Elden Ring: Nightreign May Welcome Two-Player Co-Op in a Future Update

Nightreign Launches Focused on Three-Player Squads

FromSoftware’s expansion, Elden Ring: Nightreign is finally here, and it has been built around three-player co-op teams. Adventuring solo is still possible—whether it feels balanced for lone Tarnished remains to be seen—but pairing up with just one friend will not be an option when the DLC arrives on May 30 for PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S, and PC.

Why Duos Didn’t Make the Cut

Creative director Junya Ishizaki told IGN that the studio “overlooked” two-player support while fine-tuning Nightreign’s trio-centric design. He apologized to fans who prefer to tackle challenges with a single co-op partner—or simply can’t wrangle a third player in time for launch.

“Nightreign was always envisioned as a three-player co-op experience, and that balance is at its core,” Ishizaki explained. “We also invested heavily in making sure solo play still feels fair and fun. In doing so, we unintentionally left duos behind, but we’re actively discussing post-launch options.”

Post-Launch Possibilities

Ishizaki previously framed the absence of a duo mode as a balancing choice rather than pure design intent. That’s encouraging news for players hoping the feature can be patched in: FromSoftware is well-known for tweaking difficulty curves and multiplayer scaling after release. Adapting enemy health, damage, and loot tables for two-person parties could arrive in a future update if internal testing goes well.

Keep an Eye on Updates

If your ideal run through the Lands Between involves a single trusted companion—no third wheel required—stay tuned. FromSoftware says it is actively evaluating how (and when) to introduce a two-player option without upsetting Nightreign’s carefully crafted balance. Until then, trio squads and brave solo Tarnished will lead the charge when the game drops at the end of the month.