Preorders Open for Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on Nintendo Switch 2

Preorders are now available for Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console. The listing reveals a price of $80 and confirms the use of a physical Game-Key Card for distribution, which requires a download to play. A specific release date for the Switch 2 version has not been announced.

Product Details and Pricing

Price and Contents: The Tarnished Edition is listed at $80. It includes the base Elden Ring game and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.

New Content: This edition features new armor, weapons, customization options for the player's steed Torrent, and two new starter classes: the Knight of Idis and the Heavy Knight. Publisher Bandai Namco has stated this content will also be released for other platforms as a separate Tarnished Pack DLC, expected to cost $10.

Digital Pricing: Nintendo has announced a new pricing policy, effective in May, where digital versions of its own first-party games will be $10 less than their physical counterparts. It is not confirmed whether Bandai Namco will adopt this model for Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition. A digital listing for the game exists without a confirmed price.

The Game-Key Card System

The physical edition for the Nintendo Switch 2 will utilize a "Game-Key Card."

Function: This cartridge does not contain the full game data. Instead, it acts as a license key, validating ownership and triggering a download of the game, which has a listed file size of 75GB.

Rationale: Nintendo has described this system as a solution for distributing large games while managing hardware production costs associated with high-capacity cartridges.

Play Requirements: According to Nintendo, the game requires an initial internet connection for the download. Once downloaded, the game can be played without an internet connection as long as the Game-Key Card is inserted in the console.

Consumer Reaction and Context

Consumer Concerns: Some consumers have expressed dissatisfaction with the Game-Key Card model. Cited concerns include the perception of not owning a complete physical copy and potential issues with long-term access and game preservation, particularly if a game is delisted from digital storefronts in the future.

Advocacy Movement: The consumer advocacy group Stop Killing Games aims to challenge the practice of companies disabling access to purchased games. The group is seeking legislative action on this issue in the United Kingdom and the European Union.

Release Timeline: The Switch 2 version of Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition was previously delayed from an initial 2025 release window.