Home News "Elden Ring's Nightreign Director Admits Duos Were Neglected for Trio Focus"

"Elden Ring's Nightreign Director Admits Duos Were Neglected for Trio Focus"

by Daniel May 26,2025

Elden Ring Nightreign is set to immerse players in the dynamic world of Limveld, where they can explore and battle for survival either alone or in groups of three. However, duos will have to be open to the inclusion of a third player, as the game currently does not support a two-player option without a matchmade third.

In an interview with IGN, Elden Ring Nightreign director Junya Ishizaki explained the decision to focus on solo and trio gameplay. When questioned about the lack of a dedicated two-player mode, Ishizaki admitted it was an oversight during development. "The simple answer is that this is simply something that was overlooked during development as just a two-player option, so we're very sorry about that," he said. "As we said before, we set out to make this a multiplayer co-op game for three players, balanced for three players, so that was the main focus and it's at the core of Nightreign."

Ishizaki also emphasized the game's solo play experience, acknowledging the demand for solitary adventures. "Of course, I myself as a player understand that and often want times where I'm just playing myself, so this is something that we considered from the start," he continued. "And so we did put a lot of effort into creating this experience that was playable for solo players in as much as the rules and new systems allowed. So in putting all our efforts into that aspect, we kind of overlooked and neglected the duos aspect, but this is something that we are looking at and considering for post-launch support as well."

For those who prefer to play with just one other person, be prepared to welcome a random third into your group. It could turn out to be a beneficial addition, especially if you match with someone skilled at the game.

Solo players will find that Elden Ring Nightreign adjusts dynamically to the number of players in a session, ensuring that lone wolves won't feel overwhelmed. The game includes self-revive options specifically designed for those tackling the adventure alone. Meanwhile, trio gameplay is what Nightreign is fundamentally built around, and having an extra player can be a significant advantage against the game's formidable bosses.

Elden Ring Nightreign launches on May 30, 2025, and will be available on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X and S.