Dragon's Dogma 2 Expansion and Elden Ring Switch 2 Port Earn Positive Previews

According to TechRadar, Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is a “near-perfect port” of FromSoftware’s 2022 open-world masterpiece. The outlet reported excellent performance both docked and in handheld mode, with only minimal pop-in and occasionally jerky enemy animations. The Verge’s preview similarly found no stuttering or frame rate drops in either mode, even though character models and textures are less detailed than on other platforms. The Verge’s writer, after roughly 10 hours with the game, called the Switch 2 version “possibly my favorite way to play,” praising the portability for a game of this scale. The Tarnished Edition includes the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, which TechRadar said runs smoothly even in its most intense battles.

TechRadar also offered a one-hour preview of Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, which introduces the abandoned northern region of Norgan. Players travel with a mysterious new character to uncover the secrets of an undying Fallen Dragon. The expansion uses an appraisal system for gear, skills, and weapons, similar to the purification mechanic in the original Dark Arisen, but set in a larger explorable map. The previewer said performance on PlayStation 5 felt like a constant 60fps, and the upcoming pre-expansion patch gave more time to explore without constant enemy interruptions. New features include enhanced vocation skills such as Glacial Bolt for the Magick Archer, new enemy designs like frost-breathing giants and more aggressive harpies, and twelve additional dungeon challenges across the base game. Despite the positive experience, TechRadar remained “cautiously optimistic,” expressing concern that the expansion may not offer enough diverse indoor environments to keep combat encounters engaging.

Both releases are scheduled to arrive soon: Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on August 28, 2026, and Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen on October 9, 2026. The Switch 2 version of Elden Ring is available only on that platform, while Dragon’s Dogma 2’s expansion spans multiple systems.