This weekend’s Elden Ring Nightreign network test has sparked a flurry of activity, albeit with a few hiccups along the way. While PC players like myself find ourselves on the sidelines, the excitement remains palpable. Armed with a bucket of popcorn, I couldn’t resist the urge to install the game on my PlayStation 5, eager to dive into the action. However, my enthusiasm was met with disappointment as I faced connectivity issues during the initial three-hour session.
Network Test Structure and Challenges
The Nightreign network test adopts a rather unconventional format. Rather than a continuous 48-hour testing window typical of many games, it features a series of three-hour sessions scattered across the coming weeks, concluding on February 17. The first session wrapped up at 6 AM PST / 9 AM EST / 2 PM GMT, but it seems that many players struggled to access the game.
FromSoftware’s player support took to Twitter to address the high traffic on the game servers, which hindered matchmaking efforts. Shortly thereafter, they acknowledged a malfunction, stating, “Currently, there is a malfunction on the Elden Ring Nightreign game server. We will restart the server to restore service.” This restart occurred approximately 40 minutes later, yet many players, including myself, found little improvement in connectivity.
During my attempts between 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM UK time, I managed to reach the hub but was unable to enter a match, repeatedly being sent back to the title screen. Frustrated, I ultimately conceded defeat just before 2 PM, retreating to my desktop with a sense of loss.
Mixed Experiences Among Players
Despite the challenges, not all players were left in the lurch. A handful of Reddit users shared their success stories, detailing how they navigated through matchmaking and engaged with the network test’s formidable bosses. However, for the majority, the experience was less than ideal.
In a final note as the first session concluded, FromSoftware issued an apology for the server issues, indicating plans to potentially rerun the test. “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused to all players due to the game server issues,” the post stated. “Today’s network test will end at 23:00 [Japan time] as scheduled, and we will proceed with improvement work. We are considering holding an additional test for today’s session. Your understanding and cooperation would be greatly appreciated.”
Looking Ahead
This situation presents a challenge for both players and developers alike. While the desire to participate in the network test is strong, it’s clear that FromSoftware is grappling with its own set of difficulties. As for me, the next session is scheduled for 3 AM in the UK, but I plan to wait until tomorrow’s 7 PM session for another attempt. With any luck, FromSoftware will stabilize the servers, and I can look forward to a smoother experience. Meanwhile, I hope that PlayStation and Xbox users can help iron out the kinks, paving the way for a more seamless transition when the network test eventually reaches PC players.
