Which is the best version of Elden Ring? Switch 2, PS5, PS4, Xbox, and PC Steam covered

Elden Ring launches this week for Nintendo Switch 2 as Elden Ring Tarnished Edition. I've been playing it for just under two weeks now after having put a ton of time into the game back at launch on every platform. I even played through a good amount of the PS4 version on PS5 before moving over to the Xbox Series X version since it had freesync while I wasn't too pleased with the PS5 version at the time. My main save has always been on Steam because Elden Ring on Steam Deck was fantastic. Having spent more time with it on a portable than any other FromSoftware release, I was curious but also skeptical of the Switch 2 version.

I say skeptical not because of any previews or trailers, but because Dark Souls: Remastered was not good and it never got fixed. Having now played Elden Ring Tarnished Edition docked and handheld, it is better than I expected handheld, but the docked experience is lacking. In this comparison article, I'm going to focus on how the Switch 2 port compares with the PS5 version, PS5 version on PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X version. For portable play, I will be comparing the Switch 2 version with the Steam version on Deck LCD, Steam Deck OLED, AYN Thor, and ROG Ally. Note that I have not reached Shadow of the Erdtree on Switch 2 so I'm not covering that in this article. This is purely for the base game so far.

Elden Ring release timeline

Before getting to the versions and other differences, I've covered Elden Ring's release timeline for the base game, DLC, and the new Tarnished Edition.

• February 2022: Elden Ring launches worldwide for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, and Steam.
• June 2024: Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, a major expansion, launches worldwide for the same platforms.
• August 2026: Elden Ring Tarnished Edition launches for Nintendo Switch 2 worldwide including the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion in addition to bonus content. The Tarnished Pack DLC launches for PS5, PS4, Xbox, and Steam adding the bonus content from the Switch 2 version as paid DLC.

Elden Ring feature and edition differences across platforms

Elden Ring on PS5, Xbox, PS4, and Steam is available as the standalone release or in a bundle with Shadow of the Erdtree expansion included. On Switch 2, Elden Ring Tarnished Edition includes the base game and the expansion together alongside some new cosmetics and more in the form of the Tarnished Pack DLC. There is no base game option available on Switch 2. Elden Ring on non Switch 2 platforms will get a $5 DLC bringing in the Tarnished Pack DLC. As far as I can tell, there is no way to get the digital guide book or soundtracks on Switch 2 like you could on other platforms with the Deluxe Editions. 

As for physical releases, Elden Ring Tarnished Edition on Switch 2 is a Game Key Card release. On PS5, PS4, and Xbox, it is available as a standalone disc or a bundle with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC as a voucher.

Elden Ring visuals differences across Switch 2, PS5, Xbox, PS4 Pro, PC, Steam Deck, and PS5 Pro

When comparing visuals, I used Elden Ring's PS5 version on both PS5 and PS5 Pro, the PS4 version on PS4 Pro or PS5 Pro. Note that the visuals for the PS4 version played on PS5, PS4 Pro, and PS5 Pro systems are basically the same at 1800p with checkerboard rendering. Performance differs of course, but I will cover that after the visuals. On Xbox, I used the Xbox Series version on my Xbox Series X. On consoles with different visual modes, I only included the performance / frame rate priority modes as I don't think the other modes are worth using. The Switch 2 Tarnished Edition has no graphics options or modes. 

Since Elden Ring has a dynamic time of day and weather system, it was hard to get the shots to line up exactly given different progress on different platforms. To sort this, I started a new game on every platform and chose the same starting class and did 4K capture at the exact same positions and time after fast travel. I also did capture in two other locations lining things up as far as I could. Based on what I see, the Switch 2 is closer to the last generation release even docked. The grass setting is well below the PS5 and Xbox Series versions with the resolution lower than the PS4 Pro release. I can't say for sure if Switch 2 uses dynamic resolution, but in the three locations I checked, it appears to be around 1080p when comparing with the PC release at 1080 and trying to match settings. 

One more change I noticed on Switch 2 is level of distant detail, but I'm not sure if this is because of the internal resolution or not. Distant trees without leaves don't resolve fully and appear broken with branches in the air on Switch 2 compared to the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions. This also happens on PS4 Pro, but it is less than on Switch 2. The comparisons below are all based on the opening area since I was unable to replay every version on every console to reach later areas and only had my main completed save on PC with Xbox behind there from my initial Series X playthrough.

