Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition Handheld Performance on Switch 2 Raises Concerns

Elden Ring, the award-winning action RPG by FromSoftware, is making its way to Nintendo Switch 2 with the anticipated Tarnished Edition.

With fans eager for updates following the game's reveal trailer—hinting at a release later this year—recent hands-on coverage has provided new insights into its handheld performance on the upcoming hardware.

Fresh gameplay footage, uploaded by YouTuber NGamz, has surfaced that spotlights Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition running in handheld mode on Switch 2.

This comes shortly after previously released docked mode footage, further fueling speculation about how the game may perform on the go.

Notably, the latest video showcases gameplay within Limgrave, as the player character treks toward Stormgate and Stormhill, dispatching enemies along the way. Feedback from both content creators and attendees at recent hands-on demo sessions suggests that the handheld version of Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition experiences some performance hiccups, particularly regarding the frame rate.

While direct assessments are challenging due to the quality of the gameplay footage—limited to 720p and not offering the clearest picture—concerns have been raised about the game's overall smoothness during mobile play. A spokesperson's summary of these sessions indicated that while visuals remain consistent with the expectations set by the initial trailer, the frame rate in handheld mode may be less stable than in docked mode.

In their own words, the ability to make a definitive judgment is limited because off-screen recordings don't provide adequate clarity to determine whether performance issues are significant or isolated.

NGamz has posted multiple videos reviewing the early area of Limgrave, but they all display similar performance characteristics.

While the footage gives potential players a general impression of gameplay, it's not sufficient to fully confirm or refute early concerns around frame rate and stutter.

Regardless, the anticipation for this portable version is significant, given the franchise’s massive popularity and FromSoftware’s history of technical excellence on other platforms. At the time of publication, there is still no official release date for Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on the Nintendo Switch 2.

However, the initial announcement suggested a launch later in the year.

Barring any unforeseen delays or additional development time being allocated to performance optimization, fans can likely expect further updates in upcoming Nintendo Direct presentations or on the official eShop listing. Elden Ring’s impending debut on Nintendo’s next-generation hardware marks a major milestone for both FromSoftware and the Switch ecosystem.

As more gameplay details and verified tests emerge, the gaming community will be watching closely to see if the Switch 2 can deliver a satisfying portable experience of one of the last decade’s most acclaimed games.

Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch Nintendo Elden Ring Switch 2 Switch Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition FromSoftware NGamz Limgrave Stormgate Stormhill