More than 2 million people have played/been brutalized by Elden Ring Nightreign in its first 24 hours

Published: Friday, May 30, 2025 at 7:12 pm

Elden Ring Nightreign Launches with a Bang, Despite Mixed Reviews

Elden Ring Nightreign, the latest spinoff title in the critically acclaimed Elden Ring universe, has stormed onto the scene with impressive numbers, despite facing some initial criticism. In its first 24 hours, over 2 million players, dubbed "Nightfarers," have plunged into the game, according to an announcement from Bandai Namco on the Elden Ring X account.

While the launch has been a success in terms of player count, the game has received a "Mixed" rating on Steam, with only 64% of reviews being positive. Early feedback cites brutal single-player difficulty, challenges in coordinating co-op play, and frustrating difficulty tuning as key issues. This makes Nightreign FromSoftware's worst-reviewed game launch on Steam to date.

Despite the mixed reception, the sheer number of players is a testament to the enduring popularity of the Elden Ring franchise. The game's launch follows the celebration of Elden Ring's 30 million copies sold, highlighting the continued devotion of the fanbase. The article also notes that the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC initially received a similar mixed response, but eventually earned a "Mostly Positive" rating, suggesting that Nightreign could potentially see a similar redemption arc with future updates and patches.

Keywords: Elden Ring Nightreign, Elden Ring, FromSoftware, Steam, launch, reviews, mixed, player count, Nightfarers, Bandai Namco, co-op, difficulty, Shadow of the Erdtree, DLC, action RPG, gaming

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