The ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN Closed Network Test has ended. Its published overall window was February 14, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. CEST through February 17, 2025 at 7:00 a.m. CEST under Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe’s rules. FromSoftware separately announced a Japan start of February 14 at 8:00 p.m. JST. The event was a limited preview for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, not an open beta that can still be joined.
The important distinction is between that overall test window and the individual playable sessions inside it. Official announcements confirm the event dates and opening times, but the sources do not establish a complete session-by-session timetable for every region.
What time did the Elden Ring Nightreign network test start?
The Europe rules gave the test an overall opening of February 14, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. CEST. FromSoftware’s Japanese announcement gave a start of February 14 at 8:00 p.m. JST. Those are the two directly published start times, and they refer to the beginning of the test period rather than a promise that every player could remain online continuously until the closing date.
| Official time shown | Equivalent UTC time | What it represents |
|---|---|---|
| February 14, 3:00 p.m. CEST | February 14, 1:00 p.m. UTC | Overall opening in the Europe rules |
| February 14, 8:00 p.m. JST | February 14, 11:00 a.m. UTC | Japan start stated by FromSoftware |
| February 17, 7:00 a.m. CEST | February 17, 5:00 a.m. UTC | Overall closing in the Europe rules |
The UTC equivalents above use the offsets represented by the labels in the official announcements: CEST as UTC+2 and JST as UTC+9. If you are comparing a converted time with a console calendar or an old screenshot, check the date as well as the clock, because midnight crossings can put the local date on the following day.
When was the Nightreign network test?
The test ran across February 14–17, 2025. It is therefore a historical event, not a currently scheduled trial. Registration, code distribution and the playable window have all passed; a new account cannot join that test now.
Bandai Namco America’s January 10 announcement established the February 14–17 dates and described the event as a three-player co-op test. Bandai Namco Europe’s rules supplied the more precise overall opening and closing times for territories covered by those rules. FromSoftware’s February 12 release announcement repeated the February 14 start for Japan while pointing players to a gameplay guide.
Why do different pages show different Nightreign times?
Most apparent conflicts come from mixing three separate pieces of information: a territory’s overall test window, a particular playable session, and a time-zone conversion. The Europe rules define when the preview phase opened and closed in that ruleset. They do not say that a participant could play continuously for the entire span.
Overall window versus individual sessions
A network test normally uses scheduled access periods so the publisher can observe server load under controlled conditions. The official material reviewed for Nightreign confirms that the test was designed to evaluate network stability and performance, but it does not provide a complete regional table listing every session’s start and end time.
Time-zone labels and date changes
Keep the source label attached to any time you quote. “3:00 p.m. CEST” and “8:00 p.m. JST” are not interchangeable labels, even when both describe February 14. A conversion that crosses midnight can also change the calendar date, so a local result such as February 15 does not necessarily indicate a different test day.
Is the Nightreign network test still available?
No. The Closed Network Test ended on February 17, 2025. There is no active registration page or late-entry process for that event, and a code from the original promotion cannot be used to reopen it.
The released game is a separate product. FromSoftware announced a May 30, 2025 release and documented package editions for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. That release information is relevant to people who missed the test, but buying the game does not recreate the closed test or grant access to its old sessions.
Which platforms supported the test?
The test was limited to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Bandai Namco America’s announcement did not list PlayStation 4, Xbox One or PC as test platforms. The test’s three-player co-op focus also means that platform compatibility and a working internet connection were practical requirements, not optional extras.
- PlayStation 5 was an eligible test platform.
- Xbox Series X|S was an eligible test platform.
- PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC were not listed for this closed test.
- The format centered on teams of three players.
Do not infer a PC test from the existence of a PC version or from later discussion of the released game. Test-platform announcements apply to the event named in them.
Did participants need the original ELDEN RING?
No. FromSoftware’s release information states that Nightreign can be played without owning the original ELDEN RING. That statement concerns the standalone released game, and it also prevents a common misconception about the test: ownership of the 2022 game was not identified as a prerequisite in the published test rules.
A compatible console, internet access, registration and a valid test code were the relevant access conditions in the Europe rules. The rules did not turn ownership of another FromSoftware title into a general admission requirement.
How did registration and code access work?
For territories covered by Bandai Namco Europe’s rules, registration opened on January 10, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. CEST and closed on January 20, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. CEST. The rules described the test as free and stated that no purchase was required. They also required an eligible territory, a Bandai Namco Europe account, a compatible console and internet access.
- Check territory eligibility. The Europe rules apply only to the territories named in that document. Their list should not be treated as a worldwide eligibility rule.
- Create or use the required regional account. A Bandai Namco Europe account was required under the European rules. Other territories could have used different account arrangements.
- Register before the deadline. Submissions after January 20 were outside the European registration period.
