Despite 'mixed' user reviews, Elden Ring Nightreign explodes onto Steam, with 300,000-150,000 players presumably getting wrecked by a big dog

Published: Friday, May 30, 2025 at 10:36 am

Elden Ring Nightreign Launches on Steam with a Bang, Then a Dip

Elden Ring Nightreign, the latest spin-off from FromSoftware, has stormed onto Steam, attracting a massive initial wave of players despite receiving mixed reviews. The game debuted with a peak concurrent player count of 300,000, showcasing the enduring popularity of the Elden Ring franchise. However, this number has since dropped to around 150,000, indicating a potential divide among players.

Reviewers describe Nightreign as a "messy co-op action RPG" that is both "deeply satisfying" and a "frustrating slog." The game's challenging nature, particularly for solo players, seems to be a key factor in the player drop-off. Unlike the methodical gameplay of the main Elden Ring title, Nightreign throws players into a "pressure cooker" experience. Progression is also gated behind defeating early bosses, which may deter some players.

Despite the mixed reception, the game's launch numbers highlight the strong brand recognition of Elden Ring. The article also notes that the game's story is told through playable memories, and that the game is a console port with some performance issues. The game's launch comes shortly after the original Elden Ring celebrated selling 30 million copies, further solidifying the franchise's success.

Keywords: Elden Ring Nightreign, Steam, FromSoftware, action RPG, co-op, mixed reviews, player count, launch, performance, Elden Ring, Nightlords, gameplay, PC gaming.

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