Elden Ring Conquers Switch 2: FromSoftware's Epic Journey to Nintendo's New Frontier
Elden Ring's groundbreaking arrival on Nintendo Switch 2 marks a revolutionary moment for gaming, bringing FromSoftware's brutal masterpiece to portable consoles. This technical marvel delivers the vast, punishing Lands Between experience with stunning performance, finally ending Nintendo's exclusion from the developer's iconic catalog.
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the gaming community, Elden Ring—that brutal, avant-garde masterpiece that has dominated gaming discussions since its original release—is finally making its way to Nintendo's Switch 2 later this year. This unexpected but welcome announcement means Nintendo loyalists will at last have the opportunity to die repeatedly in the Lands Between, all while cursing at their portable consoles on public transportation. What a time to be alive in 2025!
FromSoftware's Complicated Relationship with Nintendo
Nintendo platforms have historically been the awkward wallflower at FromSoftware's dance party. While PlayStation and Xbox players have been gleefully suffering through the developer's punishing gameplay for years, Nintendo users have been left with... well, almost nothing. Dark Souls Remastered stands as the lone representative of FromSoftware's legendary catalog on the original Switch—a solitary knight in a vast, empty kingdom.
The absence has been glaring. No Demon's Souls. No Bloodborne (Sony keeps that one locked in its basement). No Dark Souls 2 or 3. No Sekiro with its beautiful sword-clashing mechanics. Not even a whiff of the mech-stomping action in Armored Core 6. Nintendo players have been surviving on a diet of mushrooms and stars while others feast on FromSoftware's rich buffet of suffering.
The Technical Miracle
Let's be honest—nobody expected Elden Ring to run on Nintendo hardware anytime soon. The game is a technical behemoth, featuring vast landscapes that stretch to the horizon, intricate castle designs that would make architects weep, and boss arenas that somehow manage to be both claustrophobic and expansive. It makes Tears of the Kingdom look like a technical warm-up act, despite Nintendo's own open-world marvel being an impressive achievement.
The fact that Switch 2 can handle Elden Ring suggests some serious horsepower under its modest hood. The game's seamless open world, with virtually no loading screens and draw distances that seem to extend into next week, demands computational resources that the original Switch could only dream about. If the Tarnished can rise on Switch 2, then surely the Ashen One (Dark Souls 3) and Wolf (Sekiro) could make appearances as well.
The Publishing Puzzle
The good news for hopeful fans is that the publishing situation seems relatively straightforward. Bandai Namco Entertainment, which published Elden Ring and Dark Souls Remastered on Switch, also handles Dark Souls 2, Dark Souls 3, and Armored Core 6. This common publisher means fewer potential licensing headaches and a smoother path to more FromSoftware goodness on Nintendo's new console.
Dark Souls 2 seems particularly ripe for porting, considering it originally launched on hardware (Xbox 360 and PS3) that's significantly less powerful than even the original Switch. It's practically begging to be played on the go! "Bearer of the curse... seek portable gaming... seek larger, more powerful screens..."
Nintendo's Maturing Image
🎮 Nintendo has been working diligently to shed its "just for kids" reputation. While Mario and friends will always be the company's mascots, the House of N has been making deliberate moves to court mature gamers. The inclusion of Bayonetta and Dark Souls on the original Switch was just the beginning.
The Switch 2 era represents Nintendo's most aggressive push yet into territory previously dominated by Sony and Microsoft. The reveal of "The Duskbloods"—a Switch 2 exclusive FromSoftware title featuring vampiric elements in a steampunk Gothic setting—demonstrates Nintendo's commitment to capturing the attention of players who prefer their gaming experiences with a side of existential dread and challenging combat.
This new exclusive isn't exactly going to appeal to the Animal Crossing crowd. There will be blood. There will be death. There will be cryptic NPC dialogue that requires a 45-minute YouTube video to decipher. And Nintendo is here for it.
The Business Case for More FromSoftware
Few developers command the respect and consistent critical acclaim of FromSoftware. Under Hidetaka Miyazaki's leadership, the studio has crafted experiences that challenge conventional game design while delivering deeply satisfying gameplay loops. Their titles aren't just games; they're cultural events that dominate discussions for months after release.
For Nintendo, embracing more FromSoftware titles makes perfect business sense. If the Switch 2 aims to be a legitimate alternative to PlayStation and Xbox—not just for Nintendo diehards but for gamers of all stripes—then having a strong FromSoftware presence is practically mandatory.
Consider the critical reception:
| Game | Metacritic Score | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Souls | 89 | 2011 |
| Dark Souls 2 | 91 | 2014 |
| Bloodborne | 92 | 2015 |
| Dark Souls 3 | 89 | 2016 |
| Sekiro | 90 | 2019 |
| Elden Ring | 96 | 2022 |
These aren't just good games—they're consistently excellent, generation-defining experiences that players talk about for years.
The Future of Suffering on Switch 2
With Elden Ring blazing the trail, the floodgates should open for more FromSoftware titles on Switch 2. Imagine tackling the Nameless King while waiting for your flight, or perfecting your parry timing against Genichiro during your lunch break. The portable nature of the Switch 2 creates unique opportunities for the "just one more try" addiction that FromSoftware has perfected.
The marriage of Nintendo's hardware innovation and FromSoftware's game design brilliance could be the unexpected power couple of this console generation. While PlayStation and Xbox battle over teraflops and ray-tracing capabilities, Nintendo and FromSoftware might just deliver the most unique way to experience these challenging masterpieces.
So prepare yourselves, Nintendo faithful. The age of dying repeatedly on Nintendo hardware is upon us. The Lands Between await, and after that—with any luck—the rest of FromSoftware's legendary catalog will follow. Just remember to bring a spare controller for when you inevitably throw your first one out the window after your 50th death to Malenia.
YOU DIED... but now you can do it anywhere!
Recent trends are highlighted by Game Informer, which has extensively covered the evolution of FromSoftware’s titles and their impact on the broader gaming landscape. Game Informer’s reviews and developer interviews often emphasize how the studio’s challenging gameplay and intricate world-building have set new standards for action RPGs, making the arrival of Elden Ring on Switch 2 a significant milestone for both Nintendo and hardcore fans.