Elden Ring Nightreign has sold 3.5 million copies in five days, with its Steam user review rating shifting from 'mixed' to 'mostly positive.'

Elden Ring achieved massive success, selling 30 million copies since its 2022 release, but Nightreign is unlikely to match that milestone. For comparison, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion sold 5 million copies in three days in 2024.

FromSoftware’s multiplayer spin-off hit 2 million sales on launch day but faced a 'mixed' rating on Steam.

Initial criticism focused on Nightreign’s punishing solo mode, absence of duo co-op, lack of voice chat, and dated mechanics. The challenge of assembling a coordinated three-player team remains a core part of the Elden Ring Nightreign experience.

As noted in IGN's Elden Ring Nightreign review: "Here’s the key point: if you’re aiming to play Nightreign solo and aren’t a hardcore Elden Ring fan who thrives on extreme challenges, this game isn’t for you. While a single-player mode exists, it’s so unbalanced that it’s likely to see patches within the first month. And this comes from someone who lives for these games."

On Monday, FromSoftware rolled out a patch to ease solo gameplay, and despite matchmaking issues over the weekend, player sentiment has improved.

Last week, producer Yasuhiro Kitao shared on social media about Nightreign’s early sales success, expressing gratitude to players for embracing the game despite its unique quirks.

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“Nightreign has distinctive design elements that set it apart from our recent titles,” Kitao said. “Yet, so many of you have boldly ventured into this world, and we’re deeply thankful for that.

“Like Demon's Souls or Sekiro, it may feel daunting at first, but Nightreign delivers its own unique challenges and rewards. Once you push past the initial difficulty, you’ll find a distinct sense of achievement.

“We hope you find it rewarding.”

What’s next? FromSoftware announced that alongside a DLC release later this year, new features will be “gradually introduced,” including enhanced battles against existing Nightlords starting this month (June) and Duo Expeditions later on.

The inclusion of duo co-op will address player concerns about its absence at launch. Elden Ring Nightreign places players in the dynamic lands of Limveld, where they explore and fight for survival either solo or in groups of three, with no option for two-player co-op.

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In IGN's interview with Elden Ring Nightreign director Junya Ishizaki, the lead developer explained the focus on solo and trio gameplay as the core experience. When asked about the lack of a two-player co-op option, Ishizaki admitted it was an oversight.

“The straightforward answer is that we overlooked a two-player option during development, and we’re truly sorry for that,” Ishizaki said. “Our goal was to create a multiplayer co-op game balanced for three players, which is the heart of Nightreign.

“As a player myself, I understand the desire to play solo at times, so we worked hard to make that experience viable within the game’s systems and rules,” Ishizaki added.

“In focusing on that, we neglected the duo aspect, but we’re exploring it for post-launch updates.”

This means players pairing with a single partner must accept a random third player. Trios remain the foundation of Elden Ring Nightreign’s design.

Check out our Nightreign tips and tricks to defeat all eight Nightlord Bosses. If you’re wondering how to unlock the two exclusive Nightfarer Classes, see How to Unlock the Revenant and How to Unlock the Duchess, plus How to Change Characters.