Last updated on October 1st, 2026 at 11:22 am
Well, I will be honest: I saw the news about the Elden Ring Nightreign network test, and the moment I read it, I checked whether PC was mentioned. On a down note, it strangely was, and that was a little painful, too.
Table of Contents
Network Test: Console Only (And Sort of a Mess).
No, the Nightreign network test of Elder Ring was not present in the PC version. Closed network test: The closed network test ran from February 14-17, 2025, on PS5 and Xbox Series X | S consoles only. Bandai Namco has made this crystal clear: no Steam, no PC early access.
The twist, however, is that even the console players who made it in had to endure a nightmare. The initial session was marred by serious server stability issues, with most people unable to log in or experiencing frequent disconnections; one sick tester summed it up well, saying this limited test was to check connection stability, not whether we could connect.
As a result, PC players were left behind, and console players couldn’t play at all. The servers failed to the point where FromSoftware indicated they were doing follow-up network testing to compensate.
What PC Gamers Received in Its Place: The Complete Launch.
Here’s where it gets better. The complete game launched on PC through Steam on May 30, 2025, and on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox O, One, and Xbox Series X/S.
And honestly? PC got the better deal. Although the network test was a three-hour window of broken servers, the full PC release supports offline and solo play. Solo players were the focus from the beginning.
PC System Requirements
This is what you will require ahead of leaping in:
- Minimum specs:
- Windows 10
- Intel Core i5-10600 / AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- 12 GB RAM
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 3GB / AMD Radeon RX 580 4GB
- 30 GB storage
Recommended specs:
- Windows 11
- Intel Core i5-11500 / AMD Ryzen 5 5600
- 16 GB RAM
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 8GB / AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 8GB.
Pretty reasonable, right? My GTX 1060 will be the minimum, but I would suggest stepping up a notch for smooth performance.
What Made the Network Test Exclusion Frustrating.
I understand why FromSoftware prohibited the test; they wanted to be in control. So herein lies the reason why this rubbed PC players the wrong way:
First, PC gamers weren’t given a chance to try the game before launch, which frustrated the community. We’re discussing a roguelike co-op game in which a three-player team battles through three in-game days and nights against increasingly difficult foes.
Second, the game has some PC-specific peculiarities that might have been identified during the previous stage. It has no native ultrawide support, as it uses the same engine as Armored Core 6, which supported ultrawide. It also didn’t support a refresh rate above 60 FPS at launch.
That is precisely the type of problem a PC network stress test would have revealed.
The Silver Lining: Post-Launch Enhancements.
Since May 30, FromSoftware has not sat idle. Many changes came in September 2025 with patch 1.02.2, which introduced changes such as Night’s Tide dealing more damage, adjusted spawn positions, and Greataxes and Great Hammers becoming capable of staggering.
Even better? Version 1.02 added Duo Expeditions, letting two players play co-op in addition to the usual three-player mode. This followed community feedback that indicated two-player play felt manageable, unlike the chaotic three-player teams.
And more content is in store. The Forsaken Hollows DLC releases on December 4, 2025, on PC and any other platform, introducing new bosses and new places to traverse.
Final Thoughts
Then is Nightreign network test of Elden Ring on PC? No. But are PC players finally screwed? Also no.
Of course we skipped the broken network test, with its login errors and disconnections. However, we received an improved version that had solo play support, periodic updates, and future DLC.
The chaos of network testing confirmed the basic problems that we needed to fix before we started. Console players who couldn’t log in? They load-tested the servers to ensure they wouldn’t crash on launch.
If you are on PC and wondering whether to get Nightreign right now, go ahead. The game is in a solid state, the servers aren’t going down, and youare getting everything without the drama of early access. However, don’t expect Ultrawide support, as apparently FromSoftware forgot that PC monitors come in various sizes.
But, you know, at least we can log in and play.
Also Read: Elden Ring Nightreign Release and Network Test Guide: What You Need to Know
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