Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition Trips Over Technical Problems on Switch 2

People thought that Gamescom 2025 would be a big deal for Nintendo's next big thing, the Switch 2. People were very excited when big third-party games like Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade and Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition finally came out for the system. This was the first time fans could see how big console games would work on Nintendo's new hybrid system. But the results told two very different stories.

On one side was Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, which ran well and made a good first impression. Sources say that news outlets called the experience "great", pointing out the sharp character models and stable performance. There were some minor visual problems, such as the hair's appearance, but they didn't take away from the overall quality of the demo.

The response was mostly positive, which made players feel good about how Square Enix's new version of the classic game is coming along for the Switch 2. But on the other side, Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition was waiting. People had very high hopes for FromSoftware's award-winning action RPG, but reports from Gamescom say that its handheld version wasn't ready for prime time.

People said that the performance was acceptable when the device was docked, but it quickly got worse when it was undocked. When exploring open areas, the frame rate dropped significantly, and some people said the handheld version was "almost broken".  Slow performance and confusing control layouts made it hard to explore and fight.

Notably, the media were not allowed to film gameplay directly in handheld mode, which many people linked directly to these technical problems. It was even more disappointing because it was compared to older consoles. Sources said that the Switch 2 demo of Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition was worse than the Xbox One S version of the game, which is surprising and concerning, given Nintendo's goal of making a big leap in technology.

The PlayStation 4 held steady at about 30 fps, with some drops. The Switch 2 handheld experience has trouble staying stable. These results point to significant problems with optimization, especially for a game that depends on timing and accuracy in its punishing combat. The stakes are high. If Elden Ring can't be stable on Switch 2, it could hurt the system's reputation with third-party blockbusters before it even comes out.

FromSoftware's next game, Dusk Bloods, which is also coming to the Switch 2, adds even more pressure. As a multiplayer game, performance will be even more critical, which makes Elden Ring's problems even more worrying. Players might be okay with a locked 30 frames per second if it stays that way, but if the game isn't stable, it could ruin one of gaming's most famous adventures.

For now, people are still hoping that this is just a bad early build that was shown to the public. PAX West or the Tokyo Game Show later this year might have new demos with significant improvements. There are also expected to be behind-the-scenes media appointments, which raises the possibility that a smoother version already exists but is currently under embargo.

Nintendo and FromSoftware will probably need to reassure players quickly, as the bad first impressions are already making the news and on social media. The Switch 2 has shown that it can provide great third-party experiences with Final Fantasy VII Remake. Now the question is: can FromSoftware and Nintendo fix Elden Ring's rocky launch before it happens, or will this be remembered as the first big mistake of Nintendo's next-gen gamble?