Will Elden Ring on Switch 2 Deliver the Ultimate Souls Experience?
Yo, gamers, can Elden Ring on Switch 2 live up to the hype of FromSoftware’s masterpiece? We got hands-on with this epic port at Gamescom 2025, and while it’s got that Elden Ring magic, there’s some serious performance hiccups holding it back. With no release date set yet (maybe late 2025 or even 2026), there’s still hope for a smoother ride. Wanna know what’s up with Elden Ring on Switch 2 and how it plays on Nintendo’s new console? Let’s dive into our first impressions, straight from gggamer.net!
First Impressions: A Stunning Yet Shaky Open World
Stepping into Elden Ring on Switch 2 feels like a dream—exploring the Lands Between in handheld mode is wild! The game looks gorgeous, with visuals holding up surprisingly well compared to PS5 or PC versions. We tried a new class, a beefy knight decked out in heavy armor, and it felt super overpowered, shredding through the intro boss (you know, the one you’re supposed to lose to). But here’s the catch: once you hit the open world, the frame rate tanks—hard. We’re talking 15-20 FPS in places like the first forest, making it tough to recommend Elden Ring on Switch 2 in its current state.
Performance Woes: Frame Rate Struggles in the Open World
The biggest buzzkill? The open world’s performance. While the tutorial area ran smooth in its enclosed spaces, stepping into the sprawling forests or enemy camps caused Elden Ring on Switch 2 to stutter, dipping as low as 15 FPS during simple exploration. Enemy encounters weren’t the issue—it’s the sheer scale of the open world that the Switch 2 struggles to load. Bandai Namco’s keeping gameplay footage under wraps, likely because of these issues. Docked mode might fare better (trailers looked smoother), but we only tested handheld, and it’s rough.
New Classes Steal the Show
Despite the frame rate woes, the new classes are a highlight. We picked a knight class that felt like a tank, dishing out massive damage right from the start. The tutorial’s been tweaked with more pop-up tips to guide new players, which is awesome for Elden Ring newbies. The game still has that sense of discovery, with epic vistas and hidden enemies, but the choppy performance makes it hard to fully lose yourself in the experience. If FromSoftware can optimize this, Elden Ring on Switch 2 could be a portable Souls masterpiece.
Why Elden Ring on Switch 2 Still Has Potential
Look, Elden Ring is a massive game, and porting it to the Switch 2 is no small feat. Compared to indie titles like Hades 2, which run at a silky 120 FPS, big AAA games like this are a challenge. The build we played isn’t final, and with no confirmed release date, there’s time for FromSoftware to iron out the kinks. If they can stabilize the frame rate (maybe prioritizing docked mode), this could be a killer title for the Switch 2. For now, it’s a mixed bag—stunning visuals but a performance rollercoaster.
What’s Next for Elden Ring on Switch 2?
No gameplay footage was allowed at Gamescom, which makes sense given the current state. Bandai Namco’s keeping things hush-hush, but trailers suggest they’re cherry-picking the best moments. With other Switch 2 titles like Metroid Prime 4 stealing the show, Elden Ring didn’t have a huge line, but the potential is there. Fingers crossed for optimization before launch—check gggamer.net for updates as we get closer to release!
