FromSoftware Rolls Out Limited-Time Boss Fights in Elden Ring: Nightreign’s First Major Update

A new threat looms in the Lands Between. FromSoftware’s post-launch plans for Elden Ring: Nightreign are officially underway, and it starts with bosses that don’t plan to stick around for long.

Starting today, players can engage in time-limited battles with supercharged versions of existing enemies, dubbed Everdark Sovereigns. The first of these — Gaping Jaw — is already live, promising a brutal week of punishment, strategy, and reward. And yes, there’s more to come.

Gaping Jaw Ushers in a Fresh Wave of Pain

FromSoft fans know one thing: the pain never ends. But with Nightreign’s latest update, it’s not just pain — it’s timed pain.

Gaping Jaw is the inaugural Everdark Sovereign, a souped-up beast from past battles, now with a grimmer twist. Players who’ve already beaten the base version can now face this enraged redux until June 26.

There’s one catch: if you haven’t beaten the original, forget about getting in. This isn’t for rookies. This is a reward — or punishment — for veterans.

It’s the kind of move that’s sure to thrill longtime Soulsborne fans. Time-limited, harder fights? That’s FromSoft doubling down on its reputation.

What Exactly Are Everdark Sovereigns?

They’re not your average reskins or stat buffs.

Everdark Sovereigns are more than just meaner versions of bosses. According to insiders familiar with the update, these encounters feature altered attack patterns, new abilities, and environments slightly warped to match the boss’s enhanced madness.

Think of it as a remix — but with less jazz and more blood.

• To face an Everdark Sovereign:

  • You must have defeated the original boss.

  • You only have a short window to engage.

  • You will be rewarded with a Sovereign Sigil on victory.

The Sigils themselves? Their long-term use isn’t entirely clear, though fans speculate they’ll tie into larger updates or unlock special gear. FromSoft, as usual, is tight-lipped.

More Sovereigns Are Coming… Slowly

So far, Gaping Jaw is just the beginning. More Sovereigns are in the pipeline — two confirmed, no dates attached.

Players can expect:

• Sentient Pest (Everdark Version)

• Darkdrift Knight (Everdark Version)

There’s no official word yet on when these two will drop. FromSoftware seems to be leaning into suspense — or maybe they’re just watching how players handle Gaping Jaw before opening the next floodgate.

Still, if the current pace holds, we could see a new Everdark boss every couple of weeks. Maybe sooner. Maybe later. It’s FromSoft. They play their own game — literally and figuratively.

Nightreign’s Bumpy Start Isn’t Stopping the Content

Elden Ring: Nightreign had a bit of a rocky launch. Bugs, balancing issues, server jitters — all the usual suspects made an appearance.

But beneath the noise, there’s still something potent. Critics have praised the core of Nightreign’s design. It’s not Elden Ring 2.0 — but it doesn’t try to be. Instead, it’s a branching, darker evolution that leans into the studio’s multiplayer ambitions.

FromSoftware’s willingness to add time-limited boss fights this early into the DLC lifecycle is a sign they’re invested in Nightreign’s future.

Here’s how the rollout timeline is shaping up so far:

What’s Next for FromSoftware?

Nightreign isn’t the only thing brewing in the FromSoft cauldron. The studio’s got multiple irons in the fire.

Biggest of them? The Duskbloods — a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive PvPvE title. It’s being touted internally as something “different,” and for FromSoft, that could mean anything from arena brawls to emotionally devastating RPGs.

But it’s not all multiplayer mayhem on the horizon.

FromSoftware has quietly confirmed it will pivot back to more traditional single-player experiences, possibly to appease fans less excited about PvP experiments. No title names. No teaser trailers. Just a promise. Still, that’s more than enough for the faithful.

Fans React With Predictable Hype (and Dread)

Across forums, reactions to the Everdark Sovereigns have been intense — mostly positive, with a bit of the usual Soulsborne despair sprinkled in.

Many fans welcome the tougher fights. “Finally,” one Reddit user posted, “a reason to actually FEAR a boss again.”

Others, though, are more cautious. “I barely survived these guys the first time,” wrote another. “Now I have to do it again with no checkpoints and a timer? Evil.”

Maybe so. But for FromSoft, that’s kind of the point.

Some reactions, though, show curiosity about the long game. What do the Sovereign Sigils really do? Will they link to endgame quests? Are we building toward a secret boss?

Questions, speculation, excitement, anxiety. In other words: the perfect storm.

Could This Be a Long-Term Model?

Limited-time bosses aren’t totally new in gaming. MMOs and seasonal games do it all the time. But for Soulsborne? This is fresh territory.

And it might just work.

If the engagement stats hit the right numbers, expect to see this become a recurring event cycle — maybe even tied to real-world holidays, anniversaries, or story arcs. But one thing’s for sure: the Sovereign system is being watched.

Players want challenge. FromSoft wants engagement. Everdark bosses might be the brutal handshake both sides agree on.