Even with its multiplayer focus, From Software doesn't look at the newly revealed Elden Ring: Nightreign as a live-service game. The developer wants the co-op action-RPG to be "a complete package out of the box," and publisher Bandai Namco will price the package similarly to Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.

PC Gamer spoke with Elden Ring: Nightreign director Junya Ishizaki about whether the multiplayer-centric survival game might borrow live-service mechanics, but that doesn't appear to be the case. "With Nightreign, we wanted to have a game that felt like a complete package out of the box on the day of purchase, so everything is unlockable, everything is contained with that purchase," Ishizaki said. "It's not what we'd consider a live-service game."

Speaking of purchasing Elden Ring: Nightreign, PC Gamer added that Bandai Namco noted the standalone experience will cost roughly the same as the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. That was priced at $40 at launch instead of the typical $60 to $70 for full games these days.

Elden Ring: Nightreign was announced at The Game Awards last night and will be set in the ever-changing location called Limveld. Players will pick from eight different characters before embarking on a perilous adventure by themselves or in a group of three where they try to survive "a three-day-and-night cycle" to ultimately take down the Nightlord.

Described as a "condensed action-RPG" by Bandai Namco, Elden Ring: Nightreign seems to lean into roguelike mechanics with unique runs and relics that carry over with each attempt in Limveld. It's planned to release in 2025.