Elden Ring has finally arrived on Nintendo Switch 2 today, 28 August, bringing FromSoftware’s award-winning action RPG to a Nintendo platform for the first time.
That alone would make this a notable release. But the more interesting story is how much has changed since the Switch 2 version was delayed last year for additional performance work.
Early impressions of the port had raised serious concerns over frame rate and overall stability. The finished Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, however, is being received very differently, with final reviews pointing to a version that generally targets around 30fps in both handheld and docked play and holds that target far more convincingly than the troubled build shown before the delay.
At the same time, Bandai Namco has released the new Tarnished Pack for existing Elden Ring players on PlayStation, Xbox and PC, adding two new starting classes, armour sets, weapons and new customisation options for Torrent.
Elden Ring makes its Nintendo debut
Bandai Namco confirmed in its official launch announcement that Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is now available for Nintendo Switch 2.
The release marks the first time Elden Ring has appeared on a Nintendo system, more than four years after the original game launched on PlayStation, Xbox and PC in February 2022.
Tarnished Edition includes the full base game together with the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, meaning Switch 2 players are not getting a cut-down version of the experience. They can explore both the Lands Between and the Realm of Shadow in docked or handheld play.
It also includes the new Tarnished Pack content as standard, giving Nintendo players access to the latest additions from the beginning.
The delay was about performance — and that matters now
The Switch 2 version was originally expected in 2025, but FromSoftware and Bandai Namco pushed it into 2026 so the development team could make further “performance adjustments”.
That delay followed rough early impressions of the port, particularly around frame-rate stability. As GameSpot reported at the time, preview impressions had highlighted poor performance and made the delay look increasingly necessary rather than simply precautionary.
For a game like Elden Ring, that is not a small issue. Combat depends heavily on timing, movement and reading enemy attacks. A visibly unstable frame rate does more than make the game look less polished; it can change how responsive difficult encounters feel.
The question going into launch was therefore not whether Switch 2 could technically run Elden Ring. It was whether FromSoftware could turn the early build into something that actually felt good enough to recommend.
The finished Switch 2 port looks like a significant turnaround
Final reviews suggest the extra development time has paid off.
Nintendo Life’s review reports a 30fps target in both handheld and docked modes that generally holds well, with only occasional minor drops in the open world or during particularly demanding boss encounters.
TechRadar came away similarly impressed, describing the finished version as a substantial transformation from the rough build it had previously seen and praising the way the game now performs in handheld play.
That does not make this the definitive technical version of Elden Ring. More powerful consoles and PCs still have obvious advantages in image quality and performance, and reports of occasional frame-rate dips mean it would be misleading to describe the Switch 2 release as flawless.
But that was never really the challenge. The Switch 2 version needed to become a credible portable Elden Ring rather than a compromised port players would be told to avoid.
Based on the final reviews, it appears to have crossed that line.
What is included in Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition?
The Switch 2 package combines the existing game and expansion with the new Tarnished Pack additions.
- The full Elden Ring base game
- Shadow of the Erdtree expansion
- Two new starting classes: Heavy Knight and Idus Knight
- Four new armour sets
- Additional weapons available through merchants or exploration
- Three new Spectral Steed Attire options for Torrent
- Additional NPC invasion events
The two new classes are available when creating a character, although Bandai Namco says their equipment can also be obtained elsewhere in the Lands Between. That means existing players are not being locked out of the gear simply because they already have an established character.
The Torrent customisation is a small addition compared with a full expansion, but it is the sort of feature long-term players may appreciate after spending hundreds of hours with the same spectral steed appearance.
Xbox, PlayStation and PC players get the Tarnished Pack today too
This is not only a Switch 2 story.
Bandai Namco has also released the Tarnished Pack today for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
The accompanying Elden Ring version 1.17 patch notes confirm support for the DLC alongside gameplay balance adjustments. The new content is included automatically with Tarnished Edition on Switch 2 but is a separate purchase for players on the existing platforms.
Bandai Namco lists the standard Tarnished Pack price at €4.99, with local pricing varying by region.
It is not another Shadow of the Erdtree-sized expansion, and players should not approach it expecting a major new campaign. Instead, it is a smaller content pack that adds fresh character-build options and cosmetic customisation to the existing game.
Why this launch matters for Switch 2
Elden Ring is exactly the kind of third-party game that can help define what Nintendo Switch 2 is capable of beyond Nintendo’s own software.
The appeal of the system is not that it will outperform a PS5, Xbox Series X or gaming PC. It is whether developers can bring ambitious current and recent-generation games across without stripping away so much performance or visual quality that the portable advantage stops being worth the compromise.
Elden Ring looked like it might become an example of where that approach breaks down. Instead, the finished version now looks much closer to the opposite: a difficult port that needed more time, received it, and appears to have benefited substantially.
That is arguably more encouraging than a technically straightforward launch would have been. FromSoftware did not simply push the original rough version out to meet its planned date.
Tech Torque Verdict
Elden Ring arriving on Nintendo hardware is a landmark release on its own, but the turnaround of the Switch 2 port is the more important story.
Last year’s delay followed genuine performance concerns, and there was every reason to question whether such a demanding open-world game would translate comfortably to Nintendo’s hybrid hardware.
The final version does not suddenly erase the compromises. A roughly 30fps target remains below what many players will experience on more powerful hardware, and occasional dips are still being reported.
But the important part is that the finished game now appears stable enough for the portability to become the talking point instead of the performance problems. That is a substantial improvement from where this port seemed to be heading in 2025.
And for existing Xbox, PlayStation and PC players, today’s Tarnished Pack gives the launch some relevance even if there is no intention of starting over on Switch 2.
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is available now on Nintendo Switch 2. The Tarnished Pack is also available now for PlayStation, Xbox and PC.
