The legendary director touched on what the future of FromSoftware will be once The Duskbloods is out. While he’s typically secretive about what’s next, Miyazaki shed light on how the studio has crafted experiences that share many similarities but are vastly different. Apparently, preventing boredom works wonders for the studio, and it manages this by not adhering to a template or formula when approaching a new project.

“There’s no intentional FromSoftware [mantra] – ‘this is the way we make our games’ – because if you start to do that it becomes stale and conservative, and you start having to adhere to a set of rules and philosophies, and it just doesn’t become interesting; you can’t make anything that’s as fun. So I feel like at least what’s worked for us philosophically is trying to adhere to what we find interesting first. I think that has created a good throughline through our games, and that’s what we concentrate on to [conceive] a new title.”

Well, we’re not sure some of the bosses we’ve faced across the studio’s games might fit the average person’s idea of fun, but it is inspiring to see one of modern gaming’s finest strive to innovate in a space where copies of its work spring up quite consistently. Here’s to hoping FromSoftware continues finding interesting paths to take, and that those eventually lead back to a second outing in Yharnam (at some point).

As for the immediate future, The Duskbloods launches this year for Nintendo Switch 2. A release date hasn’t been announced, but we could learn more at the upcoming Nintendo Direct on September 9th.

The package includes the original Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree, while adding several extras. Players can start as either the Heavy Knight or Idus Knight, unlock four new armor sets, and customize Torrent with three new appearance options. The additional content is also being sold separately as the Tarnished Pack for existing players on other platforms.

Patch 1.17 accompanies the release and adds support for the DLC alongside balance changes and bug fixes. It also introduces new weapons and NPC invasion events in Caelid and Leyndell, Royal Capital. Head here for the full details, especially since this could be the last major balance patch that the title ever receives.

We reviewed Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on Switch 2 and came away impressed with how the final port turned out. After concerns about earlier builds, the finished version delivered a stable 30 FPS performance at 1080p in both docked and handheld play, with the compromises generally proving minor. We scored it nine out of ten, though we thought the $80 asking price was difficult to ignore.

Four years after that momentous initial launch, the game is launching to Nintendo players for the very first time via the Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition release for the Nintendo Switch 2. This release was originally announced a year and a half ago, alongside the Switch 2 console itself, and had been slated for a launch last year; unfortunately, its public showings showed it top be in a fairly dismal state, with performance problems and stutters all over the place, which caused an indefinite delay while FromSoft took it back to the drawing board.

"At launch, the Switch 2 version of the game is certainly in a far more stable state than either the PS5 or Xbox Series versions were, which famously both suffered from terrible frame pacing and performance issues."

And now, eight months later, they are finally ready to deliver Elden Ring to Nintendo players. How, exactly, does it hold up on Nintendo’s console? Did the extra development time help with the issues seen in the early builds?

So, here’s the answer: that Elden Ring could run on the Switch 2, and run well on it, should never have been in question. This, remember, is a game that also launched for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One – both significantly weaker and less capable, not to mention less modern, than what the Switch 2 is packing under the hood.

Those early builds with the problems spoke less to the hardware’s inability to run the game, and more to the lack of attention and resources given to the port. Thankfully, it looks like that issue was properly addressed in the extra time FromSoft took after announcing that delay – because Elden Ring on the Switch 2 is a really great version of the game, and those early problems that caused the initial delay are nowhere to be seen now.

So, let’s get straight into the hard numbers: Elden Ring Tarnished Edition runs at a 1080p resolution on the Switch 2, in both handheld and docked modes. It also targets, and maintains, a 30FPS cap for the frame rate in both modes. In pure numbers, then, the Switch 2 version of Elden Ring is most directly comparable to the PS4 version, which also ran at 1080p and 30FPS. At launch, the Switch 2 version of the game is certainly in a far more stable state than either the PS5 or Xbox Series versions were, which famously both suffered from terrible frame pacing and performance issues, all but necessitating the use of external workarounds like VRR to get performance more approaching acceptable thresholds.

Elden Ring on the Switch 2 is, the best that I have been able to tell in all of my testing of the game, a constant 30FPS. I have not seen it drop frames, I have not seen many (or really, any) noticeable issues with frame pacing and stuttering. While I can imagine some who are unhappy about playing this at 30fps (which is understandable), it is a locked 30fps – which, again, makes this compare very favourably to the other console versions of the game.

