Elden Ring Nightreignhas proven to be quite a hit, despite the fact that it is smaller in scope than FromSoftware’s mainline Soulsborne games, and it has managed to surpass some impressive player-count milestones. However,Nightreign’s active player count has been steadily dropping lately. While that count will likely jump back up when DLC finally arrives,Nightreign’s most anticipated featurewill be coming in the meantime, though it will be arriving at an awkward moment in the game’s lifecycle.
At long last, duos are coming toElden Ring Nightreignon July 16, 2025. Given that the absence of this feature led to criticism of the game before it even launched, the addition of a two-player mode toNightreignis a big moment for the title. Unfortunately, though, this highly anticipated feature will be arriving at a time when the game has arguably become stagnant, and it may be too late for the duos mode to have the impact that it could have had it been available at launch.
Why Elden Ring Nightreign’s Duos Could Be Too Little, Too Late
Although the lack of atwo-player mode inNightreignreceived a lot of criticism leading up to the game’s release, the standard, three-player format has arguably turned out to be a beloved aspect of the Soulsborne spin-off. One of the initial concerns about trios was that players who went into a three-player match with a two-player squad would have to compete over loot with a random third player. Another concern was that the public matchmaking system might pair players with drastically different skill levels. In hindsight, these concerns feel a bit unnecessary.
Elden Ring Nightreign’s Trios Multiplayer Format Has Become a Welcome Staple
Despite having limited ways to communicate with teammates, due to the lack of in-game chat,Nightreignplayers regularly share their loot and go out of their way to help their teammates complete objectives for theirNightfarers’ Remembrance quests. After all, defeating a Nightlord in trios is a team effort, so it’s in every player’s interest to lend their teammates a helping hand whenever it’s possible to do so.Months after the game’s release,Nightreign’s trios have ultimately become a collaborative effort beyond what most players likely expected.
This isn’t to say thatNightreigndoesn’t have its share of bad apples, but, in general, the community is more respectful than what some fans might have anticipated.
Elden Ring Nightreign’s Lack of Duos at Launch Wasn’t the Death Sentence It Was Made Out to Be
WithNightreignsurpassing 5-million playersin less than two months, the lack of duos doesn’t seem to have been the deal-breaker that some players believed it would be. While the game’s player count may get a boost when the feature is finally released,Nightreignwas able to develop a thriving community before it was ever confirmed that proper duo-support was coming. Hence, while this once-highly anticipated feature was expected to have a significant impact on the game, at this point, players who have been playingNightreignsince its release are likely looking forward to the game’s eventual DLCs above all else.
By all means, the addition of duos inNightreignis a welcome surprise, but there’s no denying that it is arriving at a rather awkward stage in the game’s lifecycle, especially after trios has turned out to be a perfectly serviceable format and with fans being hungry for new content. So, while the arrival of a duos mode is better late than never, players may currently be more excited aboutNightreign’s future content updatesthan the addition of this feature.
