Elden Ring Nightreign combines bosses from both Elden Ring and previous FromSoftware titles, and the game's director has explained the reasoning behind this design choice. Continue reading to discover the motivation for bringing back these iconic adversaries.
Elden Ring Nightreign's Director Reveals Why Previous FromSoftware Bosses Appear
The Return of Classic Bosses is Driven by Gameplay
Featuring a roster of classic foes from Elden Ring and older FromSoftware games, Elden Ring Nightreign has led fans to ponder the potential lore connections. However, director Junya Ishizaki clarified in a February 12, 2025 interview with Gamespot that these inclusions are primarily for gameplay. Lore enthusiasts can rest easy, as the reappearance of these bosses isn't meant to redefine the game's narrative. "Our main focus for including these existing bosses in Nightreign was gameplay," stated Ishizaki. "With this new game structure and style, we required a diverse array of challenging encounters. To enrich the roster, we decided to incorporate suitable bosses from our earlier titles."
"We fully recognize our players' deep affection for these characters and their memorable battles. We aimed to honor those memories without forcing major lore revisions. Our goal was to integrate them seamlessly into the atmosphere and feel of Elden Ring Nightreign." Ishizaki also expressed that bringing back these familiar foes adds an element of fun for players. While their presence doesn't necessarily create a shared universe with other FromSoftware games, fans might find greater narrative significance in the primary antagonist, the Night Lord, and its possible ties to the broader Elden Ring story.
Iconic FromSoftware Bosses Confirmed for Nightreign
Currently, two classic bosses are confirmed to return in Elden Ring Nightreign: the Nameless King from Dark Souls 3 and the Centipede Demon from the original Dark Souls. Additionally, speculation suggests the colossal, two-headed spider known as The Duke's Dear Freja may also make an appearance. The Nameless King, Gwyn's firstborn, is an optional but notoriously challenging boss in Dark Souls 3, testing players with devastating wind and lightning attacks. He is often considered one of the toughest bosses in the game, though his location at Archdragon Peak is easy to miss without completing specific quests.
The Centipede Demon originates from the first Dark Souls game. This horrific creature, with six centipede-like heads that spew fireballs, is lore-connected to the chaos flame created by the Witch of Izalith. Finally, Nightreign's trailer hints at The Duke's Dear Freja's potential inclusion, showing a single spider scuttling through a forested swamp. This spider bears a striking resemblance to the smaller ones encountered during the Duke's Dear Freja boss fight in Dark Souls 2. In that game, Freja is the prized pet of Duke Tseldora, a nobleman with a disturbing obsession with spiders.
Given the distinct lore backgrounds of these bosses, connecting them directly to Elden Ring's narrative would be difficult. As the director emphasized, the best way to appreciate their return is to focus on the gameplay challenge they present, rather than overanalyzing potential story implications.
