FromSoftware Announces Elden Ring Nightreign Duo Mode, Sales Reach 3.5 Million
- By Lucas
- Sep 21,2025
Elden Ring Nightreign has sold 3.5 million copies in five days, with its Steam user review rating improving from 'mixed' to 'mostly positive.'
Elden Ring achieved massive success, selling 30 million copies since its 2022 release, but Nightreign is unlikely to match that milestone. For comparison, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion sold 5 million copies in three days in 2024.
FromSoftware’s multiplayer spin-off launched with 2 million sales in a single day but faced a 'mixed' rating on Steam.
Initial criticism focused on Nightreign’s punishing solo mode, absence of duo co-op, lack of voice chat, and dated mechanics. The challenge of forming a coordinated three-player team remains a core part of the Elden Ring Nightreign experience.
As noted in IGN's Elden Ring Nightreign review: "Here’s the key point: if you plan to play Nightreign solo and aren’t a hardcore Elden Ring fan who thrives on making an already tough game harder, this isn’t for you. The single-player mode is poorly balanced, and I’d be surprised if it isn’t patched soon. This comes from someone who lives for these games."
On Monday, FromSoftware released a patch to improve solo play, and despite weekend matchmaking issues, player sentiment has improved.
Last week, producer Yasuhiro Kitao shared on social media about Nightreign’s strong early sales and thanked players for embracing the game despite its unique challenges.
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“Nightreign has unique design elements that set it apart from our recent titles,” Kitao said. “Yet, so many of you have dived into this world, and we’re deeply thankful for that.
“Like Demon's Souls or Sekiro, it may feel daunting at first, but Nightreign offers its own distinct challenges and rewards. Once you push past the initial difficulty, it delivers a unique sense of achievement.
“We hope you find joy in it.”
Looking ahead, FromSoftware plans to release DLC later this year, with new features to be “gradually introduced,” including enhanced battles against Nightlords starting this month (June) and Duo Expeditions later on.
The addition of duo mode will address player feedback about its absence at launch. Elden Ring Nightreign places players in the dynamic lands of Limveld, where they explore and fight solo or in groups of three, with no option for two-player co-op.
In IGN's interview with Elden Ring Nightreign director Junya Ishizaki, the lead developer explained the focus on solo and trio gameplay as the core experience. When asked about the lack of a two-player co-op option, Ishizaki admitted it was an oversight.
"Simply put, we overlooked a two-player option during development, and we apologize for that," said Ishizaki. "Our goal was to create a multiplayer co-op game balanced for three players, which is the heart of Nightreign.
"As a player myself, I understand the desire to play solo at times, so we worked hard to make the solo experience viable within the game’s systems and rules," Ishizaki added.
"In focusing on that, we neglected the duo option, but we’re exploring ways to include it in post-launch updates."
This means players wanting to team up with just one partner must accept a random third player. Trios remain the foundation of Elden Ring Nightreign’s design.
Check out our Nightreign tips and tricks to defeat all eight Nightlord Bosses. If you’re wondering how to access the locked Nightfarer Classes, see How to Unlock the Revenant and How to Unlock the Duchess, plus How to Change Characters.
