Fans of Elden Ring are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Nightreign, a new content expansion set to plunge players back into the unforgiving Lands Between.
Bandai Namco and FromSoftware have officially confirmed the precise global release times for this highly anticipated update. This means players worldwide can now mark their calendars and prepare for their next challenging adventure. Nightreign will be available across multiple platforms, including PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S.
Global Release Schedule: When Can You Play?
The official launch date for Elden Ring Nightreign is set for May 30, 2025, at midnight EDT. However, due to time zone differences, some regions will gain access slightly earlier, particularly for PC players.
Console vs. PC Launch Times
There’s a notable difference in release times between PC and console versions in most regions. PC players will generally get a head start. For example, on the U.S. East Coast, PC players can dive into Nightreign at 6 PM on May 29, while console owners will need to wait until midnight on May 30. West Coast players in the Pacific time zone are even luckier, with console access beginning at 9 PM on May 29.
Pre-Loading Available
To ensure players can jump into the action immediately upon release, Bandai Namco has confirmed that pre-load options are available. Players can download Nightreign 48 hours prior to the official launch time on PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam. This allows for a seamless transition into the new content without any waiting for downloads.
Multiplayer Focus: Solo or Trio?
In an interview with IGN, Elden Ring Nightreign director Junya Ishizaki discussed the design philosophy behind the expansion’s core experience options. He confirmed that Nightreign is primarily designed around solos and trios.
The Absence of Duos
When asked why there isn’t an option for just two players to co-op without a matchmade third, Ishizaki admitted 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 stated. He emphasized that the primary focus was on creating a balanced multiplayer co-op experience for three players, as this was “at the core of Nightreign.”
Solo Play Considerations
Ishizaki acknowledged that he, as a player, understands the desire for solo play. He assured fans that significant effort went into making Nightreign playable for solo adventurers. The developers focused on tailoring rules and new systems to accommodate a solo experience. However, this intense focus on both solo and trio play inadvertently led to neglecting a dedicated duos option.
Post-Launch Duo Support Under Consideration
Despite the current omission, Ishizaki confirmed that a duos option is “something that we are looking at and considering for post-launch support.” This offers hope for pairs of players who prefer to tackle the challenges together without an additional matchmade partner. For now, if you’re playing with just one partner, be prepared to accept a random third player into your party.
Who knows? You might just team up with someone exceptionally skilled.
Detailed Global Release Times
Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the global release times for Elden Ring Nightreign across various time zones and platforms:
Thursday, May 29, 2025
PDT (Pacific Daylight Time):
- Console: 9 PM
- PC: 3 PM
CDT (Central Daylight Time):
- Console: 11 PM
- PC: 5 PM
COT (Colombia Time):
- Console: 11 PM
- PC: 5 PM
Friday, May 30, 2025
EST (Eastern Standard Time):
- Console: 12 AM (Midnight)
- PC: 6 PM (prior day, May 29)
BRT (BrasÃlia Time):
- Console: 1 AM
- PC: 7 PM (prior day, May 29)
BST (British Summer Time):
- Console: 12 AM (Midnight)
- PC: 11 PM (prior day, May 29)
CEST (Central European Summer Time):
- Console: 12 AM (Midnight)
- PC: 12 AM (Midnight, May 30)
EEST (Eastern European Summer Time):
- Console: 12 AM (Midnight)
- PC: 1 AM
SAST (South African Standard Time):
- Console: 12 AM (Midnight)
- PC: 12 PM (Noon, May 29)
MSK (Moscow Standard Time):
- Console: 12 AM (Midnight)
- PC: 1 AM
ADT (Atlantic Daylight Time):
- Console: 12 AM (Midnight)
- PC: 6 PM (prior day, May 29)
GST (Gulf Standard Time):
- Console: 12 AM (Midnight)
- PC: 2 AM
SGT (Singapore Time):
- Console: 12 AM (Midnight)
- PC: 6 AM
UTC+7:
- Console: 12 AM (Midnight)
- PC: 6 PM (prior day, May 29)
UTC+8:
- Console: 12 AM (Midnight)
- PC: 6 PM (prior day, May 29)
KST (Korean Standard Time):
- Console: 12 AM (Midnight)
- PC: 6 PM (prior day, May 29)
JST (Japan Standard Time):
- Console: 12 AM (Midnight)
- PC: 7 AM
AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time):
- Console: 12 AM (Midnight)
- PC: 8 AM
NZST (New Zealand Standard Time):
- Console: 12 AM (Midnight)
- PC: 10 AM
Prepare your builds, Tarnished, as Nightreign is almost here!