ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition Launches on Switch 2 With New Content
The Switch 2 port arrives with a Metascore of 91 from 41 reviews, earning a MUST-PLAY designation that positions the handheld version as the definitive way to experience the game for newcomers.
Key Facts
- ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition launched for Nintendo Switch 2 on August 28, 2026, priced at 9,020 yen.
- The Tarnished Pack, containing the new armor, Origins, and Torrent appearance options, released August 28 for 550 yen on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Steam.
- The Switch 2 version holds a Metascore of 91 from 41 reviews as of August 27, 2026, with a MUST-PLAY designation.
- Load times measured in the review were about 9 seconds in TV mode and 11 seconds in portable mode between the Weeping Peninsula and Liurnia of the Lakes.
- Nintendo released a seven-minute beginner guide video on August 27 titled Starting ELDEN RING Now.
Reporting from 3 sources: GAME Watch (Impress), Denfaminicogamer, Game Spark.
FromSoftware released ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 on August 28, 2026, at 9,020 yen. The package bundles the base game with the SHADOW OF THE ERDTREE DLC, four new armor sets, two new Origins, and a feature that changes the spectral steed Torrent's appearance in three ways. The same additions are available on other platforms as the 550 yen Tarnished Pack, releasing the same day for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Steam. The new Origins include the Knight of Ides, a swordsman who starts with the Sword of Ides and high Dexterity and Faith, and the Heavy Knight, a heavily armored class whose starting gear makes rolling a slow fat roll until armor is adjusted. Game Watch's hands-on report found the Switch 2 version runs comfortably in both TV and portable modes, with load times around 9 seconds in TV mode and 11 seconds in portable mode. The Nintendo official YouTube channel released a seven-minute beginner guide on August 27 covering combat basics and when to retreat.
GAME Watch's hands-on report was written by Yuta Yashiro, who found the Switch 2 version runs "more comfortably than I expected" and compares the feel to recent FromSoftware title The Duskbloods. The Knight of Ides starts with the Sword of Ides, a light greatsword whose fast animations and long reach let players keep distance and strike when openings appear. Its default Ash of War is Impaling Thrust, useful for breaking stance. The Heavy Knight carries the new Heavy Scimitar and starts with high Endurance and Strength, but its starting gear puts the equipment load at Heavy, forcing a slow fat roll until the torso armor or gauntlets and greaves come off. Yashiro recommends removing the torso armor, which he says looks better than removing gauntlets and greaves.
Overseas reviews collected by Game Spark give the port a Metascore of 91 from 41 reviews. Nintenduo calls it "the miracle FromSoftware wrought on a handheld," noting slight frame rate fluctuations. INVEN's 83/100 flags the relatively low frame rate as a constant hindrance and notes the game returns to the menu when waking from sleep mode, which makes portable play less than ideal. Eurogamer Portugal gave it 100/100. Game Spark also reported update 1.17, which adds Tarnished Pack support and implements large balance adjustments.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.