Gamescom Demo Raises Eyebrows
Nintendo fans were excited to see Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition running on the upcoming Switch 2 during its Gamescom showcase. The excitement quickly gave way to concern, however, as early reports from attendees described the handheld performance as “rough” at best. Frame rates struggled to stay consistent, especially in open-world environments, and transitions into combat caused stuttering that left a poor impression on those who tried the demo.
Publisher Footage Tried to Soften the Blow
Bandai Namco later released official gameplay footage showing Elden Ring running on Switch 2, but fans immediately noticed what wasn’t there. Instead of showcasing action-heavy sequences or large-scale battles, the clip highlighted a player character simply walking through a tutorial corridor. Even in this restricted setting, performance dips were visible, with frame rates estimated to hover in the 15–20 FPS range. Many saw the choice of such a limited showcase as an attempt to mask deeper issues.
Hands-On Impressions Tell the Same Story
Journalists and influencers who went hands-on at Gamescom reported the same problems: performance was uneven, with handheld mode faring the worst. One attendee described it as “fine when you stand still, but disastrous when you move into bigger areas.” Another noted that while the game technically ran, it didn’t feel like a polished, optimized experience. The fact that Elden Ring is struggling here is especially noteworthy when compared to other demanding titles, like Cyberpunk 2077, which reportedly ran surprisingly well on the same hardware.
FromSoftware’s Optimization History
While disappointing, the news isn’t exactly shocking to long-time fans. FromSoftware’s games have often been criticized for performance issues, even on more powerful platforms. Dark Souls had notorious frame rate problems on older consoles, and even Elden Ring itself has faced complaints about stuttering on PS5 and PC. The studio’s strength lies in world design and combat systems, not technical optimization — making a portable port to the Switch 2 a tall order from the start.
What It Means for Switch 2’s Third-Party Future
The performance struggles raise larger questions about the Switch 2’s role as a home for demanding third-party titles. Nintendo’s handhelds have always been known for unique first-party experiences, but bringing massive, visually ambitious games like Elden Ring to the system was supposed to showcase its leap in power. If Elden Ring can’t run smoothly, it casts doubt on how future third-party releases will perform — and whether developers will invest the resources needed to optimize them.
Community Reactions: Frustration, But Not Shock
Fans online have been blunt about their expectations. “I love From, but they always struggle with performance,” wrote one Reddit user. Another compared it to CD Projekt Red’s work on Cyberpunk 2077, noting that CDPR partnered closely with Nvidia to use DLSS and optimize their game, while FromSoftware hasn’t taken the same approach. The consensus seems clear: people aren’t surprised that Elden Ring runs poorly on the Switch 2, but they are disappointed it hasn’t been prioritized more carefully.
The Bottom Line
The Switch 2 still has plenty of potential, and there’s no doubt Nintendo’s first-party titles will shine on the system. But when it comes to third-party giants like Elden Ring, expectations may need to be tempered. Unless FromSoftware puts significant effort into patches and optimization, the handheld dream of exploring The Lands Between on the go may remain more of a novelty than a truly satisfying experience.
