Elden Ring Switch 2 release slips to 2026 amid performance concerns

The long‑awaited Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 has officially been delayed, with the announcement arriving today via the game’s official X account. Originally expected to launch this year, the title will now arrive in 2026, pushing back one of the most anticipated releases for the new console.

The developers explained that the delay is necessary to ensure the game performs to expectations on Nintendo’s latest hardware. In a statement released on the official Elden Ring X account, From Software said: “While development on ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition continues wholeheartedly toward release, we have decided to move the launch to 2026 to allow time for performance adjustments. We apologize to players looking forward to the game and thank you for your patience and support.”

This decision follows reports from Gamescom 2025, where attendees who tested the Switch 2 version of Elden Ring noted choppy frame rates and inconsistent performance. Those concerns appear to have been validated, as the studio now takes additional time to optimise the game. The delay also comes in the wake of Borderlands 4 being pushed back on Switch 2, with similar reports of technical issues surfacing during hands‑on sessions.

There is no new release date for the game yet, but we should get an update in early 2026. Nintendo typically holds a Direct showcase between late January and late February, so a revised release date could arrive around that time.

KitGuru Says: Elden Ring was one of the major AAA game announcements at the Switch 2 reveal so this delay is bound to disappoint a number of fans. However, I'd rather have the game delayed to ensure smooth performance at launch than have to wrestle with bad performance and then wait months for patches.

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