Is Elden Ring Nightreign Beginning a FromSoft Multiverse?

For the primary couple of minutes, the trailer for Elden Ring Nightreign is… not precisely predictable, however actually comprehensible. It’s Elden Ring like we’ve by no means seen it earlier than, remixed and reassembled, however nonetheless unmistakably a return to The Lands Between. After which… is that The Anonymous King from Darkish Souls 3?

And you then rewind and pay nearer consideration. Sure, that’s The Anonymous King from Darkish Souls 3, and he’s not the one boss from FromSoftware’s again catalogue making a comeback. One other rewind and one other nearer inspection reveals that pleasant NPCs from Darkish Souls have additionally arrived on the planet of Elden Ring. Not solely that, however even gameplay mechanics from throughout the developer’s portfolio of labor have discovered their approach into this upcoming co-op roguelite. And so there’s one query that burns brighter than some other:

Is Elden Ring Nightreign introducing a FromSoftware multiverse?

The Anonymous King is without doubt one of the most ruthless opponents in Darkish Souls 3. He’s a major determine within the sequence’ lore, having first been detailed within the unique Darkish Souls and its sequel earlier than lastly showing within the flesh as an elective boss within the remaining a part of the trilogy. He’s identified for his imposing dragon mount and talent to channel lightning, each of that are seen within the remaining minute of Nightreign’s trailer. There’s no mistaking him: this isn’t a tribute, homage, or lookalike: The Anonymous King is a foe within the subsequent Elden Ring sport.

If seeing wasn’t believing, the official Darkish Souls social media channels have confirmed that parts of the sequence will seem in Nightreign, albeit in a characteristically cryptic method. “Within the Night time, ancestral foes await – remnants of a fireplace that when burned vibrant,” reads the submit on X, which accompanies a repost of the Nightreign trailer.

Within the Night time, ancestral foes await – remnants of a fireplace that when burned vibrant.#ELDENRING #NIGHTREIGN launches on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC Digital in 2025. https://t.co/TyPLQabumO

— Darkish Souls (@DarkSoulsGame) December 13, 2024

The 2 sequence are undoubtedly being linked, then. And so different acquainted creatures start to make a whole lot of sense. Two additional Darkish Souls enemies may be noticed amongst Bandai Namco’s advertising supplies. One minute and 22 seconds into the trailer, we see a staff of warriors battling with a grotesque, multi-limbed beast, its uncovered ribcage set aflame by a participant’s explosive bolt. Longterm followers will immediately recognise this foe because the Centipede Demon from the unique Darkish Souls, albeit with a major graphical facelift.

Only a few seconds earlier there’s a shot of a crawling spider that evokes the arachnid-infested areas of Darkish Souls 2. However the golden proof of Darkish Souls 2’s involvement may be present in a screenshot launched alongside the trailer, which straight up reveals that The Duke’s Pricey Freja, a colossal eight-legged nightmare, will make an look in Nightreign.

That’s a boss from every sport within the Darkish Souls trilogy, then. However there’s extra proof to counsel that it isn’t simply the enemies of FromSoft’s flagship sequence which have discovered their approach into Elden Ring. On the trailer’s mid-point we’re launched to a girl who wears an ornate steel face masks over her eyes and nostril – the unmistakable apparel of Darkish Souls 3’s Hearth Keeper. Now, I’ve to confess that this character’s voice doesn’t sound like an actual match to the unique character. However actors usually are not at all times accessible to reprise outdated roles, and – alongside all the opposite proof – it doesn’t appear a stretch to counsel our outdated Firelink Shrine companion could also be an enormous a part of Nightreign’s story.

Mechanical Mixup

Returning associates and foes are the apparent factor to get enthusiastic about, however there are smaller, doubtlessly extra impactful gameplay parts seen within the trailer that additionally level to one thing of an overlapping multiverse impact. Relatively than permitting you to create your personal character, Nightreign asks you to step into the sneakers of a pre-defined hero with their very own distinctive skillset. Of those revealed thus far, Duchess and Wylder are of essentially the most curiosity. Duchess’ exquisitely tailor-made outfit instantly brings Bloodborne to thoughts. Whereas I’m not but satisfied by fan theories that that is an alternate model of Woman Maria, I’m excited by her quickstep means, which replicates the dodge mechanic of FromSoft’s beloved Lovecraftian nightmare. Wylder, in the meantime, has entry to a grappling hook that replicates a few of the utility of Sekiro’s personal prosthetic instrument.

