Summary
It seems as though the physical version ofElden Ring: Tarnished Editionon the Nintendo Switch 2 is a Game-Key Card, meaning the full game will not be on the cartridge.Elden Ring: Tarnished Editionis set to bring one of the most beloved games of the last five years to Nintendo gamers, bundling the massive open-world adventure in the base game with the critically-acclaimedShadow of the ErdtreeDLC.
The release ofElden Ring: Tarnished Editionon the Nintendo Switch 2 is exciting for more than just Nintendo gamers.Elden Ring: Tarnished Editionintroduces new contentin the form of fresh armor, weapons, and customization options for the beloved mount Torrent that will also be added to the existing versions ofElden Ringon PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. This has earned a lot of goodwill from fans, but unfortunately,Elden Ring: Tarnished Editionon Switch 2 does come with a catch that may leave some disappointed.
According to Play-Asia, as spotted by Wario64,Elden Ring: Tarnished Editionon Nintendo Switch 2 will be a Game-Key Card. For the uninitiated,Switch 2 Game-Key Cardsdon’t actually have the games on them. Instead, they let players download the digital versions of the game, with players able to continue accessing said titles by inserting the Game-Key Card as though they were physical games. Such titles will be marked as such, so fans will always know before they buy. It’s possible Play-Asia’s information is incorrect, but for now, it seems as thoughElden Ring: Tarnished Editionon Switch 2 will indeed be a Game-Key Card release.
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition Seems to Be a Game-Key Card Release
Game-Key Cards are another step toward an all-digital future that has some fans of physical games worried. While their existence is disappointing, the bright side is that Nintendo is making some improvements to digital game ownership. For example, theSwitch 2 will let players share digital games with their friendsin a manner not unlike sharing physical game cartridges. This feature is also coming to the original Switch in an update at the end of April.
Elden Ring: Tarnished Editionis currently without a release date, but we do know that it will not be a part of theSwitch 2 launch lineup. Currently,Elden Ring: Tarnished Editionis set for a vague 2025 release date on the Switch 2. Whenever it comes out, fans can expect the new content in it to be released on other versions ofElden Ringat the same time.
