Celebrating a staggering 3.5 million sales is a huge milestone for us at FromSoftware and for Elden Ring Nightreign. It's incredibly humbling. During the celebration, I was thrilled to finally confirm what so many of you have been asking for since before launch, even: a dedicated duos option for Expeditions is officially in development and scheduled to arrive later this year. 🎉 This announcement feels like a crucial step forward. I remember the sting of seeing those early reviews and the resulting 'Mixed' Steam score on day one, largely centered on the unexpected absence of duos play. It was a feature we genuinely overlooked as our focus intensely honed in on balancing the intricate dance between solo and trio experiences; for that oversight, we were deeply sorry. Director Junya Ishizaki addressed it head-on, and seeing the community respond positively as we rolled out patches addressing other feedback helped claw our way back to a 'Mostly Positive' rating even before this duos confirmation. That goodwill means everything. Yet, I'm acutely aware that the persistent request for cross-platform support remains a significant point of contention for many players, and it's a complex challenge we continue to evaluate. 
Addressing the Solo Struggle
While the duos news dominates, I know many brave Tarnished prefer the solitary path. We haven't forgotten you. We've already begun rolling out adjustments aimed at rebalancing the solo Expedition experience. Just yesterday, we deployed a significant patch:
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Automatic Revival Upon Defeat: This effect now triggers at the very start of every solo Expedition. No more losing precious progress right at the beginning!
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Increased Rune Acquisition: Defeating enemies now yields more Runes, accelerating your progression and power gain.
These are foundational changes. We recognize the immense challenge solo players face, especially against bosses explicitly designed for coordinated trio tactics. Take Gladius, the first Nightlord – a fight that literally splits into three entities. Without teammates to revive you or split aggro, the disadvantage remains severe, despite leveling being easier and enemies having slightly reduced HP pools overall. Yes, you can purchase a Wending Grace before each Nightlord encounter, offering one precious revive, but that single chance pales against the near-limitless revives allies provide in co-op. We hear the feedback loud and clear: solo needs more work, and further refinements are on our radar alongside the duos development.
Looking Ahead: Beyond Duos
The confirmation of duos isn't the only thing on the horizon. We've also promised "new additions" for Nightreign later this year. While details remain under wraps for now, this commitment underscores our dedication to evolving the experience. The rocky launch taught us valuable lessons about communication and feature expectations. Seeing the community rally as we implemented fixes and acknowledged shortcomings has been incredibly motivating. The journey from 'Mixed' to 'Mostly Positive' reflects a shared desire to make Nightreign the best it can be.
People Also Ask
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When exactly will the duos mode be released? We're targeting a release window later this year. We won't commit to a specific month yet, as ensuring it's balanced and polished is paramount. We'll share a concrete date as soon as we're confident.
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Is cross-platform play still being considered? It remains a highly requested feature, and we understand the desire. However, it presents significant technical and design hurdles, particularly concerning fair matchmaking and progression across ecosystems. It's not currently in active development, but we haven't ruled it out for the future. Our primary focus is delivering the duos experience and ongoing balance improvements.
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Will the solo rebalancing include boss mechanic changes? We're actively evaluating boss encounters, especially early ones like Gladius, in the context of solo play. While we can't promise a complete overhaul of mechanics designed for trios, adjustments to scaling, aggro patterns, or adding alternative revival mechanics specifically for solo are possibilities we're exploring.
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What kind of "new additions" can players expect? We're keeping specifics close for now! It could encompass new challenges, gear, events, or systems – the goal is to provide fresh experiences that complement the core Expedition gameplay loop. Think beyond just new Nightlords.
The Path Forward
The initial turbulence was tough, no denying it. But witnessing 3.5 million players embrace Nightreign, coupled with your passionate feedback driving changes like the upcoming duos mode and solo adjustments, fills me with optimism. We're committed to supporting and expanding Elden Ring Nightreign. The road to restoration is underway, one patch, one balance tweak, and one highly anticipated feature at a time. We're listening, we're building, and we're determined to make your journey through the Lands Between under the Nightreign more rewarding, whether you walk alone, with one trusted companion, or a full trio. What challenges are you most looking forward to tackling in duos? Let us know your dream strategies! ⚔️✨