Elden Ring Nightreign PS5 vs Xbox Multiplayer — Full Guide (2025)

Elden Ring Nightreign is one of the most talked-about multiplayer games of 2025. It’s a fresh take on the Elden Ring experience, built by FromSoftware specifically with cooperative play in mind. This new game puts you and your friends into chaotic, intense runs, pushing your skills and teamwork to the limit.

In this article, we’ll talk about what Nightreign really is, how its multiplayer works on PS5 and Xbox, what the differences are, and everything you need to know before you jump in.

What Is Elden Ring Nightreign?

Elden Ring Nightreign is a multiplayer action-RPG roguelike game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco. It was revealed at The Game Awards 2024 and released on May 30, 2025, for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Unlike the original Elden Ring, which is mostly about single-player exploration with optional co-op help, Nightreign is built around multiplayer first. It’s designed so that teams of players (usually three) jump into missions together, survive enemy waves, explore procedurally generated areas, and beat tough bosses known as Nightlords at the end of each run.

The world in Nightreign isn’t the same as the open lands. Instead of from the main game, it reuses familiar environments, but they are remixed each time randomly to give a fresh experience every run.

Multiplayer: PS5 vs Xbox—Can You Play Together?

One of the biggest questions players have is, “Can PS5 players join Xbox players in multiplayer?” The short answer right now is NO, there is no crossplay between PS5 and Xbox (or PC).

That means:

• A PS5 player cannot team up with an Xbox player in online expeditions.

• Players are limited to multiplayer within the same platform family.

  • So PS5 and PS4 players can play together.

  • Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One players can play together.

This has disappointed many fans because Nightreign is a multiplayer game at its core, and crossplay would make it much easier to find groups and play with friends regardless of the console they own.

Even though crossplay isn’t available at launch, some later updates have improved multiplayer quality, like adding two-player co-op support (so you don’t always need a full team of three).

PS5 Multiplayer Experience

Playing Night Reign on PS5 is generally smooth and capable. The console’s fast SSD helps with quick matchmaking and shorter load times compared to older hardware. Players can easily jump into expeditions, invite friends, or find random teams within the PS multiplayer pool.

PS5 users can also play with players on PS4 because of cross-generation support. But again, no play with Xbox users.

PS5 runs Nightreign efficiently, and many players enjoy high graphic detail and stable performance. The DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers add an immersive feel to combat, which many players appreciate, especially in intense boss fights.

Xbox Multiplayer Experience

Xbox Series X|S players also get solid performance in Nightreign. The game runs well online, and matchmaking is fairly quick when teams are available. Xbox players can also team up with Xbox One players because of cross-generation support.

Performance-wise, Xbox Series X and Series S might have slight differences like resolution and load speeds, but both provide a good co-op experience overall. That said, performance reviews do vary depending on patches and updates.

Also, Xbox players should note that because cross-play isn’t available, the pool of available multiplayer partners is limited to the Xbox ecosystem. This sometimes means waiting for matchmaking if fewer players are online.

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Multiplayer Gameplay—What Makes It Fun (and Hard)?

Nightreign’s multiplayer isn’t a casual “drop in and drop out” like some co-op games. It’s more like a co-op expedition where three players must:

1. Choose their Nightfarer class; each has unique skills.

2. Plan gear loadouts together and decide where to go on the map.

3. Fight through enemies and survive the shrinking battlefield.

4. Beat bosses at the end of each in-game day.

5. Work together to gather loot and level up before the final boss.

This means communication and teamwork matter a lot. Random matchmaking can be chaotic if players run off alone, but playing with friends (using voice chat) makes the experience far better.

Also, Nightreign’s design pulls elements from battle royale and roguelike games, like a shrinking play area and randomized loot, which adds unpredictability and replay value.

PS5 vs Xbox: Multiplayer Strengths & Weaknesses

Here’s a quick comparison of how multiplayer feels on each console:

✔️ PS5

• Fast load times thanks to SSD.

• DualSense features add immersion.

• Good matchmaking within the PS network.

• PS4 cross-play support increases the player pool.

• No crossplay with Xbox or PC.

✔️ Xbox Series X|S

• Stable performance across menus and missions.

• Xbox One cross-play increases community size on Xbox.

• Solid matchmaking in the Xbox network.

• No crossplay with PS consoles.

❗ Shared Limitation

• No cross-platform multiplayer—this is consistent on both systems and may limit your ability to play with friends on other consoles.

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Is Multiplayer Better on PS5 or Xbox?

In real-world use, many players find the PS5’s load times a bit quicker than the Xbox Series X/S. However, the difference isn’t huge, and neither platform significantly outshines the other in basic multiplayer stability.

Both consoles deliver a good Nightreign experience overall, and the choice usually comes down to which ecosystem your friends are in because of no crossplay; you’ll want to stay in the same community. For example:

• If most of your friends play on PS5/PS4, choose PS.

• If they’re on Xbox Family, choose Xbox.

Final Thoughts

Elden Ring Nightreign is one of the boldest multiplayer experiments FromSoftware has attempted, taking the beloved Elden Ring universe and making it a co-op roguelike adventure.

While it lacks crossplay between PS and Xbox, it still offers satisfying co-op gameplay on both platforms. The multiplayer focus, team strategy, and unpredictable runs make the experience exciting and worth trying, especially with friends.

Whether you choose PS5 or Xbox, Nightreign delivers intense, fun multiplayer missions that push teamwork and skill. Just remember, you won’t be able to match with players on the other platform yet, and that’s the biggest multiplayer difference worth knowing before you start.