Elden Ring Nightreign Steam Launch Marred by Mixed Reviews Over Missing Duo Co-Op and Voice Chat

Elden Ring Nightreign soared to popularity on Steam, yet its debut was clouded by a ‘mixed’ user review rating.

FromSoftware’s cooperative spin-off hit a remarkable peak of 313,593 concurrent players on Steam, ranking it among the top-played titles on Valve’s platform.

Despite this, it garnered a 67% positive review rate, with criticism focusing on the absence of two-player co-op and voice chat in Elden Ring Nightreign.

Elden Ring Nightreign immerses players in the dynamic realm of Limveld, where they explore and battle solo or in trios. A two-player co-op mode is notably absent.

IGN’s review of Elden Ring Nightreign notes: “For those hoping to play Nightreign solo and lacking the expertise of a seasoned Elden Ring enthusiast who thrives on added difficulty, this game may disappoint. While a single-player mode exists, its balance is so off that a patch seems inevitable within the first month. This comes from someone who thrives on such challenges.”

Explore our comprehensive Nightreign tips to conquer all eight Nightlord Bosses, and learn how to unlock the exclusive Nightfarer Classes with guides on unlocking the Revenant, the Duchess, and switching characters.

In IGN’s interview with Elden Ring Nightreign director Junya Ishizaki, the lead developer addressed the focus on solo and trio gameplay. When questioned about the lack of a duo option, Ishizaki admitted it was an oversight.

“We regret overlooking a two-player mode during development,” Ishizaki explained. “Our primary goal was to craft a multiplayer co-op experience balanced for three players, which forms the heart of Nightreign.

“As a gamer myself, I understand the desire for solo play,” Ishizaki added. “We invested heavily in making the game accessible for solo players within the new systems’ constraints, but this focus led us to neglect the duo option. We’re exploring this for future updates.”

This means duo players must include a random third player, as trios are central to Elden Ring Nightreign’s design.

Every IGN FromSoftware Game Review

Player frustration is evident. “Elden Ring co-op, but not quite,” one Steam review lamented. “Three players are required, no duo option. How did this happen? I’m considering a refund.”

“No duo mode, and random players often disrupt the game,” another review stated. “I just want to play with my friend.”

“Without two friends and voice chat, this game feels pointless,” read another critique. “Solo queue with randoms is chaotic, and without voice chat, coordination is nearly impossible. Despite loving Elden Ring and roguelites, I can’t see myself returning without friends or a better solo experience.”

The lack of voice chat remains a recurring complaint. Another review noted:

“Progress is nearly impossible without voice chat. With three friends, the game shines—smooth connections, an event-filled map, and an engaging loop.

“As a 41-year-old, I don’t have a regular trio to play with,” the reviewer continued. “Even if voice chat is added, playing with randoms won’t match the experience of coordinated friends.”

“Solo queue with randoms is grueling—communication, item sharing, and strategy planning are nearly impossible.”

“In short, without two reliable friends, the game falls flat.”

As Ishizaki hinted, FromSoftware may introduce duo support in future updates. For now, players are limited to solo or trio modes.

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Before Elden Ring Nightreign’s launch, FromSoftware cautioned PC players about potential framerate issues with newer graphics cards.

In a brief note within the day-one patch notes, FromSoftware acknowledged the issue, recommending players lower graphics settings from “High” to “Medium” or “Low,” reduce screen resolution, and update graphics card drivers.

Discover essential Elden Ring Nightreign tips and tricks from our network test coverage, and stay tuned to the IGN Nightreign wiki for more guides as the game rolls out.