Elden Ring Nightreign, the experimental three-player co-op roguelite that nobody asked for but everyone ended up loving, has become a massive hit according to FromSoftware’s parent company Kadokawa. In their latest earnings report released November 7, 2025, Kadokawa stated that Nightreign performed well beyond initial expectations. The company is now aiming for further sales growth through upcoming DLC and the planned Switch 2 port arriving in 2026.
This is particularly impressive considering how weird Nightreign is as a concept. FromSoftware took their massive open-world masterpiece Elden Ring and turned it into a 45-minute co-op roguelite with battle royale-esque shrinking zones and mandatory teamwork. It’s the kind of experiment that could have easily flopped. Instead, it sold 5 million copies in less than two months after launching on May 30, 2025, and continues finding new audiences.
The Sales Numbers Tell the Story
Nightreign hit the ground running with 2 million copies sold on launch day, May 30. Just four days later on June 3, that number jumped to 3.5 million. By late July, FromSoftware and Bandai Namco celebrated crossing 5 million copies sold. That kind of velocity is rare for any game, let alone an experimental spin-off that fundamentally changes how an established franchise works.
For comparison, the original Elden Ring has sold over 30 million copies since launching in February 2022. The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, which released in June 2024, has moved over 10 million units on its own. Nightreign hitting 5 million in two months puts it on pace to potentially reach one-third of the main game’s lifetime sales, which is extraordinary for what amounts to a multiplayer side project.
Kadokawa declined to release exact sales figures or revenue projections in their earnings report, but the language they used makes it clear Nightreign exceeded conservative internal expectations. The company specifically called out the game’s performance in their gaming segment as a driver of positive results.
What Makes Nightreign Special
If you haven’t played Nightreign, imagine condensing Elden Ring’s 80-plus hour character progression into 45-minute runs. You drop into a shrinking world with two teammates, scramble to gear up by defeating enemies and exploring, then face off against some of FromSoftware’s toughest boss battles before a massive Nightlord appears to end your run. It’s Elden Ring meets Vampire Survivors meets Fortnite, and somehow it works.
The game features eight playable Nightfarers, each with unique abilities and playstyles. You automatically level up your class’s preferred stats when resting at Sites of Grace, keeping the RPG progression streamlined rather than overwhelming. Weapon and armor drops happen frequently, letting you experiment with different builds within a single run. And the bosses, pulled from across Elden Ring’s roster, are repurposed with team mechanics in mind.
IGN’s review gave it an 8/10, praising the thrilling 45-minute runs packed with surprising encounters and challenging decisions. The boss battles were called some of the best FromSoftware has ever designed. However, the review noted that Nightreign requires a consistent squad of similarly skilled players to truly shine, and playing solo is poorly balanced to the point of being frustrating.
The Solo Problem
Nightreign’s biggest criticism is its solo experience. The game was clearly designed with three-player co-op in mind, and playing alone feels like an afterthought. Co-op teammates can revive each other when someone goes down, but solo players only get one life. Enemy encounters that would be trivial with three people become frustrating time wasters alone. Boss fights designed around splitting aggro between multiple players become nightmares.
The game does scale up your damage when playing solo, but it doesn’t fundamentally change any design decisions to accommodate lone wolves. There are no extra lives, no Death Defiance-style safety nets, no shortcuts to skip early stages. For many players, this made the solo experience feel incomplete, contributing to Nightreign’s Mixed user rating on Steam despite strong sales.
FromSoftware has released several balance patches since launch to address these concerns, but the core issue remains. Nightreign is a squad game first and foremost. If you don’t have two friends available to play regularly, you’re getting a significantly diminished experience.
DLC Is Coming
Kadokawa’s earnings report revealed that FromSoftware is currently developing Elden Ring Nightreign DLC planned for release in FY2025, which runs through March 2026. As confirmed before launch, the expansion will add new playable Nightfarers and additional boss encounters.
This is exactly what Nightreign needs most. While the core gameplay loop is addictive, the limited variety of map seeds and encounters makes runs feel repetitive after you’ve beaten all the bosses and mega-bosses. Players who’ve put 50-plus hours into Nightreign report that the relic economy remains inconsistent and the motivation to keep playing drops off once you’ve seen everything.
A substantial DLC injection of new content, bosses, and playable characters could spark a meaningful second wave of sales and player engagement. Given that Nightreign already exceeded expectations with its experimental scope and lean production, a well-crafted expansion could push sales even higher.
