I’m Not Saying FromSoft Lied, but If Elden Ring Nightreign Isn’t a Live Service, What Is?

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The game titled “Elden Ring Nightreign” has burst onto the cooperative gaming scene, leaving it in pieces like a misjudged block. It delivers everything I anticipated: harsh, demanding, mysterious, and now, even more enjoyable due to the shared experience of watching my friend being wiped out right beside me.

This game delivers the classic hardship that FromSoftware is known for, and now we share our struggles. That’s one of the reasons I fell in love with it since the beginning. However, after the latest update introducing weekly boss rotations, I find myself wondering: if this changing weekly content isn’t part of a live service model, then what exactly does it represent?

FromSoft told me this wasn’t a live service, but the game is saying otherwise





Before Nightreign was officially released, I recall reading the interviews (through Wccftech). FromSoftware stated that this game would not be a live service title. Instead, they guaranteed that it would come as a complete package, without any battle pass or drip-fed content hidden behind paywalls.

I appreciated this because when I purchased it, I knew I’d have access to the entire game without any restrictions. Mostly everything could be unlocked through gameplay, and they kept their word on that. Not once was I prompted to buy additional skins or currency packs. That’s fantastic!

Or:

I really enjoyed this purchase because it offered full access to the entire game with no hidden restrictions. The majority of content could be unlocked through regular gameplay, and they followed through on that commitment. What’s more, I never received any requests to buy extra skins or currency packs – which is terrific!

However, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about live service games. It’s not just about microtransactions (although for some companies like EA, it might seem that way). These games are characterized by their design to keep players engaged over extended periods, typically through regular updates, rotating content, and dynamic changes.

All of a sudden, Nightreign is living up to its name. The formidable Everdark Sovereigns are making regular appearances: these are harder, more ruthless iterations of bosses I’ve previously faced challenges with. If I don’t act swiftly within the designated timeframe, I end up missing out on the battle.

In simpler terms, they plan to bring things back after a few weeks (if all goes well), but it’s not just about helping out post-launch. Instead, it seems like a pre-planned system intended to draw me back at regular intervals, even if it doesn’t ask for payment, it still expects my presence. To me, this is reminiscent of a live service.

There’s no cash grab, but it’s still built like a Live Service game

Let me clarify: I’m quite content that Nightreign lacks a battle pass and an array of luminescent horse armor for sale. I appreciate not having to grind for it, especially since everything I acquire is solely through gameplay. I thought there were no daily or weekly tasks to complete… Seems I was mistaken, as there is indeed a weekly task now.

To battle the upgraded form of Nightlord, it must be done within a week’s time. If not, the boss will temporarily disappear, reappearing again after a few weeks. This design gives the game a sense of being structured like a live service.

The landscape is constantly changing, the challenges are ever-evolving, and opponents keep switching – even a short break can cause me to miss significant events. This wasn’t the arrangement I initially agreed upon. Now, this new setup demands that I organize my entire week around boss schedules.

If these bosses were perpetual, meaning if I conquer the Nightlord, when I face the same foe again, it would be an upgraded version and reciprocally. These temporary bosses instill a similar tension I’ve experienced in other live-service games, despite there being no additional cost involved.

I’m not accusing FromSoft of dishonesty, but I truly believe they were sincere when they stated this isn’t a live service game. However, experiencing it day by day, it seems more like a live service game to me.

Perhaps not the manipulative type, yet clearly structured for regular updates and fear-of-missing-out (FOMO). I merely wished they had been transparent from the beginning that although Nightreign might not generate revenue through a live service model, it’s still constructed in a similar manner.

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2025-06-20 15:03