FromSoftware's upcoming co-op spin-off, Elden Ring: Nightreign, is getting a network test in February. However, PC players will be left out, as the test appears to be exclusive to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles.
The official Bandai Namco website for the Nightreign network test confirms a February timeframe for the demo, with registration opening on January 10th. However, the website only displays icons for PS5 and Xbox Series consoles, suggesting PC players will be left out of it.
This news is disappointing for PC players, but hardly surprising. FromSoftware has a history of excluding PC from its network tests, even for games that launch simultaneously on all platforms. Previous network tests for Dark Souls 2, Dark Souls 3, and Elden Ring were all console-exclusive, leaving PC players to wait for the full release to try out the game.
While some might criticise this decision, it's understandable from a studio perspective. Console platforms offer a more controlled environment for testing online functionality and gathering player feedback, while PC versions are more susceptible to data mining and leaks. Even so, we still expect leakers to find a way to datamine some stuff from the network test build.
Based on previous FromSoftware releases, the gap between a network test and the full launch typically ranges from two to six months. Assuming they'll follow a similar pattern with Nightreign, we'll could be able to play it in the latter half of the summer of 2025, at the worst.
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KitGuru says: Are you planning to join Elden Ring Nightreign's network test?