Elden Ring: Nightreign Faces a Darker Dawn as Players Await Long-Awaited DLC

Elden Ring: Nightreign, the dark and spiritual sequel to FromSoftware's genre-defining epic, is at an interesting point in its development. Sources say that the game's Steam player base has dropped below 30,000 active users for the first time. This is a surprising drop for a game that used to be at the top of the action-RPG charts.

Nightreign is currently in a state of quiet unease, with fans asking one burning question: Where is the promised DLC? This is despite the strong combat mechanics and hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that defined its launch. Nightreign changed things up when it first came out by adding fast-paced combat, multiple playable heroes, and a grappling hook that gave FromSoftware's otherwise grounded formula a vertical twist.

Players were eager to face the game's scary Nightlords and creepy dreamscapes. But as the months went by, that initial excitement started to wear off. The most recent update, "Deep of Night," introduced a new challenge mode and a new relic system. Still, it didn't deliver the big expansion fans were hoping for.

The Deep of Night added an endless descent-style mode where you could test your endurance by fighting through layers of enemies that got harder and harder. It was free, so it was worth a shot, but a lot of people just didn't get into it. Players quickly realized that the rewards didn't seem worth it, even though the game got harder, according to sources.   

It was hard to feel like you were getting better because you couldn't use the relics you got outside of the mode. After the initial excitement wore off, a lot of people started to think, "Why keep grinding if there's nothing new to show for it?"

The community is also worried about Nightreign's relic system, which relies a lot on RNG. The color, effect, and drawback of each relic are chosen at random, so players may get combinations that aren't very good. The Deep of Night update adds even more randomness, which is why fans are getting impatient. The mode was a never-ending cycle of anger. It was free, but it didn't satisfy. Without the reward structure to back it up, the magic that made the game's combat loop so addictive began to fade.

Another problem that players have brought up is the lack of cosmetic or collectible rewards - something even purists agree could have kept them interested.

Imagine running through endless dark gauntlets and coming out with nothing new to show off. A lot of people think that FromSoftware could have learned from other live-service games by adding unlockable skins, emotes, or armor sets based on previous Souls games. Nightreign hasn't used that nostalgia to reward its most dedicated warriors, even though it has a lot of visual history to draw on.

What could be a better reason to show off a hard-earned look from Bloodborne or Dark Souls on your next night hunt?

The lack of new content has led to a decline in the number of players. Even though it's on sale for $40, fans still want more because there haven't been any big updates. The sources indicate that the community's only hope at present is the mysterious "upcoming DLC" that was hinted at earlier this year. Developers had hinted that a "meaningful expansion" would be released before the end of 2025. Still, with only two months left in the year, the silence is growing louder.

FromSoftware is known for being unpredictable, though. People call them "ninja updates," and the studio is known for putting them out without warning. A lot of people are guessing that the long-awaited DLC might be announced at The Game Awards later this year. FromSoftware has used this stage before to make big announcements.

What do you think the crowd would do if a trailer suddenly appeared and said, "Available now"? It's the kind of brave move that could quickly bring Nightreign's fire back to life.

People have very high hopes for what the DLC might include. Fans want at least one or two new playable heroes, or "Nightfares," each with their own unique skills and movement abilities that make combat more tactical. Some people want new Nightlords with their own boss arenas and complicated fight mechanics. Many people also want to see the return of weapons and spells from Shadow of the Erdtree and earlier Souls games that fans loved.

These could easily fit into Nightreign's dark world, providing players with more opportunities to try out different builds.

And then there's the issue of the map. Veterans know every hallway and battlefield by heart after months of exploring familiar areas. A new map or area, even one made up of old assets, could make exploration fun again. Some insiders have hinted that a "new layer of the dream" could show up in the next expansion. This could mean that the setting will change to include nightmares and the surreal beauty that is typical of FromSoftware's style.

Of course, you could also just add more weapons and relics from other FromSoftware games. The company has a huge back catalog of famous gear, so adding these wouldn't mean starting from scratch. Imagine using the Moonlight Greatsword again, but this time in Nightreign's creepy dreamscapes. Fans would love this kind of callback right away.

Although things are slow right now, Nightreign's core remains strong. The combat system is flexible, and there are a lot of characters to choose from. These are still some of FromSoftware's best works. Fans still believe; they're just waiting for something new to get excited about. A little creativity, a little danger, or even just the promise of more fights could be enough to get them to come back. 

As the year comes to an end, the question hangs in the air like fog over the ruins: will FromSoftware release the big DLC before 2025 ends, or will the night last a little longer? Regardless, you need to be prepared when the next update is released. Will you still be there to face the dark when the lights flicker and the shadows move again in Nightreign?