Quick answer: The Tarnished Edition and the Tarnished Pack are two different things that launch on the same day, August 28, 2026. The Tarnished Edition is a complete Nintendo Switch 2 version of Elden Ring — it bundles the original 2022 game, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, and new Torrent customization, and it exists only on Switch 2. The Tarnished Pack is a small €4.99 paid add-on that sells the new extras (two starting classes, three Torrent skins, four armor sets) to people who already own Elden Ring on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, or PC. The Pack is not the full game and does not include Shadow of the Erdtree. Buy the Edition if you want Elden Ring on Switch 2; buy the Pack if you already play elsewhere and just want the new cosmetics and classes.
On August 28, 2026, FromSoftware and Bandai Namco are doing two things at once, and the near-identical names are already causing confusion. If you search "Tarnished," you get a Switch 2 edition and a cross-platform add-on with almost the same title, and it's genuinely easy to buy the wrong one — or assume the €4.99 add-on is a full expansion the size of Shadow of the Erdtree. It isn't. This guide breaks down exactly what each product is, what it costs, which platforms it targets, and which one you actually need — verified against Bandai Namco's official Elden Ring pages, current as of the base game's latest version, 1.16.1 (released August 21, 2025).
What is the Elden Ring Tarnished Edition?
The ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition is a Nintendo Switch 2 release of the full game, and it is exclusive to that console. According to the official Bandai Namco Europe product page, it "includes the original 2022 Game of the Year ELDEN RING, the expansion SHADOW OF THE ERDTREE, and new armor and customization features for Torrent's appearance." In other words, it's the complete Elden Ring experience — base game plus the massive Shadow of the Erdtree DLC — packaged so Switch 2 owners can play it "at home or on the go."
Key facts about the Tarnished Edition:
- Platform: Nintendo Switch 2 only. There is no "Tarnished Edition" on PS5, Xbox, or PC — those platforms get the Pack instead (more on that below).
- Release date: August 28, 2026.
- Contents: the base game, Shadow of the Erdtree, and Torrent customization/armor extras.
- Pre-order bonus: two in-game gestures, "The Ring" and "Ring of Miquella." Bandai Namco notes these gestures "can also be obtained later in the game," so pre-ordering isn't the only way to get them.
For context on the scale of what's in the box: Bandai Namco's own page states Elden Ring has sold "over 28 million copies worldwide." The Tarnished Edition is how that award-winning package finally reaches Nintendo's handheld-hybrid audience.
What is the Elden Ring Tarnished Pack?
The ELDEN RING Tarnished Pack is a paid add-on (DLC) for people who already own Elden Ring on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC. It takes the new content from the Switch 2 Tarnished Edition — the stuff that didn't exist before — and sells it separately so existing players don't have to buy the game again.
Straight from Bandai Namco Europe's official FAQ, the Pack includes:
- 2 new starting classes — the Heavy Knight and the Idus Knight.
- 3 customization skins for Torrent, your spectral steed.
- 4 new armor sets.
That's the whole list. The Pack is a cosmetic-and-class add-on, not an expansion. It does not contain Shadow of the Erdtree, it does not add a new region, boss, or questline, and it is not a sequel. If you already own the base game and Shadow of the Erdtree, the Pack simply layers these extras on top.
Watch the class names. Early aggregator coverage listed the two new classes as "Knight/Knightess of Ides" or "Heavy Warrior." Those were wrong. The official names, confirmed on Bandai Namco Europe's page and the @ELDENRING account, are the Heavy Knight and the Idus Knight.
Tarnished Edition vs Tarnished Pack: the key differences
Here is the side-by-side. This is the table to screenshot before you hit "buy."
| Tarnished Edition | Tarnished Pack | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Full Switch 2 version of Elden Ring | Paid add-on (DLC) for existing owners | |
| Platforms | Nintendo Switch 2 only | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X\ | S, Xbox One, PC |
| Includes base game? | Yes | No — you must already own it | |
| Includes Shadow of the Erdtree? | Yes | No | |
| New classes | Yes (Heavy Knight, Idus Knight) | Yes (Heavy Knight, Idus Knight) | |
| Torrent skins | Yes | Yes (3 skins) | |
| New armor sets | Yes | Yes (4 sets) | |
| Price | Outlet-reported ~$79.99 (not yet official) | €4.99 | |
| Release date | August 28, 2026 | August 28, 2026 |
The single most important row is "Includes base game?" The Edition is a whole game; the Pack is an accessory to a game you already have. Everything else follows from that.
Which one should you buy?
It comes down entirely to what platform you play on and what you already own:
- You want Elden Ring on Nintendo Switch 2 → buy the Tarnished Edition. It's the only way to get the game on that console, and it comes complete with Shadow of the Erdtree.
- You already own Elden Ring on PS5, PS4, Xbox, or PC and want the new classes/cosmetics → buy the Tarnished Pack for €4.99. Don't touch the Edition — it doesn't exist on your platform anyway.
- You've never played Elden Ring and you're on PS/Xbox/PC → buy the base game (and, if you want the endgame content, Shadow of the Erdtree). The Tarnished Pack is an add-on, not an entry point — it won't run without the base game.
- You own the game on PS/Xbox/PC and don't care about new cosmetics or two extra starting classes → you don't need either product. Nothing about the core game changes.
A useful way to think about it: the €4.99 Pack is a "nice-to-have," not a "need-to-have." It doesn't gate any story or region behind it. If two fresh starting builds and some Torrent drip sound fun, it's cheap. If not, skip it with zero FOMO.
