Elden Ring Nightreign: No In-Game Messages, But Enhanced Asynchronous Features
Elden Ring Nightreign, the upcoming FromSoftware title, will notably omit a key feature of its predecessor: the in-game messaging system. This decision, confirmed by game director Junya Ishizaki in a January 3rd interview with IGN Japan, is attributed to the game's design prioritizing shorter, more intense gameplay sessions.
FromSoftware's signature asynchronous messaging system, a cornerstone of the Soulsborne experience, allows players to leave messages for one another, offering assistance, playful misdirection, or shared commentary. However, Ishizaki explained that Nightreign's anticipated shorter play sessions (approximately 40 minutes each) wouldn't provide sufficient time for players to effectively utilize this feature. The focus shifts to a faster-paced, streamlined experience.
This omission doesn't signify a complete removal of asynchronous gameplay elements. Instead, FromSoftware plans to enhance existing features. The bloodstain mechanic, for example, will return, providing players with even more information about their peers' deaths and allowing for ghost looting.
A "Compressed" RPG Experience
The absence of the messaging system aligns with FromSoftware's vision for Nightreign as a more focused, multiplayer-centric experience. The game's planned three-day structure further reinforces this goal. Ishizaki described the ambition as creating "a compressed RPG," packed with diverse content and minimal downtime.
While the game's 2025 release window was confirmed during its TGA 2024 reveal, a precise launch date remains unannounced.