The game compares extremely well to the PS4 and Xbox One builds, looking on par with both, but also benefitting from an SSD rather than a mechanical hard drive, so far faster load times than both, although they appear to be perceptibly slower than the PS5 and Xbox Series versions. Also compared to both of those versions, the draw distance and foliage density does appear to be at least somewhat culled for the Switch 2 version, particularly in early areas such as Limgrave.

"In terms of the actual content, you’re getting Elden Ring here, pretty much: this package includes the original game, as well as the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion."

On this, once more, I would say the Switch 2 version feels closer to the PS4 and Xbox One builds, which also saw similar cutbacks. In both this case and that one, these are ultimately very minor concessions; in fact, short of a side by side comparison, I doubt most people would even realize there was any change or difference at all. In handheld mode in particular, the cutbacks barely stand out, as the much smaller screen size is a lot better at compensating for them.

The game is not using DLSS at all, which on one hand does feel like a bit of a missed opportunity with how much it has allowed other Switch 2 versions of games to punch above their weight (most notably Star Wars Outlaws and Street Fighter VI); however, Elden Ring was built on the same engine and tech that FromSoft has been using going all the way back to the original Dark Souls, if not even extending all the way back to 2009’s Demon’s Souls.

In other words, the tech was outright not built to support, or even be aware of, features like DLSS, and therefore was unable to leverage and utilize it. Elden Ring also does not natively support or utilize any upscaling on any of the other platforms and hardware it is available on, so I think their hands were tied here. The game and engine simply are not built to be able to properly use the tech in question.

It doesn’t hurt here as badly as it would in some of the other games, because as I have mentioned, Elden Ring, for all of its stature and acclaim and prestige, is ultimately a game built for last generation hardware; and built using a tech stack that is more than a decade old. The game was never a technical showpiece, and its gorgeous aesthetic comes more from its wonderful art style, which has made it over to the Switch 2 version unscathed. All the beautiful lighting and colours, the grotesque designs and the imposing architecture, it’s all here.

The Switch 2 build smartly supports HDR, which helps with color and tone mapping, and renders the world as FromSoft presumably intended it; the Xbox One version of the game notably did not support HDR, so the Switch 2 version comes in ahead of that, and on par with all the other console versions on this. Elden Ring on the Switch 2 looks and sounds the part.

In terms of the actual content, you’re getting Elden Ring here, pretty much: this package includes the original game, as well as the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. While the $80 USD asking price feels outrageous, it seems to compare to what the game and expansion bundle costs on every other platform, FromSoft isn’t particularly fleecing or milking Nintendo owners here. The one key point of differentiation to consider is that on other platforms, you can still choose to buy the base game and expansion separately; on the Switch 2, you don’t really get a choice, and have to pay upfront for both together.

The Tarnished Edition actually does come with some additional content included, that other platforms will have to pay (an incredibly small fee) for. For starters, there are two brand new options on offer here. Nonetheles, the Heavy Knight and the Idus Knight. The Heavy Knight is a strength and endurance focused build, great for those who like to play defensively, turtle, or hit sparingly, but hard, when they do.

This style of play, which is reminiscent of what the original Dark Souls encouraged, has never been my cup of tea, so I can’t say I particularly liked this option; however, the Idus Knight, was a lot more to my liking. The Idus Knight is focused on agility, mobility, and speed, with quick attacks. The Idus Knight also has a slightly better proclivity towards Faith and Arcane stat scaling, allowing for more flexibility for players who may want to dabble with magic in addition.

"If you are looking for a portable version of the game for a replay, I’d say this is a great version, but also to hold off until it’s slightly cheaper, because $80 is a hefty price to pay for a game you already have, after all."

Both of these are only starting options: you can (functionally) switch into and out of either of them at any point in time. You don’t even formally need them to be added to the game to create builds like them. Nonetheless, if you do want them, you can get them in all other versions of the game for a small cost, without having to buy the entire Switch 2 version for them specifically. The Switch 2 version also comes with other minor perks, such as four new armour sets and three new skins for your steed Torrent.

