Elden Ring Tarnished Edition hands-on: smooth performance leaves press speechless
▼ Summary
– ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition was originally planned for 2025 but delayed to allow more development time after early hands-on feedback indicated rough performance.
– Denfaminicogamer’s extensive hands-on with the Switch 2 port praised it highly, noting no lag or stuttering and that handheld mode performed so well the difference was hardly noticeable.
– The reviewer, with over 100 hours of Elden Ring on PC, described the port as leaving them “utterly speechless.”
– The Switch 2 version launches on Aug. 28, 2026, and includes the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.
– New content includes two new Starting Classes, new character armor, and the ability to customize Torrent, the in-game mount.
The original 2025 launch window for ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition on Switch 2 was scrapped by Bandai Namco, a decision made to grant the port additional development time after early previews suggested it needed work. That gamble appears to have paid off, as fresh impressions from Japanese media indicate the final product has addressed those initial concerns.
Japanese outlet Denfaminicogamer recently spent considerable time with the Switch 2 version, and the response was nothing short of rapturous. The reviewer, who has logged over 100 hours with Elden Ring on PC, described the port as leaving them “utterly speechless.” They reported encountering no noticeable lag or stuttering during their session. Even in handheld mode, they claimed the performance was so strong that the difference from docked play was barely perceptible.
The full Denfaminicogamer report, which includes video footage, is available online for those who don’t mind machine translation. Famitsu also published its own coverage with gameplay clips, which you can view at the end of this post. The initial tip came via Stealth40k.
Set for release on Aug. 28th, 2026, ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition brings the full experience to Nintendo’s latest console. The package includes the critically acclaimed Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, which extends the original narrative with a substantial new questline. Beyond that, the edition introduces fresh content, including two new Starting Classes, additional character armor sets, and a new feature allowing players to customize Torrent, their spectral steed.
For those who have yet to answer the call, the Lands Between awaits, fractured and desolate, with the faint whisper of grace still guiding the way toward the Elden Throne.
(Source: GoNintendo)
