Elden Ring is set to return in the near future, but the wait for the Tarnished Edition will be a little longer than expected. Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is set to bring the game to the Nintendo Switch 2, marking FromSoftware’s first Nintendo release since Dark Souls: Remastered for the Switch. Unfortunately, it’s encountered some hitches along the way.
The official Elden Ring X account announced that Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition has been delayed until 2026 “to allow time for performance adjustments.” This follows in the wake of performance concerns that arose from its Gamescom demo, which revealed serious frame rate issues in the Switch 2’s handheld mode. The X statement offers the reassurance that development “continues wholeheartedly toward release” and thanks players for their support.
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition Has Been Delayed To 2026
You Can’t Return To The Lands Between Just Yet
When it does arrive, Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is set to do more than simply bring Elden Ring to the Switch 2. The new version of the game includes the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC along with entirely fresh content, like additional armor and Torrent customization. Tarnished Edition content will be available to purchase separately on other platforms.
While Elden Ring‘s arrival on Switch 2 initially generated hype, excitement has been more muted since the Gamescom demo highlighted the extent of its performance struggles. Those who played it described frame drops that felt like roughly 15 FPS, which would be considered unplayable by most standards. A more recent demo at Pax West featured improvements, but the delay signifies that there’s still work to be done.
Switch 2 Performance Is Critical For Elden Ring
Malenia Is Hard Enough As It Is
I’m not especially precious about frame rates, having spent a decent portion of my teenage years gaming on a desktop that would be lucky to hit 30 FPS on virtually anything. When it comes to Elden Ring, though, rough performance can be especially punishing. Frame drops in a FromSoft game make the tough fights significantly more frustrating, as veterans of the original Dark Souls on PS3 know well.
Hopefully, the delay will give FromSoft enough time to fix the issue without compromising the overall look of the game. This additional work could also benefit The Duskbloods, FromSoft’s multiplayer Switch 2 game planned for 2026. If The Duskbloods ends up facing similar performance struggles, though, it’s possible that it could be hit with a delay in turn.
Regardless, it seems that Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition needs a little more time in the oven. FromSoft has never been as good at optimization as it is at designing games, but here’s hoping that changes.
- Released
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2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Publisher(s)
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Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer
- Number of Players
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Single-player