Lastly, the Switch 2 version came with some minor QoL updates and cleanups, such as marking new items in your menus and inventory (a great way to keep track of updates to quest lines, particularly in the absence of an actual quest log in the game). These a) can be turned off in the menu if you don’t like them, and b) have been added to all other versions of the game for free.

Is Elden Ring on the Switch 2 worth it? If you haven’t yet played the game ever before, this is a no-brainer. It’s been nearly half a decade since the game’s release but time has not dulled its shine whatsoever. Elden Ring feels as compelling and revelatory to play today as it did back at release. If you are looking for a portable version of the game for a replay, I’d say this is a great version, but also to hold off until it’s slightly cheaper, because $80 is a hefty price to pay for a game you already have, after all.

Regardless, it’s heartening to see Elden Ring receive the proper, polished, optimized version for a brand new console and a brand new audience, that it deserves.

This game was reviewed on the Nintendo Switch 2.

So what should you expect from the package, which retails for a whopping $79.99? Let’s dive into everything, starting with…

Includes the Base Game and Shadow of the Erdtree

For this price, you get both the base Elden Ring experience and its expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree. We’ll get into each of their content next, but even if they’re years old, these still represent the best open-world and Souls-like titles out there with tons of replay value.

Where the Journey Begins

Your journey will begin in the Lands Between, specifically Limgrave, as you venture to the Legacy Dungeons, defeat their bosses and claim the Great Runes, all in an effort to reforge the Elden Ring. And while things are a bit more complicated than that, especially when it comes to further opening up the world, you don’t have to follow a specific order. Heck, it’s possible to skip certain story bosses and still finish the game.

To The Land of Shadow

Shadow of the Erdtree, however, is a different beast entirely. Don’t let the “expansion” moniker fool you – it’s a sizable experience in its own right, set in the Land of Shadow. It’s highly vertical, which is both especially perilous and ripe with secrets, from challenging bosses to clues about the Queen Marika. Featuring some of the toughest bosses in the genre, it also has a separate progression track where collecting Scadutree Fragments can boost damage dealt and taken (which can be completely foregone if you seek more of a challenge).

Freedom of Exploration

Combining elements of Breath of the Wild with FromSoftware’s own Dark Souls series, the Lands Between and the Land of Shadow offer unprecedented freedom compared to most other open-world titles. I can’t really say it’s the ideal Souls-like for newcomers, but when you realize that exploration is essentially how you get stronger, every nook and cranny holds wondrous possibilities. Find hidden caves, tackle field bosses, open chests that teleport you to different places, interact with mysterious NPCs who call you maidenless, a giant Runebear that will make life hell – what more could you want?

Weapons, Spells, and Everything In Between

Of course, beyond earning Runes, which can increase your stats and overall level, you’ll discover a litany of weapons, spells, items, crafting recipes, and more to help on your journey. One of the best parts is the sheer build variety. Whether you’re looking to play a melee warrior who’s focused on super-heavy two-handers, a spellcaster who relies on magic, or even something in between, there are hundreds of choices available (and that’s before getting into armor sets, talismans, consumables, and so on).

Spirit Ashes

Another key element in all this is Spirit Ashes. While summoning has typically been used in past titles to bring in other players or NPCs, Spirit Ashes work differently. Think of them as AI companions that you can whip out at any time (provided you have enough FP) and which have their own playstyles, be it the blissful Spirit Jellyfish who can build up poison to the literal ender of Golden bloodlines, Black Knife Tiche.

Tons of Bosses

It wouldn’t be a FromSoft title without challenging boss fights, and many worthy adversaries await. Without going into spoilers, Elden Ring offers some of the most involved bosses ever created. They may throw you off with their speed and extensive combos, but the spectacle is unmatched, especially in Shadow of the Erdtree. Once again, not every boss is mandatory (and they aren’t all masterclasses in design), but in terms of sheer variety and breadth, the selection remains unmatched.

Co-op Support

Fortunately, there’s co-op, and it works pretty much as it does in FromSoftware’s other titles (Nightreign notwithstanding). You’ll need a Furlcalling Finger Remedy, which exposes various summoning signs in the world. Interact with them afterwards, and you can summon up to two other players to join you. If you’re facing a boss, its health scales in response, so keep that in mind. Those looking to play with friends will need to set up a multiplayer password and, upon entering it, follow the same process and interact with their summoning signs to bring them.

