Elden Ring Nightreign has seen a notable decline in its player count, currently sitting at only 17.81% of its peak figures from May. While FromSoftware is renowned for creating engaging single-player experiences, Elden Ring Nightreign stands out as primarily a cooperative game designed for three players. In this multiplayer-centric spin-off, players explore an alternate rendition of the Lands Between and confront a variety of formidable bosses, despite the option to participate solo.
With an initial price point of $39.99, Elden Ring Nightreign launched to a peak player count of 313,593, which pales in comparison to the original Elden Ring’s all-time high of 953,426. This disparity is expected, considering that Nightreign is not a true sequel but rather a multiplayer-focused offshoot. Despite facing challenges with solo gameplay, players have found success when forming matchmade groups and are encouraging others to join in with random players.
Interestingly, Nightreign’s player count has decreased by nearly 82% in just two months. Recent figures from SteamDB indicate a peak concurrent player count of 55,862 in the last 24 hours, while the original Elden Ring recently reached a 24-hour peak of 52,589. Despite the greater sales of the original game over the years, Nightreign’s numbers are still relatively strong for a two-month-old title, especially given its multiplayer focus.
Importantly, Elden Ring Nightreign is not a live-service game, meaning it can be enjoyed solo without being entirely reliant on player count. While losing 82% of its initial base is concerning for FromSoftware and Bandai Namco, the situation is not dire. Future updates are expected to attract returning players, including the addition of a two-player mode on July 30, allowing for new gameplay dynamics.
Overall, it remains to be seen whether these updates will invigorate player interest or lead to a continued decline.