How much do the Tarnished Edition and Tarnished Pack cost?
The Tarnished Pack costs €4.99. That figure is official — it's printed on Bandai Namco Europe's page, which adds that "prices may vary depending on local currency exchange rates." A Japanese listing shows ¥550. Note there is no confirmed US dollar price yet: any "$3.44" or "$5" figure you see is a blogger's currency conversion, not an announced price. Check your regional store on launch day for the exact local number.
The Tarnished Edition's price is not officially confirmed. Outlet coverage has reported roughly $79.99, but that number is not on Bandai Namco's official page as of writing. Treat it as a strong rumor, not a fact, and verify it on the Nintendo eShop before pre-ordering.
Do you need to rebuy Elden Ring on Switch 2?
If you want to play on Switch 2, yes — you buy the Tarnished Edition, because game licenses don't transfer between console families. Your PlayStation, Xbox, or Steam copy does not carry over to Nintendo's platform; that's true of virtually every cross-platform game, not just Elden Ring.
If you're staying on the platform you already own the game on, no — you do not rebuy anything. Existing owners get the new content by buying the €4.99 Tarnished Pack (optional), and the base game and Shadow of the Erdtree you already have are untouched.
One more thing worth setting expectations on: there is no crossplay in Elden Ring. FromSoftware has never shipped crossplay for the game, and matchmaking is locked to your platform family (PS4↔PS5 and Xbox One↔Series cross-gen play works, but you can't co-op or invade across PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Switch 2). So buying the Switch 2 edition also means a separate, Switch-2-only multiplayer pool.
Does the Tarnished Pack include Shadow of the Erdtree?
No. This is the most common misconception, so it's worth stating plainly: the Tarnished Pack does not include Shadow of the Erdtree, and it is not an expansion. Shadow of the Erdtree is Elden Ring's huge 2024 DLC — a whole new region (the Realm of Shadow), new bosses like Messmer the Impaler, new weapons, and the Scadutree Fragment scaling system. The Pack is a €4.99 bundle of two classes, three Torrent skins, and four armor sets. They are not in the same weight class.
If you want the actual endgame expansion, that's a separate purchase (Shadow of the Erdtree, priced around $39.99 on PC and console storefronts), and it has its own unlock requirements. If you haven't gotten into it yet, see our full walkthrough on how to access Shadow of the Erdtree in Elden Ring, and our boss guide on how to beat Messmer the Impaler once you're in.
Is a new Elden Ring patch or expansion coming?
A base-game title update is very likely on or around August 28, 2026 to support the Tarnished Pack content on existing platforms — but its version number has not been announced. The base game's current version is 1.16.1 (August 21, 2025), which was a small bug-fix patch; the game has been patch-quiet for roughly a year, so don't believe any post claiming "the latest patch changed the meta." It didn't.
As for a bigger future: FromSoftware has not announced any further expansions for Elden Ring. There is no announced "Elden Ring 2," no second Shadow of the Erdtree-scale expansion, and no confirmation either way about more content. Headlines that speculate about what's "likely" are journalist opinion, not company statements. And to clear up a frequent mix-up: ELDEN RING Nightreign — the standalone co-op survival game from 2025 — is a separate game, not Elden Ring DLC, and it has nothing to do with the Tarnished Pack.
FAQ
Is the Elden Ring Tarnished Pack the same as the Tarnished Edition? No. The Tarnished Edition is a full Nintendo Switch 2 version of Elden Ring (base game + Shadow of the Erdtree + Torrent customization). The Tarnished Pack is a €4.99 paid add-on for existing PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC owners that adds two classes, three Torrent skins, and four armor sets. Same-day release, very different products.
What's included in the Elden Ring Tarnished Pack? Two new starting classes (the Heavy Knight and the Idus Knight), three customization skins for Torrent, and four new armor sets. That's the complete list per Bandai Namco Europe — no new region, boss, or story.
How much does the Tarnished Pack cost? €4.99 officially (¥550 in Japan), with prices varying by local currency. There is no confirmed US dollar price yet, so check your regional store on August 28, 2026 for the exact local figure.
Do I need to rebuy Elden Ring to get the Tarnished Pack content? Only if you want to play on Switch 2 (that's the Tarnished Edition). If you already own Elden Ring on PS5, PS4, Xbox, or PC, you keep your game and simply buy the €4.99 Tarnished Pack on top — no rebuy required.
Is the Tarnished Pack an expansion like Shadow of the Erdtree? No. It's a small cosmetic-and-class add-on, not an expansion. It doesn't include Shadow of the Erdtree and doesn't add a new area, boss, or questline. Shadow of the Erdtree remains a separate, much larger DLC.
When does the Elden Ring Tarnished Edition and Tarnished Pack release? Both launch on August 28, 2026 — the Tarnished Edition on Nintendo Switch 2, the Tarnished Pack on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.
Is there crossplay between Switch 2 and other platforms? No. FromSoftware has never shipped crossplay for Elden Ring; matchmaking is platform-family locked, so the Switch 2 version has its own separate multiplayer pool.
Facts verified against Bandai Namco Europe's official Elden Ring pages (Tarnished Edition product page and the official "How to get new ELDEN RING classes, weapons, and Torrent skin customizations" FAQ) and the @ELDENRING account. Base game version at time of writing: 1.16.1 (August 21, 2025). Prices and the pending base-game title update may change on or after August 28, 2026 — re-check your regional store.