The Colosseum

While there’s also PvP through Invasions, whether you’re the one invading through the use of the Duelist’s Furled Finger or being invaded by someone else, FromSoftware actually added a dedicated PvP space in a post-launch update. The Colosseum is a first of sorts, offering three arenas where you can engage in 1v1s, 3v3s or a free-for-all with six players. No outside enemies to get involved, and different rules depending on the location (the Caelid Colosseum, for example, is the only one that allows Spirit Ashes).

Tarnished Edition’s New Starting Classes

Going back to the build variety of Elden Ring, the Tarnished Edition adds two new starting classes to mix things up. There’s the Heavy Knight who wields a massive schmitar and has 17 Endurance and 15 Strength while equipped with heavy armor. And on the other end is the Idus Knight who has an interesting stat spread, with Dexterity the highest at 15 (and seemingly wields a Light Greatsword, a weapon type introduced in Shadow of the Erdtree).

New Armor and Weapons

Aside from the two new armor sets and weapons available with the Heavy Knight and Idus Knight, there are others to look forward to in the Tarnished Edition, some from the Dark Souls series. The Lucatiel’s Set/Mirrah’s Set from Dark Souls 2 and 3 returns alongside the beloved Hollowslayer Greatsword. The jury is out on how much the latter has changed for the Lands Between, but it still looks fantastic.

New Torrent Skins

And in an almost comical twist, FromSoftware is adding horse armor. More specifically, there are customization skins for Torrent, the Spectral Steed who serves as your mount, including one that resembles the Night’s Cavalry. While Tarnished Edition players will get this and all of the other content for free, everyone else needs to buy the Tarnished Pack for $4.99.

Physical Release Contains Game Key Card

Amid the sobriety of PlayStation’s disc manufacturing shift in the coming years, it’s kind of nice that Elden Ring Tarnished Edition has a physical release…aanndd it’s a Game Key Card. The Nintendo UK listing indicates a 41 GB download, which could end up larger, but if you’re expecting to have the full game available on a cartridge, that’s unfortunately not the case.

Runs at 30 FPS and 1080p in Handheld Mode

The biggest reason for the Tarnished Edition’s delay on Nintendo Switch 2 is the performance. Hands-on impressions from last year’s Gamescom weren’t exactly glowing, to say the least. Fortunately, it seems that extra time has paid off, with RPG Site reporting 30 FPS in handheld mode and a 1080p resolution that’s described as “very sharp.” Even if the frame rate isn’t rock solid all the time, it’s noted to hit this target more often than not, which is good news.

Here Forever

As noted earlier, this is some of the best open-world and Souls-like content out there, and it will keep you busy. How long? HowLongToBeat has the base game at about 101 hours on average if you pursue the main quest and side content, while Shadow of the Erdtree takes 39 hours. If you’re a completionist, you can spend almost 190 hours in total, and that’s not even accounting for New Game Plus. Long story short, if this is your first time playing a FromSoft game on Switch 2, then Elden Ring hits like nothing else.

He also explained that less experienced players will still be able to make it up the game’s progression systems, with new customization options and story elements being gradually unlocked through gameplay. To succeed, however, he acknowledged that these players would still have to practice and get better at the game.

“In terms of really, really good players, we definitely plan on having the matchmaking system work in a way so that it’s ranked, and players who are really good tend to be matched with other players who are great, and players who are new tend to be matched with other new players just to avoid situations like you had mentioned. Another element is that, even if you’re not necessarily always winning the matches or making it to the end, there are things that you can unlock through just gameplay like story content and customization for your character, which should allow you to enjoy it outside of the actual combat.

“We’re hoping that can at least draw players in initially – they can enjoy the game for what it is, and enjoy the story and the world. And then from there, if they want to continue to get better at the actual matches, then that’s something that they can do as well.”

As for what the plans might be further down The Duskbloods’ life cycle, Miyazaki also expressed interest in trying to foster some kind of a positive relationship between veterans of the game and newcomers. While plans for this haven’t been solidified, he spoke about things like rare in-game events, or changes to the Alliance system that gives players more control over the kinds of opponents they can be matched up with. Higher-level players could also team up with newcomers – an idea Miyazaki compared to Soulslike titles where players could leave each other messages that provide hints.

