Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 on August 28, 2026 — and with it, FromSoftware's 2022 open-world action RPG finally makes its Nintendo debut. The package bundles the base game, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, and brand-new exclusive content that will also be sold separately on other platforms the same day. US price is $79.99.
The announcement marks the end of a long wait: Elden Ring was among the flagship games shown at the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal in April 2025, but an early Gamescom build drew performance concerns that pushed the release a full year. Today's Nintendo-published story spotlight signals that launch is now eleven days away.
- ▶Sources: Nintendo official announcement · Bandai Namco Europe · IGN — release date confirmed · Polygon — Switch 2 port history · VGC — delay context · Nintendo Life — story trailer
At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Title | ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition |
| Developer | FromSoftware |
| Publisher | Bandai Namco Entertainment |
| Genre | Open-world action RPG |
| Release date | August 28, 2026 |
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| US price | $79.99 |
| File size | 48.8 GB |
| Included | Base game + Shadow of the Erdtree + new content |
| Online | Co-op up to 3 / PvP up to 6 (Colosseums) |
| Physical | Game-Key Card available at retail |
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition — Story Spotlight trailer for Nintendo Switch 2 (Bandai Namco Entertainment America, August 2026)
What Elden Ring Is — For Anyone Who Missed It
Elden Ring launched on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox in February 2022. It is an open-world action RPG set in the Lands Between — a decayed dark-fantasy continent where the Elden Ring has shattered and the player, cast as a Tarnished exile, must rise to become Elden Lord.
FromSoftware director Hidetaka Miyazaki — the creator of the Dark Souls series — collaborated with author George R. R. Martin on the game's foundational mythology. The result received more than 400 Game of the Year nominations, won GOTY at The Game Awards 2022, and Ultimate Game of the Year at the 2022 Golden Joystick Awards. Worldwide sales have surpassed 28 million copies.
The core loop is exploration, deliberate combat, and character-building through a vast menu of weapons, spells, summons, and talismans. There is no single correct path through the Lands Between; two players can spend 100 hours each and encounter almost entirely different builds and routes.
▲ Elden Ring Tarnished Edition announcement trailer — Bandai Namco Europe (YouTube)
What's Included in the Tarnished Edition
Base Game — Elden Ring (2022)
The full original release: the open Lands Between, its legacy dungeons, its 100+ hours of base content, and the online layer of co-op invasions and Colosseum PvP. TV mode, Tabletop mode, and Handheld mode are all supported on Switch 2.
Shadow of the Erdtree Expansion (2024)
Released June 2024, Shadow of the Erdtree is a standalone expansion set in the Realm of Shadow — a new region accessible after defeating a mid-game boss. It adds new bosses, weapons, armor, sorceries, incantations, and a self-contained story arc. Reviewers treated it as a second full game's worth of content.
New Content Exclusive to the Tarnished Edition
Three additions that do not exist on any current platform — they arrive on Switch 2 built-in and on other platforms as the Tarnished Pack DLC on the same August 28 date:
- ▶Two new starting classes: additional character archetypes available at character creation.
- ▶New character armor sets: new equipment added to the game's loot pool.
- ▶Torrent customization: cosmetic skins for the player's Spectral Steed, Torrent — the first time the beloved horse can be visually customized.
Tarnished Edition Content Summary
| Content | Switch 2 Tarnished Edition | Other Platforms (existing owners) |
|---|---|---|
| Base game | ✅ Included | ✅ Already owned |
| Shadow of the Erdtree | ✅ Included | Separate purchase if not owned |
| Two new starting classes | ✅ Included | Tarnished Pack DLC (date: Aug 28) |
| New armor sets | ✅ Included | Tarnished Pack DLC (date: Aug 28) |
| Torrent customization | ✅ Included | Tarnished Pack DLC (date: Aug 28) |
The Delay Explained
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition was first revealed alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware reveal in April 2025 — part of a wave that also included Switch 2 ports of Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy, Street Fighter 6, and Hitman: World of Assassination.
Its original 2025 target slipped after a Gamescom hands-on period surfaced performance complaints. In October 2025, Bandai Namco and FromSoftware announced a delay into 2026, citing "time for performance adjustments."
The August 2026 story trailer has mostly settled concerns. Nintendo Life, reviewing the footage, wrote: "While we're well aware that publishers like to show off games in their very best light for trailers, there's no denying that it actually looks really nice. After reports of some performance issues during hands-on sessions, it seems FromSoftware has taken the time to make sure it looks and runs well on Nintendo's console."
▲ Nintendo of America's story trailer for Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on Switch 2 (YouTube)
The actual question — steady frame rate in the open Lands Between, performance in dense fights — will only be answered at launch. Expect Digital Foundry-style analysis within hours of August 28.
Platform and Pricing
| Region/Platform | Edition | Price | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switch 2 (US) | Tarnished Edition (download) | $79.99 | Nintendo eShop US |
| Switch 2 (UK) | Tarnished Edition (download) | Check Nintendo UK | Nintendo eShop UK |
| Switch 2 (Global) | Physical Game-Key Card | Varies by region | Retail |
| PC / PS / Xbox | Tarnished Pack DLC only | Price TBA | Steam / PSN / Xbox Store |
“Online multiplayer (co-op and PvP) requires a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership.
The Tarnished Pack DLC — For Everyone Else
If you already own Elden Ring on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox, the three new content items arrive as a purchasable Tarnished Pack DLC on August 28. Pricing has not been officially announced. The new classes, armor, and Torrent skins are purely optional additions — they do not gate story content.
Players who own the base game but not Shadow of the Erdtree will need to purchase that expansion separately regardless of whether they buy the DLC.
What the Community Is Watching
The Soulsborne community has followed this port closely since the 2025 Gamescom reports. As Polygon noted at the June 4 release-date announcement, "patient Switch 2 owners will also get new starting classes and some cosmetic bonuses."
The trailer reception in August 2026 has been cautiously positive, but performance benchmarks are the actual test. Switch 2 hardware reviewers noted the console handles demanding open-world games better than its predecessor, but FromSoftware's engine is known to stress hardware. Final verdict arrives at launch.
For Nintendo-only players, this is the first time Elden Ring has been playable on any Nintendo platform — a meaningful milestone for a platform that typically skipped FromSoftware's Soulslike releases.
Should You Buy It?
First-time Elden Ring player on Switch 2
The Tarnished Edition is the complete package — base game, expansion, and new content in one purchase at $79.99. For a game with 80–150+ hours of content across a single playthrough, the value case is straightforward if the genre suits you. Elden Ring is demanding: expect to die repeatedly, learn boss patterns, and build your character over tens of hours. The Switch 2's handheld mode makes short-session play feasible in a way the console versions do not.
You own Elden Ring on another platform
Wait for the Tarnished Pack DLC price reveal on August 28. If you already own Shadow of the Erdtree, the DLC is only the new classes, armor, and Torrent skins — almost certainly a low-cost cosmetic add-on. If you want the full portable experience, the Switch 2 version at $79.99 is effectively a complete edition purchase for a new platform.
You've never played a FromSoftware game
Elden Ring is unusually accessible for its genre: the open world lets you detour around difficult areas and level up elsewhere, unlike the more linear Souls games. It remains challenging by design. Check the story trailer and a few minutes of gameplay footage before committing.
Eleven days out. Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition arrives August 28 — and with it, FromSoftware's landmark RPG reaches the last major platform that didn't have it.
- ▶Official Bandai Namco page: en.bandainamcoent.eu
- ▶Nintendo US: nintendo.com