Fix Elden Ring: Nightreign Multiplayer Connection Issues on PC

Elden Ring: Nightreign multiplayer connection issues like “failed to join session,” random disconnects, or broken co-op are frustrating, especially when you’re just trying to explore The Lands Between with a friend. Whether you’re hosting or trying to join a session, the errors can pop up at any stage, ruining your gaming session.

This guide compiles every known fix so you can go and enjoy your game as soon as possible.

🧩 How to Fix the Elden Ring: Nightreign “Failed to Join Session” Error?

What does the error mean

The “failed to join session” error in Elden Ring: Nightreign happens when the game can’t establish a connection between two players in co-op or PvP mode. It usually stems from:

• mismatched game versions
• strict NAT types
• network instability
• remembrance quest conflicts. 

The error can occur before loading into a friend’s world or right after using a multiplayer item. While it may seem like a server bug, it’s most often caused by something on the player’s end, such as a firewall block, bad matchmaking settings, or broken game files.

✅ 1. Start with the Basics

Restart Everything 🔄

1. Exit Elden Ring fully.
2. Restart the Steam client.
3. Reboot your PC.

Many users confirm this clears random session errors.

“Just restart Steam—it fixes it!” – Steam user

Update the Game 🆕

1. Launch the game and check Title Screen for the version number (e.g., App 1.01.3 / Reg 1.01.4).
2. If outdated, update via Steam.
3. Restart the game after updating.

Patch 1.01.1 (June 2025) fixed major session issues. Stay current!

Verify Game Files 🧩

1. In Steam, right-click Elden Ring: Nightreign.
2. Select Properties > Local Files > Verify integrity of game files.
3. Wait for the scan and relaunch.

This checks for any corrupted or missing data.

Check Server Status 🌐

1. Visit Bandai Namco News, the official Elden Ring Twitter, or Epic Games Status
2. If servers are down, wait until maintenance end
   

If you’re experiencing issues beyond connectivity, you might want to check out our detailed guide on Elden Ring not using GPU to optimize your setup and boost performance.

🔐 2. Matchmaking Rules That Matter

Match Settings Checklist

1. Same password, same game version, same boss target.
2. All players must be on PC, not console.
3. Only one player can be on a Remembrance mission during co-op.

Mismatches here cause frequent “session failed” errors. Choosing the right character class can also impact your gameplay experience. If you’re unsure which class suits your playstyle best, our Elden Ring Best Class guide offers detailed insights to help you decide.

Password Settings 🔑

1. Make sure the password is identical (case-sensitive)
2. If it still fails, try removing the password completely
3. Toggle the “Out-of-region matchmaking” setting on/off in:
   System > Network Settings

This cross-region option often causes hidden mismatches.

Use Steam Invites Instead 🎫

If in-game matchmaking fails:

1. Add your friend on Steam
2. Use the Steam overlay (Shift + Tab) to invite them directly
3. This can bypass co-op bugs
   

📡 3. Fix Your Internet Settings

Restart Router / Switch Networks 🌐

1. Power-cycle your router
2. Switch between Wi-Fi and Ethernet to force a new connection path

“Just turned on WiFi, and it worked!” – Reddit user

Enable UPnP for NAT Type 2 🔓

1. Log into your router settings (typically 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1)
2. Enable UPnP (Universal Plug and Play)
3. Save, reboot router and PC

This changes your NAT Type to Open/Moderate (Type 2), which is required for peer-to-peer games like Nightreign.

Use Google DNS 🧠

Set custom DNS on your PC:

• Primary: 8.8.8.8
• Secondary: 8.8.4.4

Then flush and renew your network settings:

• ipconfig /flushdns
• ipconfig /renew

This will smooth out your connection and might also help with login to server errors in Elden Ring Nightreign.

Check MTU Settings 🧮

• Make sure your MTU is 1500 or set to Auto
• MTU mismatch can fragment network packets, breaking matchmaking

If you’re new to Elden Ring: Nightreign or want to explore its expansive world fully, check out our beginner’s guide on where to start in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erd Tree for tips on getting going smoothly.

🔧 4. Advanced Router Configuration

Manually Forward Ports 🔁

Open your router’s port forwarding section and add:

Steam ports:

• TCP: 27015, 27036
• UDP: 27015, 27031–27036

Nightreign-specific ports (if needed):

• TCP: 80, 443, 3478–3480, 10901
• UDP: 3478–3479, 8571, 49152–65535

Save and reboot. This ensures your PC can receive connections without being blocked.

Use DMZ Mode (if UPnP fails) 🚨

• In your router, set your PC’s IP as the DMZ host
• This fully opens your connection but should only be used temporarily

💡 Search your router model + “DMZ host” for exact steps.

🛡️ 5. Firewall, Antivirus & EasyAntiCheat (EAC)

Whitelist the Game 🧱

In Windows Firewall and any third-party antivirus:

• Add exceptions for both Steam.exe and eldenring_nightreign.exe

This stops over-aggressive firewalls from killing game sessions.

Fix EAC Disconnects 🔍

• Go to: …/Elden Ring Nightreign/EasyAntiCheat_EOS/
• Right-click EasyAntiCheat_EOS.exe
• Set to Run as Administrator

Also verify the game in Steam to ensure EAC is up-to-date.

Turn Off VPNs and Proxies 🔌

• Disconnect any VPN, proxy, or “internet booster”
• These tools interfere with Elden Ring’s peer-to-peer networking

⚙️ 6. System-Level Fixes (Optional)

Disable Steam Overlay ❌

• Open Steam > Settings > In-Game
• Uncheck “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game”

Overlay conflicts may cause rare crashes or session drops.

Compatibility Tweaks in Windows 🪟

• Right-click eldenring_nightreign.exe
• Choose Properties > Compatibility
• Check Disable Fullscreen Optimizations
• Turn off Game Mode in Windows Settings

Tweaking in-game settings will also make sure that your PC is able to sustain the game and prevent Elden Ring Nightreign from crashing your PC.

If your multiplayer session fails to join despite checking your network and firewall settings, it’s worth verifying if Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) is causing conflicts. Many connection errors can stem from locked or corrupted EAC files. For a full step-by-step fix, see our guide on Elden Ring Nightreign EAC Error 30005

Update Network Drivers 💽

• Open Device Manager > Network Adapters
• Right-click your adapter > Update driver

Outdated drivers often cause packet loss or random disconnects.

Router QoS Settings 🚦

• Log into your router
• Turn off Quality of Service (QoS) or bandwidth management features

Poorly configured QoS can throttle game packets.

Final Tip: When All Else Fails 📞

If you’ve tried every fix and matchmaking still fails:

• It might be a server-side problem or a new bug
• Keep an eye on Bandai Namco Support
• You can also report issues directly via the game support page
  

Also, if you’re curious about the latest multiplayer modes, you can read more about it in our article on Elden Ring Nightreign brings battle royale gameplay to Limgrave.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Take

If Elden Ring: Nightreign keeps showing the “failed to join session” error, the issue is almost always linked to local settings such as mismatched game versions, NAT problems, Easy Anti-Cheat conflicts, or firewall blocks.

Thankfully, most of these multiplayer connection issues can be fixed by following a step-by-step approach: restarting Steam, verifying game files, updating drivers, tweaking matchmaking settings, and ensuring your network is properly configured.

If none of these solutions work, the problem could be temporary server maintenance or a deeper multiplayer bug. In that case, keep checking official updates from Bandai Namco or try switching to solo or offline mode until connectivity improves.