Maisie Scott
- Performance looks much improved, but the $80 Tarnished Edition could still make newcomers hesitate.
- However, one part of the release could leave players scratching their heads: the price.
Performance looks much improved, but the $80 Tarnished Edition could still make newcomers hesitate.
Elden Ring on Nintendo Switch 2 had a pretty rough start. Early footage showed a game struggling with frame rates and performance issues, making many players wonder how such a demanding title would actually hold up on Nintendo's newer hardware. Now, things are looking considerably more promising.
The early version was especially surprising because Elden Ring already runs on much older hardware, including the PS4 and Xbox One. With the Switch 2 offering newer technology, more memory, and features such as DLSS, expectations were naturally higher. Seeing the game struggle so badly made the first showing feel like a missed opportunity. Thankfully, the latest footage suggests the situation has improved quite a bit.
According to the sources, newer gameplay shows Elden Ring running without any major frame-rate problems in both docked and handheld modes. It is still targeting 30fps, so players hoping for a locked 60fps experience may be disappointed. Still, a stable 30fps is much better than the inconsistent performance seen in earlier footage.
And honestly, for a game as huge as Elden Ring, stability matters more than simply chasing a bigger number. Even the game's console versions have experienced frame-rate dips, so getting a dependable portable experience on Switch 2 could be a pretty impressive achievement.
However, one part of the release could leave players scratching their heads: the price.
The Switch 2 version, called Elden Ring Tarnished Edition, includes both the main game and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. That sounds like a great package on paper, but it comes with an $80 price tag. Unlike other platforms, Switch 2 players don't see the option to buy only the base game and add the expansion later. That could be a problem for newcomers.
Why pay for an expansion immediately when the game makes players progress through the main adventure before they can even access it? For someone who already knows they are going to spend dozens, or potentially hundreds, of hours in the Lands Between, the package makes plenty of sense. For someone simply curious about the hype, $80 is a much bigger commitment. Waiting for a sale could be the smarter move.
Still, the bigger story here may be what Elden Ring says about the Switch 2 itself. The console is quickly becoming a much stronger home for major third-party games. Oblivion Remastered has already climbed the sales charts following its physical release, while titles such as Lies of P, Final Fantasy XIV and other major games are giving players far more options than the original Switch had early in its life.
That is a major change. The first Switch spent a long time waiting for major third-party support. Switch 2, meanwhile, is already building a much deeper library. Elden Ring launches on Switch 2 on August 28, 2026. If the final version performs as well as the latest footage suggests, the game could turn its rocky first impression into one of the console's most impressive third-party releases yet. The question now is simple: will players consider $80 worth paying for the chance to carry the Elden Ring wherever they go?