Switch 2 Port Delayed for Quality
Kadokawa also confirmed that Elden Ring Tarnished Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 is planned for release in 2026. This version will include the original Elden Ring and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, plus new armor sets and additional customization options for the spectral mount Torrent.
The Switch 2 port was originally scheduled for a closer launch window but got pushed into 2026 for performance adjustments. Surprisingly, players seem accepting of the delay. As one Reddit comment put it, I’d rather it releases in a better state. After seeing so many problematic ports launch on underpowered hardware, the community appreciates FromSoftware taking extra time to get it right.
There’s no word yet on whether Nightreign itself will come to Switch 2, though that seems likely given the platform’s focus on multiplayer experiences and the success of the PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox versions.
What This Means for The Duskbloods
Nightreign’s success bodes extremely well for FromSoftware’s next multiplayer experiment, The Duskbloods. That PvPvE title is planned for release in 2026 as a Switch 2 exclusive, making it an even bigger risk than Nightreign was. But if FromSoftware can nail the multiplayer formula twice in a row, it could establish the studio as masters of both single-player and multiplayer action games.
The Duskbloods faces its own obstacles as a console exclusive rather than a multiplatform release, but the warm reception for Nightreign proves there’s appetite for FromSoftware doing weird experimental things with their established formulas. Players trust the studio enough to try strange new directions, and that trust has been rewarded.
Nightreign director Junya Ishizaki revealed earlier this year that the concept had been percolating since Dark Souls 3. The sheer scope of Elden Ring’s world and systems finally made the project viable, letting FromSoftware repurpose existing assets and mechanics to create something new without starting from scratch.
The Elden Ring Film
In other Elden Ring universe news, A24 announced earlier this year they’re producing a live-action film adaptation directed by Alex Garland. The director of Ex Machina and Annihilation taking on FromSoftware’s dark fantasy world is an intriguing combination that could either be brilliant or a complete disaster. There’s no release date yet, but expect more details as production progresses.
FAQs
Did Elden Ring Nightreign sell well?
Yes, Kadokawa confirmed that Nightreign performed well beyond initial expectations. The game sold 5 million copies in less than two months after launching on May 30, 2025, hitting 2 million on launch day and 3.5 million within four days.
When does Elden Ring Nightreign DLC release?
FromSoftware is developing Nightreign DLC planned for release in FY2025, which runs through March 2026. The expansion will add new playable Nightfarers and additional boss encounters, though no specific release date has been announced.
Is Elden Ring Nightreign coming to Switch 2?
There’s no official announcement about Nightreign specifically coming to Switch 2, but Elden Ring Tarnished Edition (including the main game and Shadow of the Erdtree expansion) is confirmed for Switch 2 release in 2026 with performance adjustments.
Can you play Elden Ring Nightreign solo?
Yes, there’s a solo mode, but it’s poorly balanced. The game was designed for three-player co-op, and playing alone is significantly more difficult and frustrating. Co-op players can revive each other, but solo players only get one life per run.
How long is an Elden Ring Nightreign run?
Each run lasts approximately 45 minutes. You drop into a shrinking world, gear up by defeating enemies and exploring, face boss battles, then confront a massive Nightlord before the run ends. It condenses Elden Ring’s 80-plus hour progression into under an hour.
How many people play Elden Ring Nightreign?
The game is designed for three-player co-op and works best with a full squad. Solo play is technically possible but poorly balanced. There’s no duo mode, which was one complaint in user reviews on Steam.
What is The Duskbloods?
The Duskbloods is FromSoftware’s next multiplayer experiment, planned for 2026 as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive. It’s described as a PvPvE experience, meaning players fight both other players and AI enemies simultaneously.
How much has the original Elden Ring sold?
As of the last official announcement in April 2025, Elden Ring has sold over 30 million copies worldwide since launching in February 2022. The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion has sold over 10 million units since releasing in June 2024.
Conclusion
Elden Ring Nightreign’s success proves that FromSoftware’s reputation is strong enough to take big creative risks and have players follow them into uncharted territory. What started as a weird experimental idea has become a 5-million-selling hit that’s still growing. With DLC coming in 2025, a Switch 2 port planned for 2026, and continued support from Kadokawa and Bandai Namco, Nightreign has plenty of runway left. The game isn’t perfect – solo balance remains an issue, and content variety could use expansion – but when played as intended with a full squad, it delivers some of the most thrilling co-op experiences in recent memory. If you’ve been sleeping on Nightreign because it seemed too different from traditional Elden Ring, the sales numbers and critical reception suggest it’s worth giving a shot. Just make sure you’ve got two friends ready to die repeatedly alongside you.