Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition has resurfaced in a way that is getting plenty of attention, and not just because it is finally inching closer to Nintendo Switch 2. Amazon has begun listing pre-orders for the upcoming edition at $79.99, giving fans their clearest look yet at the game’s expected price on Nintendo’s new hardware. What the listing does not provide, however, is the one detail players are still waiting for: an actual release date.
That leaves Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition in an awkward but familiar spot. The game is real, officially announced, and still scheduled for 2026 on Nintendo Switch 2 according to Nintendo’s current store page. But despite pre-orders going live at a premium price, there is still no firm launch day attached to it yet.
Amazon Listing Puts the Price at $79.99
The Amazon listing is the headline-grabber here. It shows Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition at $79.99, which immediately puts it at the high end of Nintendo Switch 2 software pricing. That number is likely to trigger debate for two reasons: first, Elden Ring is already a well-established game rather than a brand-new release; second, this version appears to be a Game-Key Card release rather than a full traditional cartridge edition, based on reporting around the listing.
That price is easier to understand once the package is taken into account. Nintendo’s store page says Tarnished Editionincludes the base game, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, and additional content such as new weapons, armour, Torrent skins, and more. Bandai Namco’s original announcement similarly described it as an all-in-one version built around the main game and its major DLC.
The Release Window Is Still Broad
The more important detail is what is still missing. Nintendo’s official page currently lists the release date simply as 2026, with no month or day attached. That means the Amazon pre-order page, while notable, does not signal a fully locked launch schedule yet. Reports surrounding the listing have also pointed out that there is still no confirmed retail date attached to the pre-order.
There is also a bit of history behind that uncertainty. When Bandai Namco first announced Elden Ring: Tarnished Editionfor Nintendo Switch 2 in April 2025, the company said it was slated for release in 2025. Nintendo’s current official page now says 2026, which makes clear that the release window has shifted since the original announcement.
What Tarnished Edition Includes on Switch 2
For players who have not followed the Switch 2 version closely, Tarnished Edition is being positioned as the most complete version of Elden Ring on Nintendo hardware. Nintendo describes it as including the full base adventure along with Shadow of the Erdtree and extra customization content. Bandai Namco has also said the added content will be made available on other platforms, but the Switch 2 package itself is being marketed as a bundled edition.
That makes the package easier to pitch to new players than to returning ones. Someone who has never touched Elden Ringcould look at this as a definitive entry point. For long-time fans who already own the game and the DLC elsewhere, the value proposition is tougher, especially at $79.99. That is not a factual contradiction; it is just the obvious commercial reality of the listing.
Why the Listing Matters Even Without a Date
Pre-orders appearing before a release date is unusual enough to draw attention, especially for a game with this profile. It suggests that retail plans are moving forward even if the public schedule has not been nailed down. It does notautomatically mean the launch is imminent. Right now, the safe conclusion is narrower: Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is still officially coming in 2026, Amazon has begun taking pre-orders in the US, and the listed price is $79.99.
Until Bandai Namco, FromSoftware, or Nintendo announces an exact date, that is where the story stands. The price is now out in the open, the package contents are known, and the absence of a release date is becoming more noticeable the closer the game gets to launch. For now, fans know what it may cost to return to the Lands Between on Switch 2. They just do not know when they will actually be able to do it.