Summary
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Unlike most modern Soulsborne, Elden Ring Nightreign will not have an in-game messaging system.
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FromSoftware says it decided to skip its signature feature in Nightreign because the upcoming game won't give players enough time to read and write messages.
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Nightreign is still planned to retain – and even improve – some of Elden Ring's other asynchronous features.
Elden Ring Nightreign won't allow players to leave messages for each other, a senior FromSoftware official confirmed. Developer's decision to drop the signature feature Elden Ring Nightreign it is officially characterized as a purely practical movement.
The ability to combine pre-approved words into asynchronous messages for other players has long been synonymous with FromSoftware games. Whether used to help others, lie about a “hidden way forward” or deliver situational jokes, this system has historically been super successful in generating user engagement, providing an influx of constant stream of messages from players that some fans would consider an integral part. of the modern Soulsborne experience.
Related
The test for the Elden Ring Nightreign network has been announced
Elden Ring publisher Bandai Namco confirms that Nightreign, a new adventure set in the world of Elden Ring, will open its network test very soon.
Either way, the popular feature won't be coming back Elden Ring Nightreign. That's according to game director Junya Ishizaki, who said this in a January 3rd interview with IGN Japan. Elaborating on this omission, Ishizaki explained that the game's multiplayer-first design would have suited an asynchronous messaging system, arguing that Elden Ring Nightreign players simply won't have enough time to mess around with written notes.
Nightreign doesn't give up all of Elden Ring's asynchronous features
While a typical Elden Ring The game session can easily last for hours, predicts FromSoftware Nightreign it will be played at noticeably shorter intervals of about 40 minutes per piece. As this will inevitably make the overall experience much more intense, the developer has decided to ditch the in-game messaging system in an attempt to provide a more efficient and well-paced experience.
That doesn't mean the game will remove all the asynchronous functionality of its predecessor. On the contrary, some classic community features have already been confirmed to return. For example, the bloodstain mechanic will return Elden Ring Nightreign more powerful than ever, allowing players to not only see how their teammates died, but even loot their ghosts.
FromSoft Wants Elden Ring Nightreign 'Compressed'
Limiting player-to-player communication by removing a dedicated messaging system seems to fit with FromSoftware's overall vision for the game, which is geared towards creating a more intense and multiplayer-focused experience compared to the first entry in the series. The decision to have Elden Ring Nightreign the adoption of a three-day structure also results from this ambition. Speaking to IGN Japan, Ishizaki said that FromSoftware is trying to deliver “a compressed RPG” with lots of variety and little to no downtime.
Elden Ring NightreignTGA 2024's reveal trailer confirmed that the game is targeting a 2025 release. However, FromSoftware and Bandai Namco have yet to commit to a more concrete release window.