Elden Ring Tarnished Edition demo shows progress, after Switch 2 game raised performance concerns

The Elden Ring Tarnished Edition performance didn’t wow audiences at Gamescom, with jarring frame rate drops. Perhaps to address criticism, Bandai Namco hosted a demo at Pax West 2025 featuring a new build. While not perfect, Nintendo Life observed some noticeable improvements with the upcoming Switch 2 game.

Unlike in Berlin, the publisher allowed filming of a docked version of the port. Although it wasn’t a final build, Nintendo Life played an updated version of Elden Ring Tarnished Edition. At first, the visuals chugged along, but once entering the open areas of Limgrave, the graphics were surprisingly smooth. There were still some deviations from 30 fps, but jitters were less frequent than at Gamescom.

More impressive than the frame rates, Elden Ring doesn’t compromise much detail as a Switch 2 title. Trees display reasonable clarity, while convincing lighting illuminates foliage. Nintendo Life also noted how sudden flashes of fire didn’t impact performance.

Further optimization could benefit the Elden Ring Switch 2 port

The developers have yet to add a performance mode to the Souls-like action RPG. Some gamers may be willing to accept lower texture quality and detail for higher frame rates. If the Elden Ring Tarnished Edition release date is still several months away, FromSoftware has time to add this option.

The updated Pax West demo may show the dangers of judging games too soon. Star Wars: Outlaws also raised alarm bells when Switch 2 gamers tested the Ubisoft title. However, reviews of the final build describe less stuttering than anticipated. Digital Foundry concluded that the use of DLSS and ray tracing capitalizes on improved Switch 2 specs.

At the same time, gamers are accustomed to earlier access to anticipated projects. To jump-start marketing efforts, publishers are eager to flaunt titles well ahead of their release dates. Even so, optimization often continues late into development cycles. As a result, testers may walk away with less-than-positive impressions.