Holy Erdtree! I've just emerged from my first 48 hours in Elden Ring Nightreign, and my fingers are still trembling from the adrenaline rush. This multiplayer madness from FromSoftware has absolutely exploded onto the scene, and I'm proud to say I've been there since hour one, fighting alongside a literal army of fellow Tarnished warriors!

Despite some critics throwing shade before launch with their lukewarm reviews, claiming it might disappoint FromSoft purists who prefer solo suffering, Nightreign has proven them spectacularly wrong. Within just ONE HOUR of launch, this beast of a game amassed over 300,000 players on Steam alone! Can you believe it? By the time I took my first bathroom break (yes, I eventually had to), that number had climbed to 313,593. My bladder may have limits, but apparently Elden Ring fans don't.

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The Unstoppable FromSoftware Juggernaut

Let's put this insanity into perspective. In 2025, where games come and go faster than my excuses for dying to the same boss fifteen times, Elden Ring Nightreign has instantly become one of the year's most successful titles. And remember, these numbers are JUST on Steam! PlayStation and Xbox players are out there too, probably dying just as frequently as I am.

As we rolled into the weekend, the numbers kept climbing. I barely slept, fueled by energy drinks and the strange satisfaction that comes from getting repeatedly stomped by otherworldly monstrosities alongside strangers on the internet. There's something weirdly comforting about shared trauma, you know?

How Does It Compare to the Original Elden Ring?

People Also Ask: Will Elden Ring Nightreign surpass the original game's player count?

Look, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the OG Elden Ring set a nearly impossible bar. That masterpiece hit a peak of 953,426 concurrent players back in 2022. That's not just a high bar—that's a bar so high it's practically in orbit.

The multiplayer focus of Nightreign naturally narrows the audience a bit. Some players (not me, obviously) actually prefer to suffer alone in their gaming misery. Can you imagine? Why die solo when you can die spectacularly with friends watching?

But here's the kicker—Nightreign has already secured the bronze medal for 2025 launches, beating out Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Only Monster Hunter Wilds and Schedule 1 had bigger launches this year. And again, this was JUST THE FIRST HOUR. My poor controller hasn't known peace since.

The Community Experience

The multiplayer aspect has transformed the Lands Between into something entirely new. Where once I wandered alone, now I'm constantly surrounded by fellow warriors with questionable fashion choices and even more questionable combat strategies.

People Also Ask: Is Elden Ring Nightreign better with friends or strangers?

In my experience, both have their charms! With friends, you can coordinate attacks and share in the victory (or more often, the defeat). With strangers, there's this beautiful chaos that unfolds—sometimes they're brilliant allies who carry you through impossible fights, and sometimes they run straight off cliffs for reasons that will forever remain a mystery.

One moment that stands out was when three of us—complete strangers—faced a massive three-headed wolf. We had no way to communicate beyond basic gestures, yet somehow we developed a perfect strategy: I would distract it, the second player would attack its flanks, and the third would cast spells from a distance. We didn't speak a word, yet moved like a well-oiled machine. It was... chef's kiss... magical.

The Numbers Game

Let's break down some stats, shall we?

Game 2025 Peak Player Count My Personal Deaths
Monster Hunter Wilds Higher than Nightreign Fewer than Nightreign
Schedule 1 Higher than Nightreign Fewer than Nightreign
Elden Ring Nightreign 313,593+ and climbing Uncountable 😭
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Lower than Nightreign N/A
Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered Lower than Nightreign N/A

I've died more times in Nightreign than I've had hot meals this year, but I wouldn't have it any other way. There's something about FromSoftware games that makes suffering feel like an achievement. Like, "Wow, I died 50 times to this boss? I'm basically an elite gamer now."

Looking Forward

As we move deeper into 2025, I'm curious to see how high Nightreign can climb. Will it eventually approach the godlike numbers of its predecessor? Probably not, but that doesn't diminish what it's accomplished.

The weekend warriors are joining now, and my friends list is lighting up like a Christmas tree with notifications of people entering the Lands Between. I haven't seen the sun in days, my fridge is empty, and I think my cat is plotting revenge for the neglect—but it's worth it, every second of it.

So here I am, 48 hours in, still trembling with excitement just like I was in that first hour when 300,000 of us charged into this new adventure together. My fingers may be sore, my eyes may be bloodshot, but my spirit? Unbroken. Just like the spirit of the Elden Ring community that continues to prove critics wrong.

Now if you'll excuse me, there's a boss that's killed me 27 times, and I have a feeling attempt #28 is going to be the one. ...Or maybe #29. Definitely by #50, though!