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Elden Ring Nightreign has sold 3.5 million copies in its first five days, with its Steam user rating climbing from 'mixed' to 'mostly positive.'
While the original Elden Ring surpassed 30 million sales since its 2022 launch, Nightreign is unlikely to reach similar heights. For comparison, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion sold 5 million copies within three days of its 2024 release.
FromSoftware's multiplayer-focused spin-off initially sold 2 million copies in 24 hours but launched with a 'mixed' reception on Steam.
Early criticism centered on Nightreign's punishing solo difficulty, absence of two-player co-op, lack of voice chat, and outdated mechanics. The game inherits Elden Ring's signature challenge of assembling a coordinated three-player team.
As noted in IGN's Elden Ring Nightreign review: "Let's address the crucial warning upfront: unless you're a veteran Elden Ring player craving extra difficulty, Nightreign isn't designed for solo play. While technically possible, the single-player mode is so poorly tuned that adjustments seem inevitable within the first month. This comes from someone deeply experienced with FromSoftware's games."
However, Monday's patch significantly improved solo play balance, helping shift player sentiment despite initial matchmaking issues.
Producer Yasuhiro Kitao recently acknowledged Nightreign's strong launch sales on social media, thanking players for embracing the game's unconventional design.
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"Nightreign features unique design choices that differentiate it from our recent titles," Kitao acknowledged. "We're deeply grateful so many players have ventured into this challenging world anyway.
"Like Demon's Souls or Sekiro, the initial experience can be bewildering, but overcoming these obstacles delivers unparalleled satisfaction.
"We hope you enjoy the journey."
Future updates include a DLC later this year, with new features rolling out progressively. June introduces enhanced Nightlord battles, while Duo Expeditions will arrive in subsequent updates.
The promised two-player mode addresses a major community concern. Currently, Elden Ring Nightreign only supports solo play or three-player co-op in its shifting world of Limveld.
In IGN's interview with director Junya Ishizaki, he explained why Nightreign focuses on solo and three-player modes. When questioned about the missing two-player option, Ishizaki admitted this was an oversight.
"Simply put, we didn't fully consider a dedicated two-player mode during development," Ishizaki confessed. "We prioritized balancing for three-player cooperative gameplay, which remains Nightreign's foundation.
"As a player myself, I understand the desire for solo experiences. We invested considerable effort into making the game accessible for single players within our design framework.
"The absence of duo play resulted from this focus, but we're evaluating it for post-launch support."
Currently, duo teams must accept a random third player, as Nightreign's core design revolves around three-player cooperation.
For players seeking guidance, we offer comprehensive Nightreign strategy guides covering all eight Nightlord Bosses, instructions for unlocking the Revenant and Duchess classes, plus a tutorial on changing characters.
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