Elden Ring on Switch 2: A Compromise That's Surprisingly Good

Remember when Elden Ring first appeared on Switch 2 and looked like it was struggling to keep up? Yeah, it was rough. Bandai Namco noticed too, and they hit the brakes, delaying the game to make things right. Now it's 2026, and the new release date of August 28 is looming. So, did that extra time in the oven smooth things out? Mostly, yes—but with a catch.

We got our hands on the game for over a week, playing both docked and handheld. The big news? It runs at a consistent frame rate, but it's not the 60fps you might be hoping for. Senior video producer Jake Dekker put it this way: "While there are certainly frame rate drops, it never hits the lows that we saw in some of that preview footage. It runs a lot better. That being said, the frame rate is still far from perfect."

You'll notice those dips, especially if you've played on PC, Xbox Series X, or PS5. It's not hitting that buttery-smooth 60fps, which is a bit of a bummer. But is it a dealbreaker? Not really. The game stays mostly at 30fps in docked mode, and while 60fps would make those nail-biting boss fights a tad easier, the cinematic frame rate doesn't ruin the experience.

Here's the silver lining: the Switch 2 version, called the Tarnished Edition, packs a serious punch for $80. You get the base game plus the critically acclaimed Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, new skins for your trusty steed Torrent, exclusive armor sets, and two fresh classes—the Heavy Knight and the Idus Knight. That's a ton of content for your buck.

But if you've already conquered the Lands Between on another platform, you might wonder if it's worth jumping back in. After all, you can stick with the version that offers more technical bells and whistles. And if 30fps is a hard no for you, there's hope on the horizon: FromSoftware's The Duskbloods is shaping up to be a 60fps souls-like experience when it hits Switch 2 later.

So, is Elden Ring on Switch 2 a compromise? Absolutely. But it's a surprisingly good one that lets you take the epic adventure on the go. If you're a portable player who hasn't dived in yet, this might be your perfect entry point. Will you be picking it up, or are you holding out for 60fps? Let us know in the comments!