Preorders for FromSoftware's Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition began on Thursday for the Nintendo Switch 2, priced at $80 with no confirmed release date. The version includes the base game and Shadow of the Erdtree DLC but uses a Game-Key Card, sparking backlash over lack of true physical ownership. Gamers worry about potential delisting, echoing broader consumer concerns.
FromSoftware delayed Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition from its planned 2025 launch as part of the initial Nintendo Switch 2 game lineup announced last year. Preorder listings at retailers now show the game at $80, bundling the 2022 base game—spanning 75GB—with the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Unlike traditional cartridges, it employs Nintendo's Game-Key Cards, which validate a server download before enabling offline play to manage hardware costs amid storage shortages. Bandai Namco confirmed new content for the edition, including armor, weapons, and Torrent customization options, plus two starter classes: the agile Knight of Idis and the Heavy Knight with greatsword. This material will reach other platforms via a simultaneous Tarnished Pack DLC, expected to cost $10. The Game-Key Card approach has reignited debates on game ownership. Critics argue it undermines physical purchases, as delisted titles like the 2018 PUBG for PS4 and Xbox One become unplayable. The Stop Killing Games campaign pushes for UK and EU laws to protect consumer access to bought games. Nintendo plans $10 digital discounts starting with Yoshi and the Mysterious Book in May, dropping a $70 physical game to $60 online, though details for Elden Ring remain unclear.
