Elden Ring on Switch 2 Reportedly a Mess in Handheld — Hands-On Reports Warn Against Playing
Reports from Gamescom say Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on the Switch 2 is having significant technical trouble in handheld mode, according to hands-on coverage. Both outlets that tried the port found unstable performance, and attendees were not allowed to record the demo.
- Hands-on impressions from press at Gamescom
- Specific performance issues reported in handheld mode
- New content included in the Switch 2 version
- Publisher footage and recording restrictions at the show
What the hands-on reports say
Both IGN and Nintendo Life tested Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition at Gamescom, and they describe noticeable performance problems when the game runs in handheld mode. Frame rate drops and stuttering were mentioned as the main issues, especially when the camera moves.
Specifics reported
According to the coverage, the Switch 2 version is locked at 30 frames per second. IGN noted: “Standing still, it looks great,” but said motion revealed the instability. Nintendo Life wrote: “I just can’t recommend you playing this game on Switch in that state.” Additionally, Nintendo Life reported hiccups even in simple scenes with only a few enemies on screen.
New content in the Switch 2 build
Both outlets were able to try new additions included with this release. Reported content includes a new starting class called the Heavy Knight, plus new armor, weapons, and extra customization options tied to the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
Publisher footage and recording rules at Gamescom
Namco Bandai shared limited footage that only shows the character creation menu, and the publisher reportedly did not allow attendees to record over-the-shoulder gameplay of the demo. The publisher did not immediately respond to requests for comment at the time of the reports.
Bereit für den nächsten Kampf, Befleckte?
Erlebt die #ELDENRING Tarnished Edition für #NintendoSwitch2 exklusiv am Nintendo-Stand auf der @gamescom ! pic.twitter.com/UJMttkRu7f
— Bandai Namco DE (@BandaiNamcoDE) August 21, 2025
Availability
The Switch 2 version is scheduled to release within the next few months, according to show reporting. However, based on hands-on coverage, reviewers said the handheld build they played felt unstable and lacked a higher-performance mode to offset the issues.
