Just another FromSoftware 1.01.4 Patch for Elden Ring: Night Reign has come, which was supposed to be fixing existing game issues as players came to blows over whose problems deserved more importance in the first place. Patch notes can be read online, but the big question pertains to community reception, or should we say, a huge explosion of countless differing opinions.
First of all, respect to Bandai Namco for keeping all the patches coming. The update looks to fix existing issues in the game (duh), but players, set on polar opposites, are fighting over whether the changes are really the bigger issues. Some people are ready to celebrate any and all quality-of-life tweaks, while others remain glued, eagerly awaiting the arrival of big parental Eldens for the big fixes. Classic Soulsborne community: never boring.
Should we call one of those big disputes? Under the castle lurks a boss whom some have called “unfair,” as they are not permitted to fight it straight away. Matteo ⚪⚫ (@matthewdamnsure), full-blown keyboard warrior, stated that the existence of one overpowered boss being locked behind progression ruins the balance of the game. Valerie 🌸 (@Valorie_Palorie) retorted by saying that farming around the castle is actually good for you early-game, from where the rest of the thread devolved into a full-on strategy war with players choking their way through math on rune gains and optimal paths as if it were a speedrun seminar.
And the multiplayer needs fixes, still. @Android1620 tagged Bandai Namco US with an “Answer me” over network errors that make co-op “unplayable,” while @Xceptional0ne went with, “Your average Elden Ring player is actually trash so I’d rather just play with my friend.” Mood. The lack of duos mode remains an awkward sore spot, with a bunch of players outright joking (or maybe not) that random matchmaking would be set aside once friend matchmaking is introduced.
And then, of course, the stamina bar cries go on. @playgluee sent a “bro😭,” summing up the discourse. Some things just never change.
In the meantime, @Raava_o threw around a link to an exist-means-game-breaking bug from launch and demanded an official response. This hasn’t come either since, instead flooded with players sharing their horror stories. And that Arabic tweet by @Soul115115 roughly translates to, “Guys, finish us off already-where’s duos mode? You’re taking way too much time.” Preach.
The patch solved all the smaller annoyances, like dual-wielding woes (a patch that @Mojo_King_Bee found “baffling” that it took so long), while the big issues lurk ahead with players such as @IAmNotNick121, who, 45 hours in, is just a raid short of Platinum. This grind is real, folks.
At this point, there are basically three camps found within the Elden Ring community:
1. Please fix the multiplayer already.
2. I think one boss is just ruining our lives.
3. I just want to play with my friends, please.
Honestly, they’re all right. FromSoftware may have kept the patches coming, but clearly, the community thirsts for something bigger. Will we ever get duos? Will the network errors finally be put to rest? Will that one castle boss ever go away as a point of contention? Time will tell, probably through some more cryptic patch notes.
Until then, go on, grab your controller, prepare to disconnect, and lose your mind over bell-hunters. Or don’t. Elden Ring-suffering is part of the fun.
