Key Takeaways
1. Poor Initial Performance: Elden Ring Tarnished Edition faced noticeable frame rate drops at Gamescom, disappointing audiences.
2. Demo Improvements: A new build showcased at Pax West 2025 showed clearer visuals and reduced stuttering, particularly in expansive areas.
3. Visual Detail Retention: The game maintains good visual detail on Switch 2, with clear trees and effective lighting, despite some frame rate issues.
4. Need for Performance Mode: Developers should consider adding a performance mode to allow players to prioritize frame rates over texture quality.
5. Caution in Early Judgments: Early demos can lead to premature conclusions, as final versions may show improved performance, as seen with other titles.
The performance of the Elden Ring Tarnished Edition didn’t really impress audiences at Gamescom, with noticeable frame rate drops. To potentially counter this feedback, Bandai Namco organized a demo at Pax West 2025 showcasing a new version. While it wasn’t flawless, Nintendo Life noted some clear improvements with the upcoming Switch 2 game.
Improved Visuals in New Build
Unlike the event in Berlin, the company permitted recording of a docked version of the port. Even though it was not a final version, Nintendo Life got to try out an updated build of Elden Ring Tarnished Edition. Initially, the graphics struggled a bit, but once they entered the expansive areas of Limgrave, the visuals became surprisingly fluid. There were still some drops from 30 fps, but the stuttering was less common than what was seen at Gamescom.
Detail Retained on Switch 2
More notable than the frame rates was the fact that Elden Ring maintains a lot of visual detail for a Switch 2 game. The trees showed decent clarity, and the lighting did a good job of showcasing the foliage. Nintendo Life also pointed out that sudden bursts of fire did not seem to slow down performance.
The developers still need to include a performance mode in this Souls-like action RPG. Some players might be okay with reduced texture quality and details if it means achieving higher frame rates. With the Elden Ring Tarnished Edition release date still months away, FromSoftware has the opportunity to introduce this feature.
Caution in Early Judgements
The updated demo from Pax West serves as a reminder that judging games too early can be risky. Star Wars: Outlaws also raised concerns when Switch 2 players tried out the Ubisoft game. Yet, reviews of the final version indicated less stuttering than expected. Digital Foundry concluded that utilizing DLSS and ray tracing takes advantage of the enhanced specs of the Switch 2.
At the same time, players have grown used to getting early access to highly anticipated games. To boost marketing efforts, publishers are keen to showcase titles well before their actual launch. Nevertheless, optimization often happens late in the development process. Consequently, testers may leave with impressions that aren’t as favorable.
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