More than four years after Elden Ring first sent players into the Lands Between, Nintendo players are finally getting a version of their own. Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 on Aug. 28.
The release includes the original game, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, new armor and equipment, and additional customization options for Torrent, the steed players use to travel across the Lands Between.
Bandai Namco has said the extra content will not remain exclusive to Switch 2. Players on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC will also be able to access the new items separately.
The Switch 2 release has taken longer than originally expected. FromSoftware first announced it in 2025 before moving it to 2026. Nintendo players now have a firm release date after the delay.
Elden Ring follows a Tarnished who returns to the Lands Between after the destruction of the Elden Ring. The game allows players to decide where to go and what to tackle next. Much of the world is open from the beginning, allowing players to follow the main story, head in another direction to explore, search for better equipment, or spend time strengthening their character before returning to a difficult boss.
Combat can change considerably depending on how a character is built. Some players rely on large weapons and heavy armor. Others use faster melee weapons, bows, magic, summons, or a mixture of several styles. A difficult encounter does not always have to be approached the same way twice. Players can change equipment, try a different ability, bring in help, or return later after gaining more levels.
Multiplayer will carry over to the Switch 2 release as well. According to Nintendo, players can summon as many as two other Tarnished for cooperative play. Competitive options will include invasions, duels, and battles inside the game’s Colosseums.
Shadow of the Erdtree takes players into the Realm of Shadow. The expansion introduced new locations, enemies, bosses, weapons, armor, and characters when it was released in 2024. It also expanded parts of the story that were only hinted at in the original game.
Switch 2 players will have access to the expansion without purchasing it separately. Someone starting Elden Ring for the first time can play through the base game and continue into Shadow of the Erdtree as they progress.
The original Elden Ring launched in February 2022 on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. It went on to sell more than 30 million copies worldwide and became one of FromSoftware’s biggest releases. The game introduced a much larger audience to the studio’s approach to difficult combat, open exploration, and environmental storytelling.
Longtime players may appreciate the option to return to the Lands Between in handheld or docked mode, while newcomers will be able to start with the base game and expansion already included.
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