I've been diving deep into Elden Ring Nightreign for weeks now, and something feels oddly empty about FromSoftware's latest roguelike experiment. As I navigate through the chaotic, ever-shifting landscapes of Limveld, there's a familiar presence that's conspicuously missing – like expecting to find an old friend at a reunion only to discover their chair remains empty.

Where the hell is Patches?

This roguelike spinoff has brilliantly fused elements from across FromSoftware's storied history. We've got direct Dark Souls assets, character inspirations from across their catalog, and enough nostalgic nods to make any veteran player smile. Yet somehow, they've overlooked including the one character who's transcended nearly every FromSoftware world for the past 16 years.

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For the uninitiated (though I doubt many reading this are), Patches is FromSoftware's recurring trickster – appearing as Patches the Unbreakable, Patches the Untethered, Patches the Spider, and various other incarnations. He's like that questionable coin that somehow turns up in every purse you own, no matter how many times you think you've spent it. His absence in Nightreign feels like ordering your favorite meal only to find they've forgotten the secret sauce that ties everything together.

A Wasted Opportunity

Limveld seems tailor-made for our favorite untrustworthy merchant. The unstable, shifting nature of this realm would be the perfect playground for Patches' schemes and survival instincts. I can almost picture him setting up shop in some precarious corner, offering dubious deals with that trademark sinister grin.

What makes his absence even more perplexing is how Nightreign has already embraced cross-IP elements. We've got direct Dark Souls assets integrated into the game – armor sets, weapons, and environmental pieces that longtime fans immediately recognize. Patches has never been confined to a single IP anyway! He's jumped from Demon's Souls to Dark Souls to Bloodborne with the nimble opportunism that defines his character.

The game's somber, melancholic atmosphere could desperately use Patches' darkly comic relief. Every FromSoftware world benefits from that moment when you're lured into his trap, cursing as you fall, only to begrudgingly forgive him later when he offers some unique merchandise. His absence feels like attending a funeral where everyone's determined to remain stoic – sometimes you need that inappropriate joke to break the tension.

What Could Have Been

I've spent countless hours imagining how Patches might fit into Nightreign's mechanics:

  • 🎭 A merchant with rotating inventory tied to the roguelike cycle

  • 🪤 Traps that change location with each run

  • 💰 Special currency or items only obtainable through his questline

  • 🗣️ Commentary on items from different FromSoftware worlds

His perspective on Limveld would be invaluable – like having a cynical tour guide in a haunted house who's seen all the tricks before. Patches could serve as the perfect bridge between the disparate elements that Nightreign brings together, offering sardonic observations about familiar gear from other worlds.

Hope on the Horizon?

The good news is that FromSoftware has already demonstrated willingness to expand Nightreign post-launch. They've added the Collector Signboard as a new merchant, which, while useful, has all the personality of a... well, a signboard. It's like replacing your charismatic but unreliable friend with a particularly efficient refrigerator – functional but lacking that essential spark.

But this support suggests Patches could still make an appearance. As of early 2025, FromSoftware hasn't revealed their complete DLC roadmap for Nightreign, leaving plenty of room for our favorite scoundrel to squeeze his way in. Perhaps future updates will introduce new areas beyond Limveld – Mount Gelmir callbacks or Mensis-inspired nightmare realms would be perfect hunting grounds for Patches.

I can already envision a potential questline where he sends Nightfarers on increasingly dangerous errands to recover gear from across the multiverse, each time promising it's "perfectly safe" with that suspicious chuckle we've all come to distrust yet somehow miss.

The Perfect Fit

The roguelike structure of Nightreign actually makes Patches' inclusion more logical, not less. In a game where death is temporary and cycles repeat, his betrayals could become a meta-joke – perhaps he remembers your previous encounters while you're forced to rediscover his treachery with each run, like a mouse repeatedly falling for the same baited trap that somehow looks new every time.

The current state of Nightreign feels like a carefully orchestrated symphony missing one distinctive instrument. The composition is beautiful, but that familiar discordant note that somehow makes everything more complete is nowhere to be heard.

For now, I'll continue my journeys through the perpetual night of Limveld, appreciating what Nightreign offers while keeping an eye out for that telltale snicker around every corner. After all, if there's one thing we know about Patches, it's that he always finds a way to survive – like a cockroach after nuclear winter, but with better merchandise and more questionable ethics.

Where there's darkness, danger, and profit to be made, Patches inevitably appears. So here's hoping that someday soon, as I round a corner in Limveld's ever-changing landscape, I'll spot that familiar bald head and suspicious smile waiting to welcome me into his latest scheme. The night is long, after all, and perfect for those who prefer to conduct their business in the shadows.