Summary
For more than a decade, FromSoftware has been renowned for pioneering the Soulslike combat formula, butElden Ring: Nightreigncould 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 thebest games likeDark Souls, there is a chance that it may be adopting multiplayer experiences as a new focus going forward.
Following on the heels ofArmored Core 6andShadow of the Erdtree,Elden Ring: Nightreignmarks 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.
FromSoftware’s Diversifying Game Design Is Good for the Studio
Nightreignis 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 likeseamless co-op forElden Ringto specifically enhance this aspect. It is a welcome surprise then thatNightreigntakes such a bold step toward embracing a cooperative-first design philosophy, and one that will surely have its competitors taking notes.
But whereNightreignis a spin-off ofElden Ring,Armored Core 6could not be more different. Before the studio even took on the mastermind of the Soulslike genre, Hidetaka Miyazaki, it was deep into themech-based combat ofArmored 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 Coremechs, andNightreign-stylemultiplayer.
The clearest sign that the studio is branching out, though, comes from Miyazaki himself, who saidFromSoftware was not making a sequel toElden 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 theSoulsseries made to third-person action RPGs, redirecting those efforts might mean different genres benefit from the studio’s expertise.
Nightreignisn’t exactly a Soulslikeanymore - and that may be exactly what is needed right now. By blending Soulslikes and Roguelikes, with a sprinkling of Battle Royale,Nightreignhas 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 thatNightreignis 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.
IfNightreigngets support for many years to come, it is possible that it may even have a similar impression as theSoulsseries. 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 ofhighly successful co-op gamesbeing actively supported at the moment, and many of those were instant disruptors, like the breakout success ofHelldivers 2. If Nightreign could just match this success, it would already be a good way to break into the co-op scene, but with theElden RingIP and FromSoftware’s name on the box, it may well grow big.
