For more than a decade, FromSoftware has been renowned for pioneering the Soulslike combat formula, but Elden Ring: Nightreign could be a sign that something is about to change. As the studio moves away from being associated with only one type of game, despite the huge success of some of the best games like Dark Souls, there is a chance that it may be adopting multiplayer experiences as a new focus going forward.

Following on the heels of Armored Core 6 and Shadow of the Erdtree, Elden Ring: Nightreign marks the third genre departure in as many years. Whilst it has striven for mechanical diversity in its Soulslike titles, FromSoftware’s releases have been mostly predictable until it revived the mech combat franchise it used to be known for.

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FromSoftware’s Diversifying Game Design Is Good for the Studio

Nightreign is the first game in FromSoftware’s catalog that puts multiplayer front and center. Many fans have often pondered what could be done with a Soulslike formula for a multiplayer environment, with some going as far as making mods like seamless co-op for Elden Ring to specifically enhance this aspect. It is a welcome surprise then that Nightreign takes such a bold step toward embracing a cooperative-first design philosophy, and one that will surely have its competitors taking notes.

But where Nightreign is a spin-off of Elden Ring, Armored Core 6 could not be more different. Before the studio even took on the mastermind of the Soulslike genre, Hidetaka Miyazaki, it was deep into the mech-based combat of Armored Core. As it has brought the series out of its long slumber to much acclaim, FromSoftware has found itself with three distinct pillars to build upon: Soulslike action-adventure, Armored Core mechs, and Nightreign-style multiplayer.

The clearest sign that the studio is branching out, though, comes from Miyazaki himself, who said FromSoftware was not making a sequel to Elden Ring. As the genre was FromSoftware’s bread and butter, the news is certainly surprising, but if it’s really planning on leaving the formula to rest for a while, that may not be such a bad thing. Given the revolutionary shift that the Souls series made to third-person action RPGs, redirecting those efforts might mean different genres benefit from the studio’s expertise.

Nightreign isn’t exactly a Soulslike anymore – and that may be exactly what is needed right now. By blending Soulslikes and Roguelikes, with a sprinkling of Battle Royale, Nightreign has its own distinct identity. FromSoftware should focus on creating more of these different experiences going forward, if not even let other studios take up the Soulslike mantle.

How Nightreign Can Forever Change a Crowded Co-op Market

The network test revealed that Nightreign is changing the formula. Players are encouraged to be fast and precise, reinterpreting the try-and-try-again difficulty format the studio is known for as new runs, akin to a Roguelike. Those who got to experience the test remarked how engaging this new style is, and knowing FromSoftware’s knack for finding a good gameplay loop, it’s certain to make other developers sit up and take notice.

If Nightreign gets support for many years to come, it is possible that it may even have a similar impression as the Souls series. It’s hard to tell if this will spawn a “Nightreignlike” sub-genre, most likely not, but there could be some conspicuous new trends emerging if it is a long-term hit.

There are a lot of highly successful co-op games being actively supported at the moment, and many of those were instant disruptors, like the breakout success of Helldivers 2. If Nightreign could just match this success, it would already be a good way to break into the co-op scene, but with the Elden Ring IP and FromSoftware’s name on the box, it may well grow big.

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