Unlike Bloodborne, Elden Ring Nightreign Could Easily Feature This IP

Elden Ring Nightreign is an interesting game for a number of reasons, some of them expected, and others less so. For example, the strength of Elden Ring Nightreign‘s combat shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone familiar with FromSoftware’s ouevre, but its mixed review scores are certainly unexpected. Along similar lines, it’s not a surprise that Dark Souls content made its way into Nightreign, as this was well-established ahead of the latter’s release, but the lack of other FromSoftware properties, like Bloodborne, might confuse some players.

But there’s a fairly reasonable explanation for the lack of explicit Bloodborne content in Elden Ring Nightreign. Though FromSoftware developed Bloodborne from start to finish, the rights to the property are still owned by Sony, an entity that is unlikely to agree to its IP being used in a game that it isn’t directly profiting from. Moreover, with no Bloodborne 2 on the horizon, it might not make sense for Sony to give the green light for references, whether that be in the form of cosmetics, boss battles, or miscellaneous homage; there’s no marketing value in Bloodborne crossover content at this stage, so the most strategic move could be to hold on tight to the Bloodborne license for better leverage down the road. But whatever the case, Bloodborne definitely isn’t featured in Nightreign now, though this doesn’t have to be the case for all FromSoftware projects.

Elden Ring Nightreign Roundtable Hold Dialog

Elden Ring Nightreign Could Have Greatly Benefited from a Key Persona Feature

Elden Ring Nightreign has a unique approach to storytelling that could have been even better had it taken some notes from Persona.

Bloodborne Might Be Barred from Entering Nightreign, but Sekiro Isn’t

FromSoftware Owns the Rights to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Although Sony might be the controlling entity of Bloodborne, that’s not the case for most of FromSoftware’s biggest properties. In fact, the famous developer often works to retain complete or majority ownership of its IP, with Elden Ring being a prime example of this: although Elden Ring and Elden Ring Nightreign are published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, FromSoftware has full ownership of the franchise, meaning that it has final say on what is done with it. The same is true for 2019 Game of the Year Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

Though published by Activision, FromSoftware owns Sekiro in its entirety, which leaves the door open for collaboration between it and Nightreign. It would make quite a bit of sense for Nightreign to loop Sekiro into the equation at some point, especially considering that the Nightfarer Executioner boasts a combat style derived from the modern samurai classic. Throwing in some Sekiro bosses would also be fitting, as it would allow players to face them with Executioner, or with another Nightfarer, which would offer a radically distinct experience.

What Sekiro Content Could Mean for Elden Ring Nightreign

Dark Souls being the only FromSoftware series directly referenced in Nightreign makes a lot of sense. Not only is Dark Souls the most similar FromSoft IP to Elden Ring in terms of tone and visual style, but the franchise is also co-owned by FromSoft and Bandai Namco, which publishes Nightreign. But if Nightreign were to break the seal, as it were, with a Sekiro crossover, it could lead to an integration of even more FromSoftware IP, like Armored Core.

Of course, this runs the risk of jumping the shark, which many argue Nightreign has already done with its Dark Souls content. In the era of the MCU and the multiverse, modern audiences may be growing tired of crossovers, which often trade immersion and authenticity for brand recognition and cross-promotion—naked practicalities that aren’t generally associated with FromSoft’s high-art aura. Only time will tell if and how Nightreign‘s approach to crossovers will evolve.