Elden Ring on Switch 2 Stumbles at Gamescom: A Tarnished Debut
Early hands-on impressions from Gamescom 2025 point to a rough handheld showing for Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on Nintendo’s Switch 2, with frame rates dipping into the teens and no gameplay recording allowed on the show floor.
Here’s the TL;DR…
Early reports from Gamescom say handheld performance drops to roughly 15–20 FPS, with a 30 FPS target struggling to hold.
No gameplay capture was permitted at the booth, fueling concerns about the current state of the port.
It’s still slated for 2025, and there’s time for optimization—Bandai Namco has already shared a short off-screen clip to calm nerves.
The Gamescom Demo: Stutters and a Lock That Doesn’t Hold
Showgoers describe a choppy handheld demo where the 30 FPS cap frequently dips—sometimes into the mid-teens—especially outside tight areas. One hands-on impression likened it to running through an older-gen frame pacing nightmare, with camera turns and open zones dragging the experience down. Notably, attendees weren’t allowed to record gameplay, which only amplified the skepticism.
What’s in the Tarnished Edition
This Switch 2 package bundles the base game and Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, plus new armor sets and customization for Torrent, aiming to make the complete Elden Ring experience portable.
Bigger Picture for Switch 2
A poor showing from one early Gamescom build doesn’t define the hardware, but Elden Ring is a marquee third‑party test. If FromSoftware and its partners can steady frame times and hit a solid 30 in open areas, perceptions shift; if not, it risks becoming the cautionary tale for ambitious ports on Nintendo’s new system. Fans also worry that this poor performance test may be a warning with what’s to come with FromSoftware’s newest Switch 2 exclusive, The Duskbloods.
The Bottom Line
As of August 23, 2025, the Tarnished Edition demo has serious performance issues in handheld mode. There’s still runway before release, and optimization passes could lift frame rates and stability. For now, temper expectations and watch for updates from Bandai Namco and preview outlets as new builds appear.
News compiled and edited by Derek Gibbs and Steven Bubbles on August 23, 2025. Follow us on ClownfishTV.com for more gaming, pop culture and tech news, and consider subscribing for only $5 per month to get access to exclusive podcasts and other content.
Sources
TheGamer — “Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition’s Gamescom Build Has Major Performance Issues” (Aug. 21, 2025)
VGC — “Elden Ring on Switch 2 ‘drops to 15fps’ in handheld mode, it’s claimed” (Aug. 21, 2025)
Nintendo Life (YouTube) — “We’ve Played Elden Ring on Switch 2 and Have Concerns” (Aug. 20, 2025)
VideoGamer — “Elden Ring Switch 2 port performance is allegedly so bad Bandai Namco is locking down footage” (Aug. 21, 2025)
Bandai Namco — “ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition | Official Website”
Nintendo.com — “ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition (Switch 2)” product listing