Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is now available for preorder on the Switch 2. This enhanced version, first revealed during a Nintendo Direct last year, bundles the original game, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, plus fresh armor sets and starting classes.
The preorder listing confirms a price of $79.99 for the Tarnished Edition. However, it also notes that this edition will only include a game-key card, not a physical cartridge.
It's hard to imagine anyone in the gaming world hasn't heard of FromSoftware's Game of the Year winner. IGN gave Elden Ring a perfect 10/10 score, hailing it as a "new benchmark" for open-world exploration and satisfying combat. The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion earned similar praise, even snagging a GOTY nomination as DLC.
Despite the acclaim, an $80 price tag for this tentatively Switch 2-exclusive edition might raise eyebrows for a game originally released four years ago. There are also concerns about how well it will perform on the Switch 2 compared to a PS5 Pro. Whether console performance justifies different pricing is a complex issue.
The price likely mirrors the Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Edition, which also costs $80 and includes the base game and expansion. The new content in the Tarnished Edition is expected to come to PC and other consoles later. Given this pricing history, it would make sense for that to be a free update, but if it turns into paid DLC, it could end up more expensive than the Switch 2 version.
For now, the Switch 2 listing still lacks a release date. Amazon shows a placeholder date of December 31, 2026, typical for preorders. At least Amazon offers a preorder price guarantee, ensuring you'll pay the lowest price between now and when the game finally ships.
