FromSoftware confirms September 2026 launch for the Tarnished Edition on Switch 2, alongside a surprise open beta for The Duskbloods.
In a surprise announcement that has sent shockwaves through the gaming community, FromSoftware has officially unveiled Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition for Nintendo Switch 2, confirming a September 2026 release window. The announcement came during a Nintendo Direct presentation, finally putting months of speculation to rest.
The Tarnished Edition will include the complete base game plus the acclaimed Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, all optimized to run at a stable 60 FPS on Nintendo's latest hardware. According to the official presentation, Bandai Namco and FromSoftware have worked closely with Nintendo's engineering team to deliver "the definitive portable Elden Ring experience," featuring adaptive resolution technology and significantly reduced load times compared to the original console versions.
Perhaps the most exciting revelation came at the end of the trailer: a cryptic post-credits sequence confirmed that The Duskbloods, FromSoftware's mysterious 8-player PvPvE title, will receive a public closed beta test this summer. Registration for the beta will open later this month, with the test expected to run across multiple weekends in July and August.
"The Duskbloods represents a bold new direction for our studio," said FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki in a pre-recorded segment. "While it shares DNA with the Souls-like genre, it is designed from the ground up as a competitive multiplayer experience. We are eager to gather player feedback during the beta to refine the vision."
Industry analysts are already calling this one of the most significant announcements in Nintendo's history with third-party developers. FromSoftware's collaboration with Nintendo marks a historic return for the studio, which last developed a Nintendo-exclusive title over two decades ago. The Tarnished Edition's September window strategically positions it ahead of the crowded fall lineup, giving Switch 2 owners a massive open-world experience before the holiday season frenzy.
Pricing for the Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is expected to be announced closer to launch, with retail listings suggesting a $69.99 MSRP. Pre-orders are expected to go live shortly after the announcement, with early adopters receiving exclusive in-game items including a Tarnished-themed cosmetic set for Switch 2's Mii-like avatar system.