Summary
FromSoftware’sElden Ring Nightreignis an upcoming standalone cooperative experience set in the same universe asElden Ring, complete with procedurally generated environments, Roguelike mechanics, and predefined characters. WhileElden Ring Nightreigncan be played solo, it has been intentionally designed for cooperative play with teams of three. SinceElden Ringhas been a major focus of FromSoftware lately, it’s entirely possible some fans who have been awaiting something new from the developer were let down by the announcement ofElden Ring Nightreign, but they may have a better chance to determine their opinions of the game in its upcoming network test.
SinceElden Ring Nightreignis fairly new territory for FromSoftwarewith the aim of offering a high-quality and stable online cooperative experience, a network test is all but necessary. However, necessary as it may be, it’s a bit of a double-edged sword forElden Ring Nightreign, as it could determine its success in the long run. While it doesn’t happen all the time, games that offer alpha, beta, and network tests ahead of their launch occasionally taint their own reputation before they’ve even been made available if those tests don’t go well. In the same way,Elden Ring Nightreign’s upcoming network test could be a strong indicator of whether it will succeed once it is finally released.
Elden Ring Nightreign’s Network Test Could Make or Break It
Elden Ring Nightreign’s Co-Op Gameplay Has a Lot Riding on Its Network Test
Elden Ring Nightreignis a cooperative experiencedesigned to be played online with others, which means there is a lot riding on its network test performing well. If players who are selected to participate in the test encounter major network issues during their time withElden Ring Nightreign, they might immediately be turned off by the whole experience and determine never to return to it, regardless of whether those issues are eventually resolved.
One of the most common issues inonline co-op gamesis server overload, which is more prevalent at the time of a game’s release but has been known to show up during network tests as well. If those who are offered the privilege of testingElden Ring Nightreignahead of its launch are unable to log in to the game or are placed in a lengthy queue due to server overload, there’s potential for those players to give up on the game and then vent their frustrations online, which often negatively impacts a game’s reputation.
Cases like these sometimes lead to widespread negativity like review bombing, even by those who have never played the game they are criticizing.
Another potential issue players could encounter duringElden Ring Nightreign’s network test is matchmaking failures, which were even present during the first few days of Shadow of the Erdtree’s launch due to the vast number of players seeking help from other players online forchallenging boss fights like Messmer the Impaler. And, of course, latency and lag are always potential issues in an online game, and those could creep up duringElden Ring Nightreign’s network test as well, possibly leaving a lasting mark on the game’s reputation.
Elden Ring Nightreign’s Network Test Will Serve as an Early Interest Gauge
If nothing else,Elden Ring Nightreign’s network testwill serve as an early interest gauge for the game, which is somewhat necessary, given the new concepts FromSoftware is attempting in the game. The network test will be a prime opportunity for those who are intrigued byElden Ring Nightreign’s premise to determine whether they will actually enjoy it. Finally,Elden Ring Nightreign’s network test will also be a clear indicator ofElden Ringburnout, whether the game is truly nothing to write home about or whether players are simply ready to move on fromElden Ringfor a while. At the very least, selected players will have a chance to decide that for themselves, even before the game launches.
