The impossible has finally happened. After years of speculation regarding Nintendo’s next-generation hardware, Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition has officially launched on the Nintendo Switch 2.
For the past 48 hours, the gaming community has been frantically searching for performance benchmarks. Can a Nintendo handheld actually run FromSoftware’s massive open-world masterpiece without melting? Here is our deep-dive analysis into the Switch 2 graphics, what is actually included in the Tarnished Edition, and a legal hack to get the game at a massive discount today.
- Table of Contents:
- What is the ‘Tarnished Edition’?
- Switch 2 Performance Benchmarks
- How to Download & Get the Voucher Discount
- 💡 Expert Comments: Handheld Meta
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1. What is the ‘Tarnished Edition’?
If you are worried that you are just buying a downgraded, base-game port, you can rest easy. The Tarnished Edition is the definitive bundle specifically branded for the Switch 2 launch.
It includes the massive base game of Elden Ring, the colossal Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, and exclusive Nintendo-themed cosmetic gestures. Furthermore, it incorporates all the balance patches and PvP colosseum updates that PC and PlayStation players have received over the last four years, directly out of the box.
2. Switch 2 Performance Benchmarks
But how does it actually run?
Because the Nintendo Switch 2 utilizes NVIDIA’s DLSS upscaling technology, the results are legitimately mind-blowing.
- Docked Mode: When connected to your TV, the game utilizes DLSS to upscale the image to a dynamic 1440p resolution, maintaining a highly stable 45-50 FPS.
- Handheld Mode: This is where the magic happens. The game runs at a native 1080p on the Switch 2 screen and is strictly capped at a rock-solid 30 FPS to save battery life. Unlike the horrific Mortal Kombat 1 port on the original Switch, there are zero muddy textures or missing environmental assets in the Lands Between.
3. How to Download & Get the Voucher Discount
✅ THE NINTENDO VOUCHER HACK
Do not pay the full $69.99 for this game! If you are a Nintendo Switch Online member, purchase a pair of ‘Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers’ from the eShop for $99.98. You can use one voucher to download Elden Ring, and the other to grab a brand-new $70 Nintendo exclusive, effectively dropping the price of Elden Ring to just $50.
To grab the game digitally right now:
- Boot up your Nintendo Switch 2 and open the eShop.
- Navigate to the ‘Nintendo Switch Online’ tab to purchase your Voucher bundle.
- Search for Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition and redeem your voucher at checkout. The download size is a massive 45GB, so ensure you have a MicroSD card installed!
🛡️ EXPERT COMMENTS: IS IT WORTH IT?
Should you rebuy the game if you own it on PS5?
The answer is an absolute yes, simply due to the nature of Elden Ring’s grind. The ability to farm runes in Mohgwyn Palace while sitting on a train or laying in bed completely transforms the tedious aspects of the game. The Switch 2 handles the chaotic particle effects of late-game boss fights flawlessly. If you have the storage space, this is the definitive handheld