Note: For the comparison images above, I used a 4K capture card on the Switch 2 version docked, PS4 Pro version, and the performance / prioritize frame rate mode on the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions. I selected specific parts of the screenshots to show the differences across platforms. 

When comparing portable visuals, I used the my mixture of high and medium settings on both Steam Deck (720p) and ROG Ally (1080p) with both delivering above 30fps constantly. I could turn settings down or up, but these are the ones I play with when I'm playing the game outside testing reasons. The Switch 2 here is closer to the lower grass preset I use on Steam Deck compared to ROG Ally and it is also not native 1080p like the ROG Ally. It appears to be in between both, but given the lack of proper handheld capture and heavy post-processing, I'm unable to give a concrete pixel count. 

Overall, it edges out the Deck in some ways (resolution, some ambient occlusion) and is lacking compared to it in others (some distant geometry detail, frame rate stability). The big difference between both is performance since you have less control over the Switch 2 version with its poor frame pacing while a bad frame rate cap isn't an issue on Steam Deck with how much control you have over that aspect. The ROG Ally is a better visual experience than both by a decent margin with higher density for grass, better shadows, and more.

Given what we've seen from other third party ports on the platform including cross generation releases like Final Fantasy VII Remake, the Switch 2 is definitely capable of more than this port of Elden Ring. I'm not even sure what the big delay was in the release if we got an experience comparable to the base last generation version albeit with faster load times as I cover later on. 

Note: For the comparisons above, I used Steam's screenshot functionality on the Steam Deck and ROG Ally with both versions using settings I use when I play at above 30fps, but below 40fps. The Switch 2 image is via system screenshot functionality since there is no other way to get handheld capture now.

I wouldn't recommend the Switch 2 version purely for TV play because it is literally better on every other current platform I tested on and even on PS4 Pro. The portable experience still has merit though, but you need to get used to the frame pacing issues. I would treat Elden Ring Tarnished Edition as a portable-first game with the bonus of being able to play it docked as well rather than a true hybrid port that takes full advantage of the console. That sort of praise is reserved for the likes of Cyberpunk 2077 and even Assassin's Creed Shadows.

Note: Elden Ring's HDR handheld or basically the brightness and saturation settings are off compared to other platforms' defaults. This is why some of the handheld comparisons look different when it comes to colors or brightness. I don't use HDR when docked so cannot comment on that, but I recommend tweaking the brightness and saturation in the settings if you do play on Switch 2 handheld.

Elden Ring 4K capture across consoles

Elden Ring performance differences across Switch 2, PS5, Xbox, PS4 Pro, PC, Steam Deck, and PS5 Pro

When it comes to performance and frame rate, nothing has improved since launch in the prioritize frame rate / performance modes on the current PS5 and Xbox Series X versions. If you need a refresher, the PS5 version on base PS5 ran with an uncapped frame rate that usually was out of the VRR range on the console. It wasn't as bad as the 30fps cap on base PS4, but it isn't ideal. The Xbox Series X has the same issue, but the VRR range is wider there making it the best way to play the current generation version at launch. When playing on PS5 Pro, the PS5 version benefits from the added power and is usually within the VRR range, but it isn't a locked 60fps. Even the PC version has issues today with performance and hitching that haven't been fixed. Back at launch, the only way to get a near locked 60fps experience without stuttering or hitching was playing the PS4 version via backward compatibility on PS5. You had some longer load times and cutback visuals, but it was the best performing version by far.

Moving over to the Switch 2 version, Elden Ring Tarnished Edition looks and runs worse than the PS4 Pro version. It has frame pacing issues and targets a lower frame rate than PS4 Pro despite the cuts to visuals on Nintendo's new hybrid console. I don't have my base PS4 available to test anymore, but this feels closer to the base PS4 experience when it comes to image quality and performance than PS4 Pro let alone the current PS5 and Xbox Series X versions.

On the portable side, Elden Ring is below Steam Deck and ROG Ally in the tests I did in the opening hours. It isn't bad, but this feels like a last generation experience with no issues resolved when it comes to performance. I hope a future update on Switch 2 can uncap the frame rate and run it in a 120hz container so VRR could potentially deal with the issuses. Right now, even moving the cursor on the map screen has some hitching on Switch 2. 

