Key Takeaways
1. Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Delayed: The game’s release has been moved from 2025 to 2026 due to optimization issues.
2. Positive Demo Feedback: A 15-minute demo at GDC showed the game running well on Switch 2, with improved performance in both handheld and docked modes.
3. Performance Challenges: Achieving a target of 60 FPS is difficult due to hardware limitations, but the Switch 2 reportedly outperforms the Steam Deck.
4. Higher Resolution Impact: The Switch 2’s higher resolution screen requires more optimization efforts from developers.
5. Possible Release Date Announcement Soon: With significant improvements made, FromSoftware may announce a release date in the near future.
With the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 last year, a bunch of big third-party games were also announced, all set to come out that year. While many of these titles launched as planned, one game is still absent. The Elden Ring Tarnished Edition was supposed to drop in 2025 but has now been moved to 2026 due to some optimization problems. Thankfully, it appears the developers are making solid progress, and the game is performing much better now, but they haven’t revealed a new release date yet.
Exciting Demo at GDC
At the GDC event, FromSoftware let some media outlets test a 15-minute demo of the game on the Switch 2. The first reactions suggest that it runs really well in both handheld and docked modes, showing no blurry graphics or significant frame rate drops. It seems to be operating at around 30 to 40 FPS, which is a noticeable improvement compared to the early previews shown at Gamescom 2025. After facing some backlash, the game was postponed to 2026, but no specific date has been provided.
Performance Challenges
Hitting the 60 FPS target will be quite challenging considering the hardware limits. However, a previous report indicated that the performance on Switch 2 surpasses that of the Steam Deck, which itself struggles to run the game smoothly. Moreover, since the Switch 2 features a higher resolution screen, optimizing the game will demand even more work from the developers.
Potential Release Date Announcement
Now that the game is in a much improved state, FromSoftware might be able to announce a release date soon. The team has had at least six months, if not longer, to enhance performance and conduct further testing. There was another preview last September that highlighted some advancements, and considering the latest build, we could be on the brink of a release date announcement.
GameSpot YouTube, Polygon
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