Elden Ring Nightreign is set to introduce players to the ever-changing lands of Limveld, where survival hinges on your skills and teamwork. Whether you prefer to go it alone or team up with a group, the game accommodates both solo adventurers and teams of three as its core multiplayer structure. However, if you're planning to play in pairs, be prepared to welcome an additional player into your squad.

During an interview with IGN, Junya Ishizaki, director of Elden Ring Nightreign, explained why the game focuses primarily on solo and trio-based gameplay experiences. When questioned about the lack of an exclusive duo option, Ishizaki acknowledged that it was an oversight during development.

"The simple answer is that this is simply something that was overlooked during development as just a two-player option, so we're very sorry about that,"

Ishizaki said. "As we've stated before, our goal was to design this as a co-op multiplayer experience centered around three players—balanced for three players. That was our primary focus throughout development."

He went on to express understanding from a player's perspective, noting that many enjoy playing solo at times. Because of that, the team worked hard to ensure that the mechanics and systems in Nightreign support solo play effectively. Unfortunately, that effort meant less attention was given to the possibility of two-player sessions.

"This is something that we are looking at and considering for post-launch support,"

Ishizaki added, offering hope that duo support might arrive after release.

If you’re diving in with a partner-in-arms, be ready to accept a third, randomly matched player into your group. While it may seem inconvenient at first, you could end up playing alongside someone who significantly boosts your chances of survival.

For solo players, Ishizaki confirmed that enemy difficulty and encounter parameters dynamically adjust based on the number of players in a session. This means that lone explorers shouldn’t feel completely overwhelmed by the challenges ahead. The game includes self-revive mechanics specifically designed for those flying solo, helping maintain a fair but intense experience.

On the flip side, trios appear to be the optimal way to experience Elden Ring Nightreign, as the game was built with that structure in mind. With more hands on deck, taking down some of the brutal bosses should be slightly more manageable—even if duos aren't fully supported just yet.

Elden Ring Nightreign releases on May 30, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X/S, bringing fresh combat, exploration, and cooperative challenges to fans of the franchise.