Summary
While many fans might have been waiting to see something new come out of FromSoftware, instead, it looks like they will be getting another experience set in the universe ofElden Ring, withElden Ring Nightreign. However, unlikeElden Ringand its Shadow of the Erdtree DLC,Elden Ring Nightreignis a standalone co-op title, though players can also enjoy it solo if they wish.Elden Ring Nightreignalso distinguishes itself with its procedurally generated environments, Roguelike mechanics, and predefined characters. Even so, that may not be enough for some fans to justify the purchase of yet anotherElden Ringgame.
Fortunately, it seems thatElden Ring Nightreigncould have a secret weapon up its sleeve when it comes to its price, as it will be far more affordable than most new releases. It’s surprising, to say the least, that a full-sized game, not a DLC, wouldn’t cost players as much as a typical new release. However,Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC proved that a cheap price tag can still offer a rich experience behind it, and it’s therefore more likely thatElden Ring Nightreignwill accomplish the same.
Elden Ring Nightreign’s Affordable Price Could Be Its Secret Weapon
Elden Ring Nightreign Is Only Going to Cost Around $40
Elden Ring Nightreignisn’t a DLC pack forElden Ring, nor is it an expansion, as it doesn’t require players to own the base game in order to play it. Instead,Elden Ring Nightreignis a standalone spin-off simply set in the same universe asElden Ringand its Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. In light of that, one might expect it to cost just as much as a full-sized game, which has reached an average of $69.99 USD today for new AAA titles, with special editions of those games typically ranging from $89.99 to $129.99 USD. As it turns out, that isn’t the case at all withElden Ring Nightreign, as Bandai Namco has previously noted.
Rather than paying full-price forElden Ring Nightreign, unlike manyother franchise spin-offs, Bandai Namco has confirmed that its upcomingElden Ringadventure will cost players roughly the same price they paid for Shadow of the Erdtree, which is $40 USD. This doesn’t necessarily mean thatElden Ring Nightreignwill only cost players $40 USD, but Bandai Namco’s comments on the game’s price suggest it won’t be much more than that if it isn’t $40 USD. Ultimately, this might be reason enough for fans who might be growing weary ofElden Ringto purchaseNightreign, and the game’s cost could also simultaneously increase the value of its gameplay if it delivers in quality.
It’s entirely possible that FromSoftware and Bandai Namco will offer special editions ofElden Ring Nightreign, so some eager fans might end up paying a typical AAA price for it anyway.
Shadow of the Erdtree Proved That an Affordable Price Can Still Deliver
AsElden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has proven, an affordably-priced game can still offer a substantial experience. What makes this even more true ofFromSoftware’s game designis that Shadow of the Erdtree is only a DLC, and yet it offers an experience that is arguably larger and of higher quality than many full-sized AAA games today. In light of that, fans can likely expectElden Ring Nightreignto deliver in terms of quality and longevity. At the same time,Elden Ring Nightreign’s cooperative focus is fairly new territory for FromSoftware, so it also might be better to keep those expectations tempered.
FromSoftware’s journey intocooperative-focused gameplay withElden Ring Nightreignis an interesting shift for the acclaimed studio, but the game’s affordability may serve as a key selling point for many players. WhileElden Ring Nightreign’s long-term success will ultimately depend on its ability to offer the same depth thatElden Ringand its Shadow of the Erdtree DLC have delivered, it at least offers both a lower cost and a fresh, standalone experience.