- Wait for selection and a code. The rules described selection as first come, first served and provided one code per winner.
- Redeem the code in the account area. The official Japanese guide announcement advised selected players to use the code in their account area to install the game data before the test.
Because the event is over, these steps are useful as a record of how access worked, not as current instructions for joining a live test.
How many test codes were available?
Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe’s 2025 rules document listed 97,923 codes for the territories covered by those rules. The allocation was not evenly split between consoles.
| Platform | Codes listed in the Europe rules | Allocation share |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | 85,025 | Approximately 86.8% of the listed total |
| Xbox Series X|S | 12,898 | Approximately 13.2% of the listed total |
| Total | 97,923 | 100% of the listed European allocation |
These figures are regional rules-document numbers, not a worldwide total. They also describe codes made available under that European promotion; they should not be read as a player count, simultaneous server capacity or a guarantee that every registrant received access.
What should selected players have done before a session?
The official gameplay-guide announcement recommended installing the game data in advance by redeeming the code through the account area. Pre-installation mattered because a network-test window is finite: downloading after a session begins can consume much of the available play period.
Practical preparation checklist
- Redeem the code on the account associated with the eligible PS5 or Xbox Series X|S console.
- Install all available test data before the announced session.
- Confirm that the console has an internet connection and enough storage space.
- Use the same account that received the code; a code was described as one per winner in the Europe rules.
- Read the gameplay guide before starting so that the limited session is spent testing the game rather than learning basic controls.
These actions could reduce avoidable delays, but they could not extend a session or provide access outside the published schedule.
What exactly was being tested?
Bandai Namco Europe’s rules define the event as a preview phase allowing a limited number of players to access the game in order to evaluate the stability and performance of its network infrastructure under controlled conditions. That purpose explains why access was restricted, why sessions were scheduled, and why participation was not equivalent to purchasing the finished game.
The three-player co-op format was part of the announced test experience. Network-test results can include connection failures, matchmaking problems, queue pressure and performance issues that do not appear when a person plays alone. A participant’s inability to connect during a particular period would therefore be a test condition, not proof that the released game was unavailable.
What is the confirmed timeline?
| Date | Event | Confirmed detail |
|---|---|---|
| January 10, 2025 | Registration announcement | Bandai Namco America announced the February 14–17 test; European registration opened at 3:00 p.m. CEST under the Europe rules. |
| January 20, 2025 | European registration deadline | Registration closed at 3:00 p.m. CEST for the territories covered by the rules. |
| February 12, 2025 | FromSoftware release announcement | The announcement gave the Japan start as February 14 at 8:00 p.m. JST and referenced the gameplay guide. |
| February 14–17, 2025 | Closed Network Test | The Europe rules set the overall window from February 14 at 3:00 p.m. CEST to February 17 at 7:00 a.m. CEST. |
| May 30, 2025 | Standalone game release | FromSoftware announced the commercial release, distinct from the finished test. |
What are the most common timing mistakes?
- Treating the test as upcoming. All of the dates above are in the past; old countdown posts do not indicate a current event.
- Calling the overall window a single nonstop session. The published window brackets the event, while individual playable periods were scheduled within it.
- Converting without preserving the date. A correct clock conversion can still be misleading if the local date changes.
- Applying European rules globally. The eligibility list, account requirement and code allocation in that document are territory-specific.
- Assuming a purchase was needed. The Europe rules described the test as free and without purchase obligation.
- Confusing the test with the release. The May 30 release is a separate way to play Nightreign after the preview event ended.
What should a reader do if they find an old session schedule?
Check whether the page identifies the territory, the year and the time zone, then determine whether it describes the overall event or one playable session. An undated countdown, a converted screenshot or a social-media repost can preserve the wrong day even when the original clock time was correct.
For a reliable historical reference, retain the source’s exact wording: Europe’s rules provide the overall February 14–17 window, while FromSoftware provides the February 14 Japan start. The available official material does not support filling in every regional session start and end time by inference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still register for the ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN network test?
No. The registration periods and the February 14–17, 2025 test window have passed. A new registration or account cannot create access to that closed event.
Was the Nightreign network test free?
Yes. The Europe rules described it as free and without a purchase obligation. You still needed to meet the regional eligibility requirements and receive a code.
How many people could play together in the test?
The announcement described a three-player co-op format. That describes the intended group size, not a guaranteed number of players who could connect at any moment.
Was there a PC version of the Nightreign network test?
The test announcement listed only PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. A later platform release or a separate PC announcement should not be used to retroactively add PC access to this event.
Where can I play Nightreign after missing the test?
The network test was only a preview. FromSoftware announced the standalone game for release on May 30, 2025, with package editions for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4; owning the original ELDEN RING is not required for Nightreign.