I want to note that performance in Shadow of the Erdtree is worse on PC and Xbox compared to the base game. I haven't reached the expansion location on Switch 2 yet, but keep in mind that Elden Ring went from a 40fps to a 30fps experience on Steam Deck in the DLC area. 

One last thing I was curious about is input lag. I can't measure it beyond doing slow motion camera capture, but the Switch 2 version doesn't feel laggier than what you'd expect for it just running at a lower frame rate than other current generation consoles. 

Elden Ring load times across Switch 2, PS5, Steam, Xbox, Xbox on PC, and Switch

To test Elden Ring's load times, I measured three things. The time taken to get to the title screen from the console dashboard, the time taken to load a save in Limgrave, and the time taken to fast travel to the Church of Elleh. I have Elden Ring installed to the PS4 Pro storage, PS5 Pro internal storage, PS5 M2 SSD, PS4 version on PS5 Pro internal storage, Switch 2 Tarnished Edition on the Switch 2 internal storage, Steam version on Steam Deck OLED internal storage, ROG Ally internal storage, and AYN Thor internal storage. The results below are in seconds.

As you can see, the Switch 2 is actually very good overall, but it slower than the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions as expected. The PC version takes longer than others initially because of the anti cheat screen initially. This problem affects many games with anti cheat, but it is something to keep in mind. You can get into the game from the dashboard faster on Switch 2 than PC handhelds right now. The PS5 version on PS5 Pro is the fastest across the board and it matters a lot in a game like this. 

Which version of Elden Ring is the best?

If you value the best performance across the board and own a display with VRR support, the PS5 version on PS5 Pro alongside the PS4 version on any PS5 console is still the best on the console side. The PC version has improved since launch, but it still has issues based on my testing. Even if I try and run at the lowest possible settings on ROG Ally well below 720p, it still has some stuttering. I'm not happy enough with the state of the PC port to recommend it over console yet. 

On the portable side, Elden Ring on Switch 2 is decent enough all things considered, but it really should've been a better visual experience with a more effective post-processing solution or improved upscaling. I really wonder what state it was in to have been delayed if this is how they launch it. Don't get me wrong. This isn't a bad port, it just should've been a lot better given what the Switch 2 is capable of. I struggle to even say Elden Ring on Switch 2 is the best portable version since it is below Steam Deck in performance stability and below ROG Ally visually, but this is one of the cases where being able to dock the game and continue playing is a benefit. 

Which version of Elden Ring should you buy today?

Everyone has their own priorities for what they want, so I'm going to list the advantages and disadvantages of every single version of Elden Ring as a conclusion to this feature below:

• Elden Ring on Switch 2: The Tarnished Edition with all DLC content included is the way to go if you value portability above all and can tolerate frame pacing issues. If you don't have any other platform, this is still worth playing, though I'd focus on it portably rather than docked, especially if you play on a 1440p or 4K screen.
• Elden Ring on Xbox: Elden Ring on Xbox has Quick Resume, a wider VRR range, and basically is the best current version unless you have a PS5 Pro. Note: Elden Ring is not a Play Anywhere title so you cannot natively play it on PC handhelds with the same license, though you can stream it via remote play.
• Elden Ring on PS5: If you want to play on your TV, care about trophy support, and don't care about portable play (unless you stream to a PlayStation Portal or phone), this is the version to get. It is also the fastest version when it comes to load times and is the best console version if you play it on PS5 Pro.
• Elden Ring on PS4: If you bought the PS5 version digitally, you get this for free. Playing this on PS5 is the only way to get a near perfect 60fps experience without stuttering right now. As for playing it on PS4 or PS4 Pro, it isn't ideal, but the latter is better than Switch 2 right now.
• Elden Ring on Steam: If you are ok modding or can brute force fixes, this is the one to get for Windows. If you own a Steam Deck, especially an OLED, this is the version to get for the best stability in performance and a solid overall experience. Just be warned of the longer initial load times.

Hopefully this helped you decide where you should get Elden Ring and if you already own it, got you to finally play or revisit it because it is one of FromSoftware's best games by a big margin as far as I'm concerned. I look forward to it hopefully getting patched on Switch 2 to improve the docked experience. Until then, I'll be enjoying it handheld like I did on Steam Deck years ago. 

Elden Ring is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (Steam). It launches for Switch 2 on August 28 as Elden Ring Tarnished Edition.