The Nintendo Switch 2 port of Elden Ring, released as the Tarnished Edition, has confidently taken the top spot on the eShop sales charts by revenue and has maintained that position since its full release on August 28th. Closest contenders include Mario Kart World, Cyberpunk 2077, Pokémon Pokopia, and Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2.
Statistical nuance: Nintendo bases its rankings on revenue, not copies sold. At $79.99, the game has a natural advantage over cheaper titles. Nevertheless, its lead confirms the high interest of Switch 2 owners in this release.
Release History and Optimization:
- The release was originally planned for 2025, but was pushed back to 2026 due to performance issues, especially in handheld mode.
- The final version is designed to deliver a stable 30 FPS in both handheld and docked mode. In most situations, the frame rate remains close to the target, although drops are possible in the most intensive open-world scenes.
- The resolution in some scenes reaches approximately 1080p, and the image remains quite sharp.
Tarnished Edition Content:
- Elden Ring base game;
- Shadow of the Erdtree expansion;
- New classes;
- Equipment and customization options.
The ability to experience the Betweenlands on a portable console was a key advantage of the edition for some audiences. Delaying the release to improve optimization seems justified: players now have a version that remains recognizable visually and is playable on the Switch 2.
