Elden Ring: Nightreignhas already generated a massive amount of hype, along with all the speculation and intrigue that brings. Little is yet officially confirmed aboutElden Ring: Nightreign, but the known premise so far is enticing enough. With elements crossing over from games likeDark Souls 3, it almost stands out more to see what hasn’t made the jump yet.
Nightreignonly has one trailer at the moment, but judging from this alone, there is one absence that is perhaps the most noticeable.Elden Ring: Nightreignseems to have leftthe world ofElden Ring:Shadow of the Erdtree, despite the latter being released as recently as June 2024. This begs a simple question: Where is the Erdtree in the world ofElden Ring: Nightreign?
The Missing Erdtree in Elden Ring: Nightreign Explained
The relative absence of the Erdtree inElden Ring: Nighteignis a simple question with a relatively complicated answer. Depending on one’s perspective, there are actually two different answers that can be garnered on this issue. One is a matter-of-fact discussion of the overallstructure ofElden Ring: Nightreign, while the other requires paying close attention to one image revealed in the game’s trailer.
Elden Ring: Nightreign’s Setting is Familiar But Fresh
Elden Ring: Nightreign, same as its predecessor, takes place inThe Lands Between. This is a pretty bold direction for FromSoftware to take, seeing as its games rarely revisit previous settings, or even share continuity in general. However, even withNightreignset to explore a setting players have already visited inElden Ring, it wouldn’t be accurate to say the games feature the exact same setting.
In fact,Nightreign’s version of The Lands Between is reportedly set in an alternate universe of sorts. The Lands Between was fractured into multiple timelines at one point in its history, which may even relate to the apparent time loop players will battle against inNightreign. This means players can expect several differences inElden Ring: Nightreign’s timeline, and developers have explicitly stated that it is meant to be a standalone game, not a full-blown sequel.
Of course,Elden Ring: Shadow of the Treeintroduced yet another expansive world to explore. Despite being a DLC release,Shadow of the Erdtreewas ambitious enough to earn a nomination forGame of the Year at The Game Awards 2024. The Land of Shadow is physically disconnected from the rest of The Lands Between, obscured by the Erdtree itself thanks to the actions of Queen Marika. One might assume that, being set in an alternate universe entirely,Nightreign’s version of The Lands Between simply doesn’t have an Erdtree. However, there is one major piece of evidence that seems to contradict this theory.
Elden Ring: Nightreign’s Gameplay Trailer May Have Revealed the Fate of the Erdtree
Elden Ring’s loreis beyond dense, even for a FromSoftware game. The Erdtree was a pretty major function of the game’s world and its lore, so it’s only natural to wonder how it may affect the story and world players will explore inNightreign. Thankfully, developers may have already given players just enough information to assume the true fate of the Erdtree.
The first thing players may notice is that the Erdtree seems entirely absent from most images of the overworld landscape. This is a remarkable departure fromElden Ring, in which players can spot it from almost anywhere. While the Erdtree is seemingly missing from the wider world ofNightreign, it wasn’t entirely absent fromElden Ring: Nightreign’s gameplay reveal trailer.
On the contrary, in the final moments of the trailer, players prepare to enter a gate together. Outside this gate, one can spot what appears to be a small glimpse of one of the Erdtree’s branches. However, the Erdtree is silver in this depiction, in contrast to its original golden glow. This heavily supports the theory that theNight Lordhas overthrown the Golden Order in this version of The Lands Between, and seems to confirm that the Erdtree will still play a role of some kind inElden Ring: Nightreign.
Elden Ring Nightreign
WHERE TO PLAY
“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!”
