Just like past FromSoftware games, Elden Ring allows players to cooperatively fight its many bosses across the newly open-world environment. With the Tarnished's Furled Finger item in hand, players can leave a summon sign that allows other people to summon them into their world. The main role for the summoned player is to help their host beat the area boss, after which they are rewarded with a specific number of runes and a Rune Arc.
These rewards for successful cooperative play aren't bad by any means, but they leave out one crucial thing: Beating the boss in another player's world doesn't count toward beating that same boss in the summoned player's own world. If players want to progress any further in Elden Ring, they have to beat the boss in their world either solo, summoning their co-op partner, or using the summons they brought in themselves. It would make a lot more sense for FromSoft to encourage cooperative play by giving everyone involved more benefits.
The Problem With Solo Progression in Elden Ring
This problem leads tons of users to stand outside boss fog walls, waiting for kind Elden Ring players to offer their assistance. Players might have noticed this, as they can see white shades of other players loitering around and leaving messages outside the entrance to boss arenas. They could put down their own summon sign, but know that even if they do manage to beat the boss in another player's world, they'll have to do it again once they return.
It definitely puts a damper on cooperative play in Elden Ring. Instead of exploring someplace else in the Lands between or progressing further, players who want help with a boss have to wait in long queues while others swipe the small number of summon signs located outside the boss fog walls. A host can summon up to two players to aid them, but doing so potentially robs another player of their aid.
Elden Ring Boss Progress Should Carry Over To Players' Worlds
It would be in the best interest of everyone if players could carry their Elden Ring boss progress while summoned through to their own worlds. Not only would this allow more people to progress through the game faster, it would also encourage cooperative activities between players. If players knew that they could beat a boss, farm some extra runes, and net themselves a Rune Arc in the process, they would be more inclined to lend their aid to their fellow Tarnished.
Considering Elden Ring already allows for players who have beaten a boss to get summoned so they can fight the same boss in another player's world, it wouldn't be that hard for FromSoftware to integrate a system that further incentivizes cooperation. Doing so would cut down on summon waiting times and push others to finish making their way through Elden Ring's expansive world.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Series X/S.