It’s laborious to say these parts are multiversal in the identical approach because the literal look of outdated bosses, nevertheless it’s fascinating nonetheless to see these parts bleed into Elden Ring. Afterall, the distinctive gameplay flavours of every FromSoft sport are as necessary because the bosses. Additional, non-character-specific mechanics embrace the flexibility to clamber up partitions akin to the hero of Sekrio, being carried by a spectral chook from one location to a different in a way much like the Large Crow trip in Darkish Souls, and what actually does appear to be a medieval fantasy model of Bloodborne’s Stake Driver connected to Wylder’s arm in the course of the battle in opposition to the Centipede Demon. As a long-time FromSoft fan, it’s laborious to not be enthusiastic about all this.

The Legislation of Lore

As with something FromSoftware creates, there’s a pure urgency to wish to understand how all the pieces suits into the lore. There’s solely a lot to know at this very early stage, however our personal interview with sport director Junya Ishizaki a minimum of offers us a place to begin for theories.

“We might like followers to consider Nightreign as an Elden Ring spin-off, at the start,” Ishizaki defined. “The story is totally separate and parallel to the world of Elden Ring’s. Should you needed to tie it not directly, we had the occasions of the shattering within the unique sport. After the occasions of the shattering, it is a utterly separate department of the Elden Ring story.”

So Nightreign is a separate timeline. Submit the shattering, something might have occurred on this model of Elden Ring’s historical past. However it doesn’t matter what type of story is written on this world’s personal warped historical past books, the tip result’s the reign of the Night time Lord – this new sport’s final foe.

Should you really feel such as you’ve heard that title earlier than, it’s in all probability since you’ve both learn loads of merchandise descriptions in Elden Ring or watched VaatiVidya’s lore video in regards to the Nox. Within the curiosity of time, listed below are your CliffsNotes: the Nox are the folks you encounter within the underground Everlasting Cities of Nokron and Nokstella, the place they – based on in-game descriptions – “reside beneath a false evening sky, in everlasting anticipation of their liege. Of the approaching age of the celebs. And their Lord of Night time.”

Lord of Night time. Night time Lord. May or not it’s that Elden Ring Nightreign depicts a timeline by which the age of stars has arrived and the Lord of Night time has risen? If that’s the case, the Nox are the keepers of the mimic tear – are the issues we see mimics of issues from different worlds?

A bit of extra theorycraft suggests an alternate choice. That submit on the Darkish Souls X feed spoke of “remnants of a fireplace that when burned vibrant.” That appears to be a reference to The First Flame, which could possibly be extinguished within the finale of Darkish Souls 3. Are the Centipede Demon, Duke’s Pricey Freja, and The Anonymous King “remnants” of The First Flame?

Whereas we’re having enjoyable, we all know that the extinguishing of The First Flame is only one of a number of endings to Darkish Souls 3 – endings that each one, theoretically talking, would produce their very own timeline. May or not it’s that this alternate timeline for Elden Ring, dominated over by the Lord of Night time, has merged with The Finish of Hearth timeline of Darkish Souls? Solely time will inform if the lore actually is so deep and thoroughly-plotted, and if this actually is the beginning of a FromSoft multiverse… or if Nightreign is simply FromSoftware letting free and having a little bit of enjoyable. My cash is on the latter.

Again in 2019, Elden Ring’s director Hidetaka Miyazaki mentioned that he was taken with making a battle royale sport. 5 years later we’ve an Elden Ring multiplayer roguelike that options what seems to be a shrinking circle of demise. However who might have guessed that, on the day FromSoft introduced a sport with battle royale parts, that the factor we’d be obsessing over was the return of a gargantuan bastard from Darkish Souls 3? One factor is obvious: you’ll be able to depend on FromSoft to constantly shock us.

Matt Purslow is IGN’s Senior Options Editor.