Elden Ring: Nightreignwas among the most surprising reveals at this year’s Game Awards. Somewhat hilariously, it was unveiled just weeks after FromSoftware headHidetaka Miyazaki said thatElden Ringwould not be getting a sequel, but that the studio would not be “denying the IP” for future development. Little did audiences know that such future development was not nearly as theoretical as Miyazaki made it seem.
To be clear,Elden Ring: Nightreignis notElden Ring 2. Rather, it seems to be taking place in a different timeline or dimension within the broaderElden Ringuniverse, seemingly drawing upon the lore of the Nox and their long-awaited Night King. These lore elements are bound to garner a great deal of player intrigue, as the spin-off will ideally shine a brighter light on some of the more shrouded elements ofElden Ring’s world. That’s all well and good, but in typical FromSoftware fashion, there’s been a wrench thrown into the works:Nightreigncould be a multiverse or crossover situation.
Elden Ring: Nightreign Makes Direct and Subtle Reference to Other FromSoftware Games
Dark Souls Gets a Lot of Representation in the Elden Ring: Nightreign Trailer
More shocking thanthe co-op nature ofNightrein(which isn’t actually so shocking, given the outcry of fan demand for more co-op inElden Ring) is the suggestion that the game could be connected to other FromSoftware properties, specificallyDark Souls. There are a few instances in theNightreigntrailer that could be considered homages or Easter eggs related to theDark Soulstrilogy, such as the ostensible “level up lady” who looks oddly reminiscent of the Fire Keeper fromDark Souls 3, or the various arachnid creatures that resemble similar monsters inDark Souls 2, but two particular elements stand out for their obviousness.
The Nameless King,known for being one ofDark Souls 3’s hardest bosses, is in theNightreigntrailer. The entity doesn’t appear to be a mere lookalike or a boss inspired by The Nameless King, but the actual Nameless King himself, complete with his stormdrake and iconic Dragonslayer Swordspear. This is rather incredible, as The Nameless King is by no means a minor character in theDark Soulsuniverse: he is the son of none other than Gywn himself, and essentially served as the IP’s God of War for a time.
A decidedly less lore-significantDark Soulscreature, Centipede Demon, also appears in theNightreigntrailer. Centipede Demon’s first and only appearance was in the firstDark Souls, where it was spawned as a result of amagical accident on the part of Ceaseless Discharge. Needless to say, Centipede Demon is not a particularly important or pivotal figure in theDark Soulsuniverse, so it’s hard to understand what role it could play inNightreign.
Then there are the less overt references, or what can be considered tongue-in-cheek homages. The spectral-bird flying ability, for instance, seems quite reminiscent of the player-character’s relationship with the Giant Crow inDark Souls, and the more advanced movement andparry mechanics may remind players ofSekiro. Though these are interesting parallels, they are doubtful to be what produces the most speculation.
Is Elden Ring Nightreign a Dark Souls Crossover?
In aninterview with IGN,Nightreigndirector Junya Ishizaki noted that the game will be set in a different timeline than theElden Ringbase game—a timeline formed as a result of The Shattering. Thenature of reality in theElden Ringuniverseis intentionally vague and obscure, so it is quite possible thatNightreignwill link the IP toDark Souls, as outlandish as that may seem. After all, whileFromSoftware is known to reuse assets, something like The Nameless King can’t show up without further explanation, lest it undermine the lore of bothElden RingandDark Souls.
Elden Ring Nightreign
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“ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN is a standalone adventure within the ELDEN RING universe, crafted to offer players a new gaming experience by reimagining the game’s core design.Join forces with other players to take on the creeping night and the dangers within featuring 3-player co-op.Take command of uniquely skilled heroes, each possessing their own abilities and distinct flair.While individually formidable, their skills create powerful synergies when they unite as a team.Overcome a relentless environmental threat that sweeps through a land that changes between each game session and defeat the magnificent boss of that night!”
