Elden Ring Nightreign Should Only Be The First to Revive an Industry Trend

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It’s not uncommon for fans to eagerly anticipate new games from FromSoftware, but Elden Ring Nightreign seems to be generating an exceptional amount of buzz due to its innovative twist on the traditional soulslike genre. FromSoftware is venturing into uncharted territory with this project, utilizing their knack for cooperative gameplay elements to create a full-length, standalone game that could potentially break new ground compared to their previous releases.

It was revealed that Elden Ring Nightreign emerged only a few weeks subsequent to Hidetaka Miyazaki stating no intentions for Elden Ring 2, however, it turns out FromSoftware wasn’t actually ruling out the development of the intellectual property—a significant understatement indeed.

Indeed, multiplayer games, particularly those with a cooperative and high production value (AAA), are quite common in today’s gaming market. Titles like Destiny 2, Warframe, and Fortnite show us that even a multiplayer-only, always online game can become incredibly popular, and the fact that many of these games are free to play makes them more accessible to a larger audience. Some might question if Elden Ring Nightreign will struggle due to its approximately $40 price tag when compared to its free competitors. However, it’s unlikely that this will be an issue.

Elden Ring Nightreign Should Mark the Return of Fully-Priced, Microtransaction-Free Multiplayer Games

Multiplayer Gaming Was a Different Beast Before Live-Service Trends, and Nightreign Could Awaken This Beast

It’s challenging to envision the gaming industry outside its current state, dominated by games-as-a-service and microtransactions. This might be more noticeable for newer gamers who have mainly experienced titles like Fortnite and Warzone shaping their online multiplayer worlds. However, it’s important to remember that the gaming landscape has evolved significantly over time.

Originally, multiplayer modes in single-player games were considered attractive features rather than continuous revenue streams. For instance, spending $60 on Halo 3 in 2007 gave you access to the entire multiplayer mode, including everything that could be unlocked from the start. Additional content like map packs was available for purchase, but they resembled small-scale DLC rather than today’s microtransactions. The multiplayer aspects of franchises such as Uncharted, Assassin’s Creed, BioShock, and even the first Red Dead Redemption were similar in this regard. Notably, the initial online mode for Red Dead Redemption was free from in-game currency, battle passes, and other modern monetization strategies, offering only a limited selection of substantial DLC instead.

In games such as “Left 4 Dead” or “Castle Crashers,” where multiplayer is central to their design, online play was primarily utilized as a means to draw in players rather than as a tool for in-game purchases. These games were sold at a one-time price and may have offered occasional downloadable content (DLC), but the presentation of such additional content was significantly different from what’s common today.

Elden Ring Nightreign Is a Full Game

In an age dominated by excessive monetization, the game Nightreign is making a distinctive mark by not adopting the live-service model and eschewing microtransactions, as affirmed by director Junya Ishizaki in an interview with IGN. Instead, all gear, upgrades, areas, and other items that can be unlocked will solely be obtained within the game itself. There won’t be any XP boosters or cosmetic items available for purchase, which may seem like helpful options for players. However, it’s important to note that while there might be Downloadable Content (DLC) released in the future, Nightreign will not be exploiting its users by charging small fees for additional content.

Instead of being free to play, some games require an upfront payment to access them. While this might seem like a disadvantage in today’s gaming landscape, it is important to remember that calling these games “free” when they still require significant investment to fully enjoy isn’t accurate. These games offer free entry, but not necessarily free access to all their content. In essence, the developers of Elden Ring Nightreign are following a trend from sixth- and seventh-generation multiplayer gaming by charging a full price for a complete product, setting an example that other studios should emulate.

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2025-01-07 20:34