“This might not be something that comes out initially and may come a bit later on, but we’re definitely considering ways to build a relationship between veteran players and new players – something that’s positive and not always scary or something they’d want to avoid. For example, things like event customization, having certain in-match events be very rare or have higher chances of appearing if you’re in a game with someone who has been playing for a really long time. Or having the Alliance system done in a way where you can specifically say that you want to be paired with someone who’s really good and has a high rank.

“And the player who’s high-rank can maybe have their settings prioritize pairing with newcomers if they want to help them out, very similar to leaving signs in front of a boss in our other games. We want this to be positive for both players, veterans to feel like they’re contributing to the newcomers and the newcomers to feel like they’re being accepted and having fun with others. Making sure they’re not split to where they don’t want to interact with each other. It’s definitely something to consider and something we want to look at in a positive way.”

The Duskbloods is being developed exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 and is currently in the midst of a network test.

“We were really surprised,” said producer Yasuhiro Kitao in a recent livestream with Famitsu.

You’d think this wouldn’t be the case considering it’s a new FromSoftware title, that too one with heavy Bloodborne vibes (despite the two having no connections). However, Nightreign’s closed network test was available for Xbox Series X/S and PS5, as opposed to a single platform, the Nintendo Switch 2, for The Duskbloods.

Never underestimate the enthusiasm of FromSoftware fans, especially when it’s a new Hidetaka Miyazaki game. The success of Nightreign, which passed five million shipments in less than two months, could have also contributed to fans being more enthusiastic about the studio’s multiplayer offerings.

That said, Kitao believes that it could end up having more launch players than The Duskbloods. Time will tell, especially since the latter still doesn’t have a release date. It’s allegedly out later this year, per insider NateTheHate.

And for those worried about the lack of single-player offerings from the studio, Miyazaki reassured that it’s still focused on the same. In the meantime, head here to learn how the team is leveling the playing field for those who aren’t as skilled as PvP.

“You have to customize your Bloodsworn with which weapons and skills they hold and take into each match. One of these customization elements is actually which event you prefer. So which event you want to see come up more, and one of these events could be the final phase being a boss battle rather than a three-way match, something like this.

“So, these player tendencies. This is one area that the matchmaking will be looking at and trying to pool players of like mind together.”

Miyzaki also noted that the amount of content in The Duskbloods will be comparable to what we’ve previously seen with games like Elden Ring and Bloodborne, especially when it comes to worldbuilding and lore. Acknowledging the fact that the network test only has a few lore elements, he said that the team is excited to see players experience the full story when the title comes out.

“In the network test, there’s not a lot of these lore elements. But it’s something that we’re concentrating on for the full release, and we look forward to players discovering a lot about these different characters. They’ve all been prepared with their own backgrounds, their own personalities and settings, and there’s a lot of relationships between the Bloodsworn and their blood families, their blood ties. We hope players will pick up more on these histories and these backgrounds of the characters as they play.

“In terms of sheer volume of text and lore to dig through, I feel like it compares to our titles up until now. So, I think there’ll be, as you unlock more about these characters and you uncover more of their narratives, there’s going to be a lot of a lot to dig through and enjoy there, and discover the connections between the Bloodsworn and their histories.”

In terms of just gameplay, The Duskbloods is slated to launch with a single map, with two more coming later. Out of the ten planned characters, six will be available on day one. FromSoftware hasn’t offered much in the way of a roadmap for when this content will make its way into the game. However, this should come as no surprise since The Duskbloods also doesn’t have a release date yet.

The Duskbloods is being developed exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. While some FromSoftware fans might be worried about the title’s PvPvE gameplay structure, Miyazaki has said that players don’t necessarily have to be good at PvP in order to enjoy the game. To achieve this, he discussed developing gameplay systems that would appeal to him despite his lack of interest in engaging in PvP games.

Of course, the developer has already confirmed that this is a PvEvP experience, so at some point, you’ll need to fight other players, which can be a red flag, admits director Hidetaka Miyazaki to IGN in a new interview. “So, at the start, the audience really is just myself while thinking about how I would go at this. Are there systems in place that I would enjoy, that cater to me as a player, not being someone who’s really into that intense PvP?”

