Gaming Guide

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Pre-Orders Explained (Switch 2, Aug 28)

Pricing, bonus gestures, included content, and how the cross-platform Tarnished Pack DLC works.

Pricing, bonus gestures, included content, and how the cross-platform Tarnished Pack DLC works.

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition is the Nintendo Switch 2 version of FromSoftware’s action-RPG, and it is open for pre-order now ahead of an August 28, 2026 launch. It bundles the base game with the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion and adds new content built for this release, including two extra starting classes, fresh armor, and mount customization for Torrent.

Quick answer: On a Switch 2, open the Nintendo eShop, find Elden Ring Tarnished Edition, select Pre-order, and confirm a payment method. The digital edition costs $79.99 and you are not charged until pre-load goes live. The pre-order bonus is two gestures, The Ring and Ring of Miquella.

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Release date, price, and platform

Tarnished Edition launches on August 28, 2026 for the Nintendo Switch 2. It was first shown during the Nintendo Direct on April 2, 2025, then pushed into 2026, with the final date locked shortly before pre-orders went live. Digital pre-orders run through the eShop for $79.99, and you can also reserve the physical Switch 2 copy.

At $80, this is one of the few third-party base games on Switch 2 priced above the usual $60 to $70 range. The higher cost reflects the full package, since the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion and the new add-ons are all included in that single price.

DetailInformation
Release dateAugust 28, 2026
Lead platformNintendo Switch 2
Digital price$79.99
DeveloperFromSoftware
PublisherBandai Namco Entertainment
Genre / modesAction-RPG, single-player and online co-op

How to pre-order on Nintendo Switch 2

On your Switch 2, open the Nintendo eShop. Use the Search tab to look up Elden Ring, or browse the Latest section and scroll until the listing appears.
Open the store page by pressing A, then choose Pre-order. You can also reserve directly from the official product page at Bandai Namco.
Confirm a payment method to lock the order. You can pay using eShop Wallet Credits. No money is taken until the game is ready for pre-load.

Once placed, the pre-order shows up under the Pre-orders tab in the eShop. You can cancel any time before the pre-load date, so note the expected payment date as your cancellation deadline. After you pre-load the game or download its DLC, the order can no longer be cancelled.


Pre-order bonus gestures

Pre-ordering grants two bonus gestures, The Ring and Ring of Miquella. These are cosmetic emotes for your Tarnished. If you skip the pre-order, you are not locked out of them, since both gestures can still be unlocked by playing through the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.


What is included in Tarnished Edition

The Switch 2 release is a complete package. It carries the original 2022 base game across the Lands Between, the 2024 Shadow of the Erdtree expansion set in the Land of Shadow, and the new extras created for this edition.

  • Elden Ring base game
  • Shadow of the Erdtree expansion
  • Two new starting classes
  • New armor for the Tarnished
  • New skins for Torrent, your spectral steed

The two new starting classes are the Heavy Knight and the Idus Knight. The Heavy Knight wears black heavy plate and wields a curved greatsword, built for melee play. The Idus Knight is described as a knight known for lightweight gear and weaponry handled with skill, pointing toward a Dexterity-focused build.


Other platforms and the Tarnished Pack DLC

Switch 2 owners get the all-in-one bundle, but the new content is not exclusive to that console forever. On August 28, 2026, the additions arrive on other systems as The Tarnished Pack DLC for existing copies of Elden Ring. That covers PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.

On those platforms, the DLC delivers the new starting classes, new armor, and Torrent customization rather than the full game bundle, since players there already own Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree separately. As of now, that paid add-on does not have a confirmed price, and the Tarnished Edition package itself is only listed for pre-order on Switch 2.

PlatformWhat you get
Nintendo Switch 2Full Tarnished Edition: base game, expansion, and all new content
PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC (Steam)The Tarnished Pack DLC: new classes, armor, and Torrent skins for existing Elden Ring

Editions and physical version

There is only one version on Switch 2, the Tarnished Edition. No premium, deluxe, or collector’s tier exists for the Nintendo console. The physical copy is also $79.99 and ships on a Game-Key Card, which means the cartridge holds a download key rather than the full game data. The complete download weighs in around 75 GB.

One important limit to note: the game runs only on the newer Switch 2 hardware. Players on the original Nintendo Switch cannot run Tarnished Edition.

If you are weighing the pre-order, the simplest read is this. Switch 2 players get the most complete way to play Elden Ring in one purchase, while owners on other platforms can wait and buy just the new extras as a smaller add-on at launch.