After the highly anticipatedShadow of the Erdtreeleft several major open narrative threads unexplored, it seemed thatElden Ring’s lore had come to a final end without complete closure. Now, even though the upcomingElden Ring: Nightreignhas been described as unrelated to the canon of the first game, spending more time with thefranchise offers FromSoftware the new opportunityto follow up on one figure who remains shrouded in mystery.
Promising a fresh co-op take on a new roguelike formula,Elden Ring: Nightreignis said to be set within a standalone timeline branching from the Shattering. Given that the death of Godwyn the Golden essentially kicked off that cataclysmic era of the lore, there is some renewed hope that his arc will finally receive more direct attention. Through his tragic fate and ironically revered status, this demigod might find himself tied to the enigmatic Night Lord in a way that lives up to popular theories regardless of canon.
Shadow of the Erdtree Left Godwyn with Untapped Potential
The Ambiguity of the Prince of Death’s Arc Contributed to the Final Boss' Controversial Reception
Despite the Land of Shadow being even more heavily centered around a dark aesthetic mired in death imagery than the base game, the appearance of Death Knights in new catacombs was the only development Godwyn received in the DLC. The presence of even more of his eldritch face husks only served to further feed the flames of speculation around a greater purpose for the character, but his absence by the conclusion of the expansion’s story could mean his story only goes as far asElden Ring’s Age of the Duskborn ending. Now thatNightreignhas leaned into its own ethereally grim aesthetic, however, Godwyn could now arise as a missing link.
Hints of Godwyn’s relationship with Miquella in locations like Castle Sol made the Prince of Death seem like shoe-in for a dramatic final boss to accompany the Empyrean, butElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’s Promised Consort Radahntook this place instead, and to mixed results. There’s an undeniable spectacle to the battle as it stands, but the repetition of Radahn potentially cursed the finale to never live up to the hype of a reveal of a new form for Godwyn.
Elden Ring: Nightreign Can Redeem Godwyn Through Taking Him in a New Direction
The Identity of the Night Lord Could Line Up with The Fallen Demigod’s Disappearance
While they’re shrouded in secrecy in the game’s first trailer, theNight Lord ofElden Ring Nightreignhas drawn immediate comparisons to the lore of the Nox and their attempts at creating a “Lord of Night”. There are theories which suggest that the Nameless Eternal City of the Deeproot Depths, where Godwyn can be found, holds clues as to his association with the giant corpse thrones found in the other underground zones. If the Night Lord, supposedly the game’s final boss, is truly the successful result of the Nox’s efforts, he could turn out to be a manifestation of Godwyn outside the main timeline of the first game.
A Spin-Off is Still Capable of Indirectly Contributing to Canon
It’s been made clear that the new title is not necessarily tied to the lore of the Tarnished’s original journey, seemingly writing off its events in terms of the canon. Even if its events, featuring the likes of returningDark Soulsenemies inElden Ring Nightreign, prove inconsequential to the story, that doesn’t eliminate the potential information to be found in item descriptions and environmental storytelling. Players are likely to learn more regardless of whether a hypothetical Godwyn boss has greater narrative meaning or not, as the studio’s characters are usually developed through in-game text above all to begin with.
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!”
