Hackers Using Fake Elden Ring Nightreign Playtest for New Steam Scam
Scammers are taking advantage of the excitement surrounding the upcoming Elden Ring Nightreign test by tricking players into compromising their Steam accounts.
The excitement surrounding Elden Ring Nightreign, a spin-off of FromSoftware's critically acclaimed Elden Ring, is at an all-time high as fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming Network Test scheduled for February 14, 2025. However, with such high demand comes a dark side—hackers and scammers are preying on unsuspecting fans, using fake playtest invites to compromise Steam accounts.
Elden Ring Nightreign is set to take the Elden Ring universe in a new direction, focusing on cooperative multiplayer adventuring in the Lands Between. Players will team up in groups of three or venture solo to explore iconic locations and face off against new and familiar enemies, all while dealing with the game’s dynamic day-and-night cycle. Fans are understandably eager to get their hands on the game, and the upcoming Network Test is generating huge buzz, but some opportunistic hackers are using that hype to their advantage.
A Fake Playtest Invitation Scam
Scammers have started sending fraudulent Steam messages to Elden Ring Nightreign fans, masquerading as official invites to the upcoming playtest. These fake invitations, often accompanied by eye-catching Elden Ring imagery, link to a deceptive page that mimics Steam’s official look but is actually designed to steal player information and compromise their accounts.
Victims who clicked on the link reported a range of issues: their Steam accounts began sending mass messages with the same malicious link to their friends, blocking communication, and even bypassing Steam Guard two-factor authentication. Some players found that their accounts were entirely locked out, and their personal details were exposed.
How to Stay Safe
The key warning here is that Bandai Namco, the publisher of Elden Ring Nightreign, is handling the registration for the Network Test through its official website—not through Steam. Additionally, the initial playtest for Nightreign is set to be exclusive to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S players, with no official announcement yet regarding a PC version of the test. Any Elden Ring Nightreign playtest invites for PC on Steam should be treated with extreme caution.
If you receive unsolicited messages about a Nightreign playtest, don’t click on any links. Instead, verify through official sources—such as Bandai Namco’s website or Elden Ring Nightreign’s official social media channels—whether the invitation is legitimate. It’s also important to be vigilant about your account security: enable two-factor authentication on Steam, avoid sharing your personal information online, and report any suspicious activity to Steam support immediately.
A Familiar Scam Playbook
This isn’t the first time scammers have targeted excited gamers around popular releases. Similar tactics were used to exploit player enthusiasm around games like Helldivers 2, where developers’ game titles were hijacked to deceive players into buying fake copies. The rise of such scams serves as a reminder that hackers will often latch onto viral trends to trick unsuspecting users, and the Elden Ring franchise’s immense popularity only makes it an even more attractive target.
As Elden Ring Nightreign approaches its Network Test date, players must remain vigilant to avoid falling prey to these scams. While the hype is real, protecting your account and data should always come first.
In a world of digital excitement, always verify and stay cautious—your gaming experience should be thrilling for the right reasons.