Fans hoping to enjoy Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on Nintendo Switch 2 may need to temper expectations, as early reports suggest the port is running into serious performance issues.

The game was shown at Gamescom 2025, but those who tested it noticed heavy frame drops, with performance often falling far below the expected 30 FPS. This has raised concerns about whether the Switch 2 hardware can handle such a demanding title.

Speaking on their weekly podcast, the team at Digital Foundry said the problem may not be the graphics but the CPU. They noted that the Switch 2’s processor is weaker than that of the Steam Deck, a device where Elden Ring already runs more smoothly. Since the game is known for being CPU-heavy even on high-end PCs, the slowdown is likely tied to the console’s limitations rather than poor optimisation alone.

In contrast, Final Fantasy VII Remake was praised on the same system. The port reportedly runs better than its PS4 version, delivering sharp image quality at 1080p and maintaining a steady 30 FPS.

Developers still have time to optimise Elden Ring before release, but in its current form, the Switch 2 version is far from ready. Fans will be hoping FromSoftware and its partners can turn things around before launch.

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