FromSoftware has officially confirmed that Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition has been delayed to 2026, moving the highly anticipated release out of its initial 2025 window. The special edition, which bundles the critically acclaimed base game with the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, was originally planned to launch on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, but performance concerns have forced the developer to take extra time before release.
The announcement comes as a disappointment to fans who were eager to experience one of gaming’s most celebrated open-world RPGs on Nintendo’s next-generation hardware. However, considering the technical hurdles involved in adapting a massive game like Elden Ring to a hybrid console platform, the delay is hardly a surprise.
Why Was Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition Delayed?
According to a statement from FromSoftware, the delay was made “to allow additional time for optimization and performance improvements.” Reports from Gamescom 2025 attendees painted a clearer picture of the challenges the studio faced. Early builds of Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition reportedly struggled to maintain stable frame rates, occasionally dipping to as low as 15 FPS during large-scale encounters. These issues were significant enough that publisher Bandai Namco allegedly prohibited any public recording of the demo footage.
While these problems are unfortunate, they reflect FromSoftware’s effort to ensure that Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition meets the high standards the studio has set since the game’s original launch in 2022. The development team reportedly remains committed to optimizing the game so that Nintendo Switch 2 players can enjoy a stable and immersive experience when it finally arrives.
What’s Included in Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition
When it does release, Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition will offer the complete experience — combining the award-winning base game with the massive Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Players can expect:
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Two new playable classes: Knight of Ides and Heavy Knight.
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Expanded armor, weapons, and spells with unique stat scaling.
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New customization options for Torrent, the player’s spectral steed.
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Additional storylines that expand on the mysteries of the Lands Between.
While the Tarnished Edition was announced as a Switch 2 title, its new content will eventually be made available to PlayStation, Xbox, and PC players following the launch.
However, the Tarnished Edition has also faced criticism for another reason: its Game-Key Card release format. Unlike traditional cartridges, these cards require an internet connection and a download, frustrating collectors and physical edition enthusiasts who prefer fully offline versions.
Elden Ring’s Enduring Success
Despite the delay, Elden Ring remains a cultural and commercial juggernaut. Since its debut, the game has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, earning universal acclaim for its open-world design, freedom of exploration, and deep lore co-written by George R. R. Martin.
With Tarnished Edition, FromSoftware aims to make the experience accessible to a broader audience — particularly those who will experience the Lands Between for the first time on a portable console. While the wait until 2026 may feel long, the developer’s commitment to quality suggests that Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition could end up being the definitive portable Soulsborne experience when it finally arrives.
