Coop, PvP, phantoms and messages are already confirmed for Elden Ring. We clarify what the multiplayer looks like and how it differs from Dark Souls.
As we all know, a problem shared is a problem halved. From Software knows this too and makes your journey through the unforgiving open world of Elden Ring easier with a co-op mode. If you don’t want that, of course, you can achieve the opposite with PvP. But first let’s clarify how the multiplayer works and in what way it differs from Dark Souls.
How the co-op works
Like Dark Souls 3, Elden Ring offers three-player co-op. So you can call two friends for help and summon them directly in the game. However, it’s simpler without a lot of item bells and whistles – companions can easily be summoned from anywhere.
It’s probably a kind of drop-in-drop-out system that allows you to explore and fight together at times. During a gameplay presentation, we saw two players running through the open world together, sneaking past an enemy that was too strong and killing a boss that was standing around in the middle of an open field. By the way, communication is done via emotes.
For summoning via matchmaking, there are supposed to be places where you can leave your mark or look out for other players. This is somewhat reminiscent of the SOS signals in Monster Hunter World, which allow you to join ongoing quests. It has not yet been finally clarified whether all players will then also take over the progress.
The covenants known from Dark Souls are also returning. You will be allowed to join certain factions and will be rewarded if you follow their rules. This will presumably have an effect on your online experience via special items or spells again.
What’s playable in multiplayer
The entire game, from the open world to individual dungeons, can be explored with friends – with a few exceptions. However, you always have to do without your horse in co-op, which at least makes traversing the open areas a bit more tedious.
This makes it impossible to play through the game together in one go. For certain actions, such as overcoming gaping gorges or towering cliffs, you need your companion. According to the developer, the decision has technical reasons.
Although this makes us sceptical, the open world combines many strengths that are already known from games like Skyrim.
PvP returns
In the meantime, PvP has also been officially confirmed for Elden Ring. From Software explained to us in an interview that the invasions will be like in Dark Souls. Players invade your world or you become uninvited guests yourself. However, there will be no knightly duels on horseback, because your horse is not available, just like in co-op.
For Loners: Summon AI Companions
If you don’t have any willing friends by your side, you’ll be allowed to summon spirit helpers in certain locations, which the AI will control. According to the developers, there are statues in the open world in areas with a particularly large number of enemies that make this possible. Even in the fight against the first big boss (the creepy guy with the many arms from the trailer), such a spirit was summoned to help during gameplay presentation we were shown.
The phantoms are then based on fallen enemies and bring certain characteristics with them, which you can play tactically clever depending on the situation. If you decide on a shield bearer, for example, he can watch your back. Or you can call archers who keep enemies at a distance and tear them apart from afar. Because you can collect and level up the helpers, the most useful companions become stronger over time.
You can even order whole groups to your side, which will then literally outnumber the enemies. There will also be classic NPC allies again. As in Dark Souls, they will appear at designated places where you can find their sign.
In the gameplay trailer, you can see in detail how the player uses a mysterious cube to summon blue phantoms. They then fight alongside him:
More straightforward than Dark Souls: This is the best way to experience Elden Ring with your friends
Phantoms, blood trails or even messages return as you know them from Dark Souls. You can even create groups to make them even more personal. These ensure that the content of your friends is displayed in the game and marked accordingly.
With friends, for example, you can agree on a code or communicate in a completely different way, which leaves more room here for helping each other even in separate games, despite limited resources. By the way, there is no size limit for such alliances. You simply create a password and can pass it on to anyone who wants to participate.
Miyazaki hopes that this will lower the barrier to entry and attract new players to Elden Ring. We also got this impression from the first big gameplay presentation behind closed doors, which showed how Elden Ring becomes more accessible than Dark Souls and moves the gameplay into an open world without losing its ambition.
