Elden Ring Nightreign's initial network test, ongoing at the time of this article's publication, is facing severe server issues that have hindered many players from participating. IGN staff members who accessed the test reported that the server problems were so severe they couldn't play the game for the first hour of the test.
The issues were significant enough for FromSoftware to issue a statement on social media, acknowledging that players were having trouble finding matches due to server congestion. The developer expressed their apologies and encouraged players to attempt matching again after some time.
Compounding the issue, the Elden Ring Nightreign network test is only available during five three-hour windows on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, spanning from February 14 to February 17. The current schedule is as follows:
Elden Ring Nightreign network test session timings:
February 14: 3am-6am PT / 6am-9am ET
February 14: 7pm-10pm PT / 10pm-1am ET
February 15: 11am-2pm PT / 2pm-5pm ET
February 16: 3am-6am PT / 6am-9am ET
February 16: 7pm-10pm PT / 10pm-1am ET
According to Bandai Namco, the network test serves as a "preliminary verification test in which the selected testers play a portion of the game prior to the full game launch." They further explained, "This large-scale Network Stress Test is designed to evaluate various aspects of the online system's functionality and performance. We are looking forward to your cooperation to make Elden Ring Nightreign even better."
While it's preferable that Elden Ring Nightreign experiences these server issues during the test rather than at its official launch in May, players who had set aside time to try the game are expressing their frustrations. Hopefully, the subsequent play sessions will operate more smoothly.
Elden Ring Nightreign is FromSoftware's standalone cooperative spin-off, set in a world parallel to that of 2022's Elden Ring. The network test allows three players to team up, choosing their Nightfarers to battle against new terrors, explore an ever-changing map, defeat increasingly challenging bosses, and ultimately confront the Nightlord. Bandai Namco also confirmed that the network test features a three-day-and-night cycle that squads must try to outlast.
Last year, IGN had the opportunity to visit FromSoftware and go hands-on with an early build of Elden Ring Nightreign. We came away impressed, stating that Elden Ring Nightreign "takes the cautious dungeon crawls of Elden Ring and turbocharges them into propulsive, slash ‘n’ dash speedruns."
For more insights, check out IGN's interview with game director Junya Ishizaki for even more on Elden Ring Nightreign.
Elden Ring Nightreign is set to launch on May 30, 2025, priced at $40, and will be available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.
