign is the meticulously crafted, shared journey up the mountain. A PvP game would be the gladiatorial arena at the mountain's peak, where only the strongest prove their worth, forever. It's the natural yin to Nightreign's yang.
The community's desire for this has never been louder. We've patched together fight clubs, adhered to unspoken rules, and kept the spirit alive long after the credits rolled. A dedicated PvP title would finally be our official home—a timeless colosseum where the fires of competition never fade. FromSoftware, the ball is in your court. Give us our forever war 😤🔥.