While 12 players start in a match and can battle each other and hostile NPCs, the final round is a three-way to decide the victor. However, he notes that “doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be great at PvP in order to win.” This is due to the companions known as Kin, and it seems that players can tune their build to make them stronger.

“The Kin [computer-controlled companions] can be further emphasized, and you can customize your character to further supplement their power to turn them into someone who can fight for you while you take a bit of a backseat.” By the looks of it, this may be similar to the Spirit Ashes from Elden Ring, which players can summon to help during fights. Of course, how extensive the range of companions will be remains to be seen.

However, Miyazaki assures, “There will definitely be a section of the customization that caters towards that play style for people who don’t want to necessarily always be in an intense PvP thing, even if they make it to the end and want to take more of a backseat and enjoy the game in a different way.”

He notes that the team is “trying our best to cater to that playstyle as much as we can, currently.” It’s a difficult balance, especially since you don’t want to make it the best – especially considering how the Elden Ring community feels about Spirit Ashes in general. As always, time will tell, so stay tuned for further updates.

“We will continue to work on improving the servers and will announce future schedules at a later date.”

The closed network test was slated to run from August 21st to 23rd on Nintendo Switch 2 (since it’s exclusively slated to launch on the platform). You would think this, and requiring a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, would deter fans, but apparently not. Of course, it’s worth remembering that this is a closed test, meaning FromSoftware could set the number of participants before it went live.

Perhaps the amount logging in at the same time overwhelmed the studio’s online infrastructure. This was one of the goals of the test, but players being unable to access it at all probably wasn’t on the docket.

Either way, we’ll need to stay tuned for more details on a new schedule (or even if the remaining sessions will continue as planned). The Duksbloods launches this year for Nintendo Switch 2, though FromSoftware has yet to announce a release date. Despite being the studio’s second multiplayer game in a year, director Hidetaka Miyazaki assured fans that it’s still focused on single-player games. He also dashed any hope of connections to Bloodborne.

“In terms of the reason that we initially decided to go with Nintendo, we had had an opportunity to discuss the idea for the game with them, and I think they seemed very excited and very receptive to the idea; they seemed very forward-thinking in terms of how to do it. Before considering the business aspect of it, that alone was something that I found very appealing and gave me a lot more reassurance for moving forward with this.”

He went on to discuss how the partnership between FromSoftware and Nintendo was working out quite well, since the latter was helping the former constantly throughout development. Owing to the unique gameplay mechanics for The Duskbloods, Miyazaki said that Nintendo helped quite a bit with feedback, support, new ideas, and even game balance. Ultimately, he concluded that Nintendo was “definitely the right partner” for the game.

“Of course, the game isn’t out yet so there are more things to consider, but in terms of the relationship currently and how we think it’s going, up until this point – the systems and the overall ruleset of the game are very unique, and I think having someone who can constantly give us feedback, support, additional ideas, and the balancing first of all because these features are quite complex and difficult – having this relationship is definitely key to that.

“Also, with the complexity of the systems, the onboarding tutorials and making sure players understand how the game works and how to succeed in the game is something we’ve historically not been super great at conveying instantly. We’ve definitely just dropped players in and hoped they would figure it out. In this case, Nintendo is definitely the right partner for better conveying that information in a way that is understandable to the player; it definitely suits their strengths.”

Miyazaki recently denied any connection that fans may have spotted between The Duskbloods and fan-favorite PS4-exclusive game Bloodborne. He even went as far as to joke about regretting putting the word “blood” in the game’s name.

“I expected this question, but it is a game with no connection whatsoever to Bloodborne. In fact, because we’ve received this question so often, I almost regret putting the word ‘Blood’ in the title (laughs). There are merely similar terms and concepts; the themes are quite different.”

The Duskbloods is a PvPvE game, and FromSoftware is currently in the midst of a closed network test that recently kicked off. While no release date for it has been announced yet, FromSoftware’s parent company, Kadokawa, had said that back in February that it would come out before the end of 2026.

For more on The Duskbloods, take a look at what Miyazaki has said about single-player content.