Elden Ring Nightreign director knows gamers complain about asset reuse between games, but it’s the only “efficient way to build these games”

From Demons Souls to Elden Ring Nightreign, FromSoftware is a studio that’s very well-known for its reuse of assets between game releases. From textures to models to animations and even room layouts, hardcore fans always notice some degree of reuse between the studio’s Soulsborne titles.

Elden Ring: Nightreign is more egregious than most with the game built upon assets from not only the original Elden Ring and its Erdtree expansion, but also returning enemies from the aforementioned Dark Souls games. In fact, more returning Dark Souls enemies will be added to the game in post-launch updates.

Why Elden Ring Nightreign reuses so many assets

In a recent interview, Nightreign director Junya Ishizaki explained that the reuse of assets between FromSoftware games is the only way to efficiently make as many games as the studio does. However, the director knows that this is a point of “contention” for many gamers.

“Of course, asset reuse as a term and as an option in developing games is sometimes under a little bit of contention, a little bit of concern, but we do see it as an efficient way to build these games,” the director said.

Furthermore, Ishizaki explained that asset reuse isn’t as simple as a “straight one-to-one copy-paste”, but it actually takes a lot more work to bring old assets into new games.

“Particularly in the case of Nightreign, I think you will see these similar assets, but you will see them in ways that contribute to the gameplay and that have been reworked to fit the gameplay of Nightreign in ways that are maybe a little difficult to determine at first glance,” the director said.

The director also explained that using the original Elden Ring and its assets “as a base” for Nightreign allowed the team to experiment more without having to waste time crafting new looks. Assets could be reused, but also be used in different ways, allowing the team to speed up development and provide fans with a new take on what they love.

“We were able to divert power from that aspect to concentrate more on developing these gameplay ideas and this brand-new structure,” he said.

Asset reuse is an effective way of developing games. In fact, just last year we talked to Sniper Elite developer Rebellion about the very same topic. Additionally, games like SEGA’s Yakuza series reuses entire locations, allowing them to make them denser entry-by-entry or add and remove significant areas—such as the underground mall—depending on what the story requires.

For more on Nightreign, read our full-length review of the new multiplayer game, or check out why the game hasn’t officially launched with support for duos, although it may come out in the future.