With just days to go, Elden Ring Nightreign director says it’s “equal parts nerves and excitement” as FromSoftware polishes game balance “until the last minute”

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The leader of Elden Ring: Nightreign admits to experiencing a mix of anxiety and anticipation as the game’s release draws near. He also shares that FromSoftware is dedicating every ounce of their energy to ensuring the game’s equilibrium, right up until the final moments.

In an interview with GamesRadar+, Nightreign’s director Junya Ishizaki expressed a mix of excitement and apprehension as they entered the final week leading up to launch. Despite his jitters, Ishizaki remains optimistic about the game, and continues to find it enjoyable even now.

As a gamer, I had a chat with Ishizaki just about a week prior to the May 29 launch, and it seemed like he was having a blast diving into the fun his game offered. In the last few days leading up to Nightreign’s release, he mentioned that the team has been diligently adjusting and fine-tuning the game. At this stage, everything is focused on achieving the perfect balance for the game.

He clarifies that they strive to make adjustments right up until the last moment. They are meticulously refining every detail, aiming to maximize the potential of each interaction. The goal is to ensure players feel content and at ease during each session, so their efforts are focused on achieving a perfect balance between player comfort and an enjoyable gameplay experience until the very end.

Setting aside for a moment the observation that ‘happy’ and ‘comfortable’ aren’t typically feelings associated with FromSoftware games, it’s intriguing to speculate about the atmosphere within the studio currently.

In terms of achieving balance and providing a satisfying player experience, one could contend that no game is ever truly finished, but fortunately for FromSoftware, this isn’t usually a major concern they need to dwell on excessively. If a game element is too powerful in a single-player title, it may not align with the intended design, but it won’t necessarily lead to a catastrophic error that spoils the entire gameplay experience.

In Nightreign, since it’s primarily designed for multiplayer, a quick-damaging weapon or a boss that inflicts heavy damage could negatively impact the gameplay experience. Ishizaki and his team are likely to meticulously fine-tune the game details even post-release, but it’s reassuring to know they aim to ensure players enjoy the game from the very start.

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2025-05-27 16:39