Elden Ring

What it is

Elden Ring is an open-world action RPG developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment and FromSoftware. Directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, it takes place in a fantasy world created with George R. R. Martin. Players create a Tarnished adventurer, explore the Lands Between and challenge the powers standing between them and the title of Elden Lord.

The original game released on February 25, 2022, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC. Nintendo Switch 2 joined the platform lineup on August 28, 2026, through Elden Ring Tarnished Edition. That version includes the base game, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion and the additional Tarnished Pack content, and supports both docked and handheld play.

The adventure combines third-person combat, character development and exploration. Single-player is supported throughout the main adventure, while optional online features let players summon help or fight other Tarnished.

Story and setting

The Lands Between are the domain of Queen Marika the Eternal. The Elden Ring, connected to the Erdtree and the world's order, has been shattered. Marika's demigod offspring claimed its fragments, the Great Runes, and their struggle for power became the war known as the Shattering. That conflict left the realm divided rather than producing a clear victor.

The player belongs to the Tarnished, people who lost grace and were exiled from the Lands Between. Guided back by grace, the created protagonist seeks the Elden Ring and the throne of Elden Lord. Characters encountered along the way have their own ambitions and reasons to help or obstruct that journey.

The setting encompasses open countryside, swamps, mountains, castles and interconnected dungeons. Shadow of the Erdtree introduces the separate Land of Shadow, where the journey follows Miquella and encounters other travelers pursuing his footsteps. The expansion explores further aspects of Marika's history and the world surrounding the Erdtree.

Gameplay and modes

Character creation establishes a starting point rather than a single prescribed fighting style. Weapons, armor, spells and skills support different approaches, including close-range fighting, ranged attacks, magic and stealth. Exploration provides additional equipment and resources, while combat emphasizes timing, evasion and learning enemy attacks.

Players travel on foot or ride Torrent, the spectral steed, across the open world. Routes through the Lands Between offer opportunities to leave a difficult encounter, investigate another area and return with different equipment or greater strength. Dungeons provide more concentrated exploration and combat within the wider landscape.

Elden Ring does not offer a conventional difficulty-selection menu. Instead, its available tools include character development, equipment choices, Spirit Ashes and help from other players. Spirit Ashes summon supporting creatures in eligible locations; they are distinct from online cooperative multiplayer. Online co-op allows a host to summon two other players for assistance with exploration and bosses.

Competitive multiplayer includes invasions and the Colosseum arenas. The free Colosseum update opened arenas in Limgrave, Caelid and Leyndell on December 7, 2022. United Combat divides combatants into teams, Combat Ordeal uses a free-for-all format, and Duel Mode pits two Tarnished against each other without respawning. Arena battles support up to six players, depending on the selected format.

Reception

Elden Ring received broad critical acclaim at release. Metacritic lists the PlayStation 5 version at 96/100 from 86 critic reviews, with its aggregate classified as Universal Acclaim. That figure applies to the listed platform's critic aggregate, not to a combined user score or a separate review of the Switch 2 edition.

Its awards include Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2022, alongside major recognition from the Golden Joystick Awards, D.I.C.E. Awards and Game Developers Choice Awards. Bandai Namco subsequently confirmed that the original game had sold more than 30 million copies. These reception and sales milestones concern Elden Ring itself rather than its separately sold expansion.

Post-launch updates and editions

Shadow of the Erdtree released on June 21, 2024. The expansion adds the Land of Shadow, new bosses, weapons, equipment, skills, magic and storylines. It requires the base game and is available separately or through editions that bundle both components.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Tarnished Edition arrived on August 28, 2026. Its additional content includes the Heavy Knight and Idus Knight starting classes, four armor sets and three appearance options for Torrent. Existing PlayStation, Xbox and PC players can purchase those additions separately as the Tarnished Pack; they do not need to buy the Switch 2 edition.

Patch 1.17, published on August 27, 2026, added Tarnished Pack support and gameplay balance changes. As of October 25, 2026, the latest officially listed patch for PlayStation, Xbox and Steam is version 1.17.2, released on October 20. It fixes equipment-display and arrow-status bugs, corrects credits text and strengthens PlayStation network security without adding content.

Current US digital PlayStation listings price the Standard Edition at $59.99, Shadow of the Erdtree Edition at $79.99 and Shadow of the Erdtree Deluxe Edition at $99.99. Bandai Namco's US store lists the Switch 2 Tarnished Edition at $79.99. Physical prices vary by platform, so the base game, expansion bundle and Nintendo package should not be treated as identically priced products.