Elden Ring Nightreign: No In-Game Messaging System

FromSoftware has confirmed that Elden Ring Nightreign will not feature an in-game messaging system, a staple of previous Soulsborne titles. This decision, according to game director Junya Ishizaki (in a January 3rd interview with IGN Japan), is a practical one. The fast-paced, multiplayer-focused design of Nightreign, with anticipated play sessions of around 40 minutes, leaves insufficient time for players to engage with the asynchronous messaging system.

While this key feature is absent, Nightreign will retain and enhance other asynchronous elements. The bloodstain mechanic, for example, will return, offering players even more information about their peers' deaths and allowing for ghost looting.

FromSoftware's vision for Nightreign is a "compressed RPG," prioritizing intense, multiplayer experiences with minimal downtime. This is reflected in the game's planned three-day structure and the removal of the messaging system, streamlining gameplay for shorter, more focused sessions. The game's asynchronous features are being refined to better suit this condensed, action-oriented design.

Although revealed at TGA 2024, a precise release window for Elden Ring Nightreign, slated for 2025, remains unannounced.