Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition Pushed Back to 2026 as FromSoftware Prioritizes Performance on Switch 2

FromSoftware and Bandai Namco have officially announced that Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, the long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 port of the acclaimed open-world RPG, has been delayed yet again. Originally slated for a 2025 launch, the title will now arrive sometime in 2026, with no specific release window confirmed.

The developers explained that they require additional time for ‘game performance adjustments’ – a familiar phrase for anyone who’s followed the studio’s sometimes turbulent optimization history.

The statement, issued earlier today, emphasized that development is continuing with full dedication, but additional work is necessary to ensure that the game performs well on Nintendo’s upcoming console. ‘While development is progressing wholeheartedly towards release, it was deemed that more time is required for game performance adjustments and the decision to change the release date was made,’ FromSoftware said in its official note. The company added an apology to players who had been anticipating the launch and promised that new details would follow once a firmer date is locked in.

This delay isn’t exactly shocking. Even the most optimistic fans had doubts about whether a massive, graphically intensive game like Elden Ring could run smoothly on the Switch 2, despite the console’s rumored leap in power compared to its predecessor. The original Switch struggled with several large-scale games, and even with upgraded hardware, bringing Elden Ring to a handheld format presents a colossal technical challenge. FromSoftware’s track record hasn’t helped either – the studio’s games, from Dark Souls III to Elden Ring itself, have often shipped with noticeable performance issues across all platforms.

That said, the idea of exploring the Lands Between on the go remains deeply appealing. Fans were hopeful that the ‘Tarnished Edition’ would take full advantage of the Switch 2’s architecture and deliver a more optimized experience. The delay, while disappointing, suggests that the team is striving for stability rather than rushing an underperforming product out the door.

Interestingly, Elden Ring isn’t the only major release to hit a snag on Nintendo’s next-gen console. Borderlands 4 has also been postponed indefinitely as Gearbox wrestles with its own optimization problems on the Switch 2. These back-to-back delays paint a broader picture: while Nintendo’s next hardware generation promises more power, developers are still adjusting to the system’s limitations and architecture.

Until then, players eager for a portable Soulslike fix can turn to handheld PCs like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally X, both of which already run Elden Ring with impressive results. As for the Switch 2 version, patience will be key – and if history tells us anything, a polished experience from FromSoftware is worth the wait.