FromSoftware has unveiled its latest venture, Elden Ring Nightreign, a co-op roguelike spin-off that expands upon the acclaimed universe of Elden Ring. Now available on Windows PC and Steam, with console releases imminent, the game has already garnered attention for its ambitious design. Despite the day-one patch notes cautioning players about potential framerate drops on high-end graphics cards, my experience over the past two weeks has been largely positive, with smooth gameplay and minimal issues.
While I acknowledge the limitation of a 60 FPS cap—consistent with its predecessor—I found the overall performance to be satisfactory, even if occasional stutters did occur. This experience has certainly surpassed my initial encounters with the mainline game during its launch in 2022.
Ultrawide Disappointment
However, a notable frustration persists: the absence of ultrawide support. As a fan of the Dark Souls series, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and the original Elden Ring, I had hoped for this feature to be included, especially after its successful implementation in 2023’s Armored Core 6. Yet, here we are again, facing the same letdown.
While it’s true that the majority of PC gamers may not prioritize ultrawide displays, there remains a dedicated segment that does. The reasoning behind FromSoftware’s reluctance to offer this feature remains unclear. One might speculate that the developers perceive it as providing an unfair advantage, but in the context of third-person action RPGs, the benefits of increased peripheral vision seem negligible.
Some might attribute this limitation to the studio’s engine capabilities; however, Armored Core 6 was built on the same engine as Elden Ring Nightreign and successfully incorporated ultrawide support. Additionally, modders quickly released ultrawide mods for Elden Ring shortly after its launch, albeit with the caveat that using them online could lead to bans due to detectable changes in game files. This indicates that the technical barriers may not be as significant as they appear.
Ultimately, it seems that FromSoftware does not prioritize ultrawide support in its Soulsborne titles, which is understandably frustrating for fans eager to immerse themselves in the beautifully crafted worlds on larger screens. While the hope remains that future patches might address this oversight, the likelihood appears slim.
Elden Ring Nightreign is a bold and experimental addition to the franchise, infusing the original’s combat mechanics with a roguelike and cooperative twist. Despite some shortcomings, such as a singular map and limited enemy variety, it is poised to be one of the standout titles for Xbox and PC gamers this year. Priced at .99, it is currently available for .99 at Newegg with the promo code XVSAVE.
