Elden Ring Nightreign leads say FromSoftware is bracing servers for launch and working to “improve our multiplayer game” – “In the worst case, we want players to be able to keep playing”

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For more than a decade, games from FromSoftware have included multiplayer elements, but Elden Ring: Nightreign places cooperative gameplay at the forefront like never before. Players appreciate FromSoft’s unique take on multiplayer, but there has often been some lag in their games. As we draw closer to the release of Nightreign on May 29th, I was curious to find out from director Junya Ishizaki and producer Yasuhiro Kitao how FromSoft has strengthened its multiplayer capabilities to adapt to this increased emphasis, particularly considering that the servers are expected to be heavily trafficked at launch.

Ishizaki replies through an interpreter, indicating that they’re examining certain aspects of the game’s infrastructure and network systems once more since Nightreign is primarily designed for multiple players.

Ishizaki mentioned one aspect needing attention: ensuring each session lasts approximately 30-40 minutes and the infrastructure can handle it effectively. He also emphasized the importance of implementing safety precautions in this setup.

In the most challenging scenarios, we aim to ensure that gamers can continue their gameplay, despite any connectivity issues. We don’t want them abruptly kicked out. Instead, our goal is to enable them to persist in their personal gaming universe, allowing for reconnection when possible. Additionally, we’re focusing on developing a more dynamic matchmaking system, moving beyond the password method used in our earlier games. We’re exploring ways that players can link and automatically be matched based on their progress and available resources.

In the realm of multiplayer games, certain elements are often overlooked or assumed. We aim to include as many of these aspects as we can and enhance our multiplayer experience by improving them.

It seems Ishizaki anticipated my question by pointing out potential difficulties: what if we consider the extreme scenarios? Developers have consistently shared that online games often face challenges at launch due to limited preparation capabilities. So, how does FromSoftware plan for both ideal and challenging outcomes on the game’s release day?

When I posed this query, Ishizaki found it amusing, as his response suggested.

Kitao also added his thoughts: “We usually examine past game titles, their online user engagement and retention rates. We’re checking the pre-orders for Nightreign, and the network test results were useful too. Overall, we have numerous indicators to estimate fairly well where we stand at launch. We’re monitoring closely to ensure that we can deliver a reliable and enjoyable gaming experience at launch.

Godspeed, FromServers.

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2025-05-27 19:09