The short answer
Deep of Night requires defeating Night Aspect and connecting online. A solo expedition still requires online mode. If both conditions are met, check Steam updates and record login errors separately from the mode’s availability.
Different symptom or still not fixed? Find the next check →Key facts
- Progress requirement
- Defeat the Nightlord Night Aspect
- Connection
- Online only, including solo; supports 1–3 players
- DLC distinction
- Mode access and DLC encounter conditions differ
- Checked
- October 8, 2026
Find your symptom
Start with your symptom. Skip steps that do not apply to your setup.
| What you see | What to check | Go to |
|---|---|---|
| Mode unavailable | Progress requirement may be incomplete | Step 1 |
| Cannot play solo | Game may be offline | Step 2 |
| Login error or update required | Check completed updates and connection errors | Step 3 |
| Only DLC encounters are missing | DLC participation requirements or encounter selection | Step 4 |
Fixes, in order
Continue this issue
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Step 1｜Confirm Night Aspect completion on the current save
This differs from unlocking the DLC characters.
Time: About 2 min to check; progression time varies · Risk: low
- Check the progression of the save currently loaded.
- If Night Aspect is undefeated, continue the normal expeditions.
- If defeated, move on to the online-status check.
Defeating Tricephalos alone is not the Deep of Night requirement. Do not start over or delete the save to troubleshoot this.
Step 2｜Check online status from the title screen
Solo and offline are different settings.
Time: About 2 min · Risk: low
- Return to the title screen and check whether the game is offline.
- If started offline, choose LOGIN from the title menu.
- After connecting, check Deep of Night again. If LOGIN fails, record the exact message before continuing.
The official guide allows one, two or three players while online. Changing the party size to three is not an unlock requirement.
Step 3｜Finish Steam updates and check official notices
PC and console version numbers may differ.
Time: About 3 min plus update time · Risk: low
- Close the game and check Steam for pending downloads or updates.
- After they finish, restart the game and record the App and Regulation versions on the title screen.
- Check official news for updates targeting Steam and notices affecting connections.
- Try logging in after updating. If connected but the mode is absent, report that alongside the completion check.
As checked on October 8, 2026, the latest listed Steam update is July 2: App 1.03.3 / Regulation 1.03.5. September 18’s App 1.03.4 is PS4/PS5 only.
Step 4｜Separate missing DLC encounters from missing mode access
If the mode works, its unlock requirements are already a different issue.
Time: About 2 min · Risk: low
- Confirm The Forsaken Hollows is activated. If its title-screen label is absent, use the related DLC activation article.
- In multiplayer, check whether the expedition matched only players with the DLC applied.
- Even with the requirements met, do not diagnose a bug from a single expedition without a particular boss or terrain event.
DLC content was added on December 17, 2025, with encounter-rate adjustments announced on January 15, 2026. This does not promise a particular encounter every run.
Step 5｜Report mode access, login failure and matchmaking separately
Identify the screen where progress stops.
Time: About 5 min · Risk: low
- Record Night Aspect completion, online status and Steam version numbers.
- Separate an absent mode from a selectable mode with a connection error or a matchmaking wait.
- Use the official site’s support directions with the time, full error, recent updates and steps already tested.
- If the game cannot reach its title screen, use general launch troubleshooting. Do not delete saves or authentication-related files to enable the mode.
If an official maintenance notice exists, check its dates and affected platforms. This article is not a live outage report.
Steam game launch troubleshooting (Japanese) — Use when the base game cannot open; mode unlock conditions are a separate issue.
Avoid
- Do not delete your save to reveal Deep of Night.
- Do not bypass anti-cheat for an online-only mode.
- Do not abandon an active expedition to test the menu; the official guide warns of multiplayer departure penalties.
Important cautions
- Mode selection, login and matchmaking waits are different symptoms. Keep the exact screen and error.
- DLC ownership is separate from the mode’s progression and connection requirements.
FAQ
Can I play Deep of Night offline if I go solo?
No. A one-player expedition still needs online mode. Do not confuse it with ordinary solo play.
Are team sessions or multiplayer passwords unsupported?
The official guide permits both. A long matchmaking wait is different from a locked mode; record the displayed status and connection state.
Must I buy the DLC to unlock Deep of Night?
The official mode requirements are defeating Night Aspect and connecting online. The DLC-only matchmaking rule concerns DLC encounters inside the mode.
Sources
Based on official announcements checked on October 8, 2026. The Japanese activation and patch notices govern the Steam workflow; old future-update wording is superseded by later patch notes. No hands-on test is claimed.
Official Deep of Night requirements (Japanese)Official DLC activation and unlock guide (Japanese)DLC added to Deep of Night, December 17, 2025 (Japanese)Fixes and adjustments, January 15, 2026 (Japanese)Steam update, July 2, 2026 (Japanese)PS4/PS5 update, September 18, 2026 (Japanese)Official news (Japanese)Bandai Namco: Deep of Night explained (Spanish)ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGNJapanese version of this page