FromSoftware’s highly anticipated expansion, Elden Ring: Nightreign, has quickly become one of the most discussed upcoming releases in gaming. With a launch date set for May 30, 2025, the community is buzzing thanks to recent leaks, a closed network test, and Elden Ring Runes official reveals that showcase a game both rooted in familiar Soulsborne design and evolving with bold, roguelike innovations. Between returning bosses from the Dark Souls universe, a shift to hero-based gameplay, and dynamic world mechanics, Nightreign promises to reshape the Lands Between.

 

In this article, we break down everything we know so far—from gameplay leaks and confirmed mechanics to the playable heroes, bosses, and what’s planned for DLC and post-launch support.

 

The Leak That Sparked It All

Over the weekend, a low-resolution TikTok video went viral within the Elden Ring community. At first glance, it appeared to be footage from the recent Nightreign network test, but closer inspection revealed otherwise—brand-new bosses, HUD elements, and UI interactions that were absent in the official preview. The video showed legitimate gameplay from a more advanced version of the expansion, and Bandai Namco’s swift DMCA takedowns confirmed its authenticity.

 

According to the leaker—who claimed to be an alpha tester—only about 40% of the alpha’s content was present in the network test. Though the identity and source of the footage remain uncertain, Bandai Namco has launched an internal investigation. The leak, despite being shut down, gave fans a juicy preview of what lies ahead.

 

Returning Bosses From Dark Souls

The Souls legacy lives on in Nightreign, with fan-favorite (and feared) bosses returning in remixed forms:

 

Dancer of the Boreal Valley (Dark Souls 3): Recognizable for her graceful yet erratic movements, the Dancer appears in leaked footage as a night-exclusive boss. Her attack animations seem faster, with an emphasis on sudden lunge combos.

 

Gaping Dragon (Dark Souls 1): This grotesque behemoth has been updated with devastating acid attacks, capable of wiping out Spirit Summons instantly. In a game with faster movement and tighter mechanics, the Gaping Dragon appears far more dangerous.

 

Centipede Demon (Dark Souls 1): Revamped for Nightreign’s quicker combat flow, the Centipede Demon adds a chaotic dynamic to tight quarters.

 

Duke’s Dear Freja (Dark Souls 2): The spider matriarch returns with a swarm of arachnid minions, testing your AoE capability and positioning.

 

These returning titans are joined by Elden Ring favorites like Draconic Tree Sentinel and Morgit, the Fell Omen, who appears as a roaming mini-boss rather than a gatekeeper.

 

The Night Lords – Nightreign’s Ultimate Threats

The major bosses of Nightreign are a group known as the Night Lords—eight elite entities who dominate the game’s central challenge structure. Players can choose which Night Lord to battle from the reimagined Roundtable Hold, now a central hub for cooperative runs.

 

The standout so far is Triphos, a three-headed wolf wielding a chain-blade. He combines animalistic agility with massive weapon strikes, forcing players to manage both spacing and timing. His triple AI patterns make him deadly even in co-op.

 

Heroes – Fixed Classes with Hidden Stats

Elden Ring: Nightreign abandons its predecessor’s open-ended character creation in favor of eight predefined Heroes, each with specialized gear, abilities, and stat preferences. While this might feel like a departure, it gives FromSoftware tighter control over balance and encourages diverse co-op teams.

 

Heroes Available in the Network Test:

Wilder – A tanky bruiser with superior damage resistance and melee reliability.

 

Guardian – Defensive and durable, ideal for protecting allies.

 

Recluse – A spellcaster focused on long-range magical DPS.

 

Duchess – A high-risk, high-reward glass cannon with burst damage.

 

Leaked and Upcoming Heroes:

Spirit Summoner – Able to control up to three Spirit Summons simultaneously, ideal for crowd control and support.

 

Hunter – A trap-setting, bow-wielding Hero built for tactical ranged combat.

 

Ram-Horn Warrior – A brute-force melee Hero with a charge-heavy, axe-based playstyle.

 

Ninja-Inspired Hero – Fast and agile with counterattacks, likely focused on dexterity scaling.

 

Players are free to choose the same Hero in co-op sessions, allowing team compositions with duplicate roles or varied strategies.

 

Weapon Scaling, Status Effects, and Loot

While Heroes have fixed identities, weapons retain hidden stat scaling based on the classic Elden Ring attributes: Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, and Faith. Each Hero has a different unseen stat spread, subtly impacting weapon effectiveness.

 

Status Effects like Bleed and Frostbite are more potent than in the base game.

 

Boss weapons match elemental themes—Frost from Ancient Zamor, Blood from Sanguine Nobles.

 

Dragons drop high-tier loot, frequently purple or orange rarity, encouraging riskier hunts.

 

A new Perfect Block and Perfect Dodge system is in place, though full implementation and reward structures remain under wraps.

 

World Design: Procedural Generation and Replayability

Unlike Elden Ring, Nightreign introduces roguelike world generation, meaning maps change with each run:

 

Volcanoes can erupt in new locations.

 

Scarlet Rot Swamps spawn dynamically and now lack poison effects.

 

Evergaols offer challenge arenas but no loot.

 

Caves serve more as traversal options than treasure troves.

 

The randomized structure ensures that no two runs are identical, increasing replayability and unpredictability.

 

Multiplayer & Crossplay Support

Cross-platform multiplayer is fully supported, and Nightreign shifts away from traditional messages in favor of red corpses, which drop loot and offer clues about how other players died.

 

A ping system enables better communication in co-op, and effective teams often utilize pings for marking threats, loot, or objectives. Given the game’s roguelike elements, co-op runs with good synergy can mitigate bad RNG.

 

Roguelike Progression and RNG Balance

Each Nightreign session is heavily influenced by random drops, enemy placements, and loot scaling. While skilled players can muscle through tough scenarios, some runs may feel punishing due to poor item drops.

 

Good RNG may bless players with high-tier weapons early.

 

Bad RNG might place elite enemies in early areas or deny powerful loot.

 

FromSoftware seems to be leaning into the unpredictability, banking on replayability as a core hook.

 

Post-Launch DLC & Future Content

Surprisingly, Nightreign has confirmed post-launch DLC, already listed in the Deluxe and Collector’s Editions. According to Bandai Namco, this second expansion will feature new heroes, areas, and bosses—but development will not begin until Nightreign officially releases. This approach allows developers to adjust content based on community feedback and balance data.

 

Release for DLC 2 is expected in late 2025 or early 2026.

 

When is Nightreign Releasing?

Elden Ring: Nightreign will officially release on May 30, 2025. The release date was confirmed after a trademark filed on October 24, 2024, and later revealed during The Game Awards 2024 in December.

 

With less than two months to go, fans can look forward to more previews, balance patches, and potentially one more closed test before launch.

 

Final Thoughts

Nightreign is shaping up to be a bold evolution of Elden Ring—blending roguelike unpredictability with the intense combat, world design, and cryptic lore FromSoftware is known for. With eight distinct Heroes, returning and remixed bosses, procedural world elements, and a strong co-op foundation, the expansion could redefine the Soulslike genre once again.

 

Whether you're a solo masochist or a squad-based adventurer, Nightreign offers something truly unique. Now all that remains is to 
Elden Ring Items buy survive the night.