Elden Ring Nightreign has sold 3.5 million copies within five days of release, with its Steam user review rating climbing from 'Mixed' to 'Mostly Positive.'
While Elden Ring itself was a monumental success, reaching 30 million sales since its 2022 launch, Nightreign's sales are not expected to reach that level. For comparison, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion sold 5 million copies in its first three days back in 2024.
FromSoftware's multiplayer-focused spin-off initially sold 2 million copies in just 24 hours, but launched with a 'Mixed' rating on Steam.
Initial criticism mainly targeted Nightreign's punishingly difficult solo mode, the absence of two-player co-op, the lack of built-in voice chat, and other dated mechanics. The classic multiplayer dilemma of gathering two friends to form a coordinated three-player team is also a core part of the Nightreign experience.
As noted in IGN's Elden Ring Nightreign review: "Let's start with the most important disclaimer: if you plan to play Nightreign entirely by yourself and are anything less than a hardcore Elden Ring fan who actively seeks ways to make that challenging game even tougher, then Nightreign is not for you. A single-player option does exist, but it is so poorly tuned that I would be surprised if it isn't updated and rebalanced within the first month. This comes from someone who lives and breathes this genre."
However, a patch released on Monday significantly improved the solo experience. Despite some matchmaking issues over the weekend, overall player sentiment has become more positive.
Last week, producer Yasuhiro Kitao posted on social media, commenting on Nightreign's strong early sales and thanking players for trying the game despite its unique design choices.
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“Nightreign features some unusual design elements and differs in several ways from our recent games,” stated Kitao. “Despite this, a great number of you have courageously embarked on this adventure, and for that we are profoundly thankful.
“Similar to Demon's Souls or Sekiro, it might be confusing initially, but like those titles, Nightreign presents its own unique trials and experiences. Once you push past the initial learning curve, it delivers a distinct and rewarding sense of achievement.
“We hope you have a great time with it.”
So, what lies ahead? FromSoftware announced that, alongside the DLC planned for later this year, new content will be “rolled out progressively.” This includes upgraded battles against existing Nightlords starting this month (June), with Duo Expeditions following at a later date.”
The upcoming addition of two-player co-op will be welcome news for many who were disappointed by its absence at launch. Elden Ring Nightreign immerses players in the ever-changing realm of Limveld, where they explore and fight for survival either alone or in three-person squads. There is currently no official two-player co-op mode.
In IGN's interview with Elden Ring Nightreign director Junya Ishizaki, the lead developer explained the decision to structure the core gameplay around solo and three-player modes. When asked why players cannot team up as a pair without a random third player, Ishizaki admitted it was an oversight.
"The straightforward answer is that a dedicated two-player option was something we simply overlooked during development, and we sincerely apologize for that," said Ishizaki. "As previously stated, our goal was to create a multiplayer co-op game designed and balanced for three players. That trio dynamic is the heart of Nightreign.
"Naturally, as a player myself, I understand the desire for flexibility and often prefer playing alone, so we prioritized the solo experience from the outset," Ishizaki continued.
"We invested significant effort into crafting a viable single-player journey within the constraints of the game's rules and new mechanics. In focusing so intensely on that and the three-player mode, we unfortunately neglected the two-player co-op option. However, we are actively looking into adding this feature post-launch."
Consequently, if you are playing with just one partner, you must welcome a randomly matched third player into your session. The trio format is fundamental to the Nightreign design.
We have a wealth of Nightreign tips and tricks to assist you in defeating all eight Nightlord Bosses. If you're curious about unlocking the two initially locked Nightfarer Classes, see our guides on How to Unlock the Revenant and How to Unlock the Duchess, as well as How to Change Characters.
