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| Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Switch 2 banner is shown |
In a move that initially frustrated eager fans, FromSoftware announced a delay for the Elden Ring Tarnished Edition release date, specifically to polish the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 port. Based on a recent hands-on demo at Milan Games Week, that extra development time appears to have been a masterstroke. Prominent Spanish YouTuber Ray Bacon has gone hands-on with the build and reports not just improvements, but a handheld experience he now calls superior to playing on Valve’s Steam Deck.
This marks a dramatic turnaround from the game’s debut at Gamescom 2025, where the mobile version struggled publicly. Initial show-floor demos were plagued by frame rates frequently dipping below 30 fps, with vast open zones like Limgrave causing significant stuttering. The most critical issue was during combat, where choppy animations threatened the precise, reaction-based gameplay that is the soul of any Souls-like title.
A Glimpse of a Smoother Lands Between
While the Milan Games Week demo didn’t include a docked mode test, Ray Bacon’s footage of the handheld experience is promising. Despite some noticeable glare in the capture, the visual clarity is evident, with well-defined architecture and environmental detail. Crucially, exploration through the open world no longer triggered the massive performance hiccups seen months prior. Combat, while perhaps not yet buttery-smooth, was described as fluid enough to be thoroughly enjoyable—a vital improvement for the punishing title.
For a detailed look at these improvements in action, check out Ray Bacon’s analysis from the show floor.
Cautious Optimism for Switch 2 Fans
However, Bacon cautions that Elden Ring on Switch 2 isn’t a finished product. Some technical quirks remain, such as foliage and minor details occasionally popping in at the last second—a minor but distracting issue. The YouTuber concludes that the portable mode has now met his expectations, and he’s keenly interested to see how the console’s added power in docked mode will further boost fidelity and performance.
His endorsement extends to a direct comparison with the current handheld king: “Ray Bacon also declares that the Switch 2 is a preferred option to play the Souls-like game on the road.” He notes that while Elden Ring is Steam Deck-verified, achieving a stable frame rate often requires significant setting reductions. In contrast, the Switch 2 version, leveraging its sharp 1080p handheld screen, seems to hold a definitive edge in image quality and consistent performance out of the box.
A Hopeful Pattern for Next-Gen Nintendo Ports
This progression highlights a promising trend for the Nintendo Switch 2. When developers are given the time to fully leverage its upgraded specs, the results can be transformative. We saw a similar story with Star Wars Outlaws, which looked rough in early hands-on demos but delivered a far more impressive final product on the platform.
The lesson is clear: optimization takes time. FromSoftware’s decision to delay the Elden Ring Tarnished Edition release date for further polish is a testament to that. If the current trajectory holds, the wait will not only be worth it but may redefine what’s possible for demanding AAA ports on Nintendo’s next-generation handheld.