**Elden Ring: Nightreign** has experienced a meteoric rise on Steam, with over 313,000 players online at the same time. However, despite the surge in player numbers, the sentiment in user reviews is unexpectedly muted: Only 67 percent of Steam reviews are favorable, marking a significant concern for From Software – but in a negative light. What are the issues at play?
## The primary criticisms from the Steam community
### No duo co-op
**Perhaps the most talked-about issue:** Nightreign allows players to engage solo or in groups of three, but not in pairs. Hence, if you have just one friend to join you, you either face a random third player in battle or opt not to play at all. Many players are eager for a traditional duo mode, which is currently unavailable.
### Insufficient communication features
**If you aren’t teaming up with a dedicated group of three, you’ll quickly hit a wall:** There is no text or voice chat functionality. This limitation complicates coordination with random teammates – sharing items, strategizing, or swiftly responding to threats? No possibility! Numerous players express dissatisfaction, feeling the game is significantly hindered without external voice communication tools like Discord.
### Subpar technology
The game also faces considerable technical issues:
– It is capped at 60 FPS – a dealbreaker for many high-end PC gamers in 2025.
– Complete absence of ultrawide support frustrates users with widescreen monitors.
– Mouse and keyboard controls are described as inaccurate and awkward. Using a controller is almost essential.
– Cross-platform play is also nonexistent.
### Numerous comparisons to the original game
Many fans would have preferred a traditional DLC akin to Shadow of the Erdtree. Nightreign is sometimes regarded as too simplistic or “not enough like souls,” and for some, it resembles a low-quality spin-off rather than a comprehensive From Software title.
Despite the feedback, Nightreign remains a commercial success – the player statistics speak volumes. A lot of players commend the innovative co-op system and the blend of roguelike and soulslike features, particularly when enjoyed with two friends. Nevertheless, the various shortcomings diminish the enjoyment for many, even if they find the new concept intriguing.