Nintendo's Switch 2 has successfully navigated its first year, demonstrating its ability to sell systems without relying on flagship titles like Mario or Zelda and proving its technical proficiency. The console has also secured support from major third-party publishers such as Capcom and Square Enix. However, the system is now set to undergo its most significant trial with the long-awaited entry of FromSoftware, the acclaimed developer behind the Dark Souls series.
The past week saw FromSoftware make its debut on the Switch 2. This began with a network test for the Switch 2-exclusive title, The Duskbloods, and culminated in the release of Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition. Both titles represent a significant opportunity for Nintendo to establish FromSoftware as a consistent partner.
FromSoftware and Nintendo have a history dating back to the GameCube era, with the studio developing two exclusive action RPGs, Lost Kingdom and Lost Kingdom 2, which foreshadowed elements of Demon's Souls. This relationship was brief, however, and FromSoftware largely moved away from Nintendo platforms after the Wii's launch. This absence became more pronounced as FromSoftware's popularity surged with the Dark Souls franchise, leaving a notable gap in Nintendo's third-party alliances.
While Dark Souls Remastered's 2018 release on the Switch hinted at a potential rekindling of this partnership, technical limitations of Nintendo's hardware seemed to preclude more ambitious titles. The omission of Elden Ring upon its initial launch in 2022 highlighted this challenge.
Consequently, the success of FromSoftware's 2026 Switch 2 debut is crucial. Early reviews for Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition have been positive, with many noting that the game adapts well to a handheld format, albeit with a performance reduction compared to its PS5 and Xbox Series X counterparts. This compromise is a point of concern given FromSoftware's tendency toward increasingly complex games, though it suggests the studio can currently make viable adjustments.
The Duskbloods, meanwhile, presents a more unpredictable element. Revealed to be a creative multiplayer experience blending aspects of Elden Ring: Nightreign and Kirby Air Ride's City Trial, the game focuses on competitive point collection and a final player-versus-player battle. Network test feedback has been divided, with some players embracing its unique approach and others feeling it diverges from FromSoftware's core strengths. This makes it potentially the studio's most divisive title to date.
The future of the Nintendo-FromSoftware relationship now rests on key questions: Will a technically adjusted Elden Ring prove successful enough to encourage future ports? Can The Duskbloods capture the Switch 2 audience? And can Nintendo's online infrastructure adequately support the game, especially considering issues encountered during the network test?
Should these launches proceed smoothly, Nintendo could solidify a valuable partnership that has eluded them for years, further strengthening the Switch 2's market position.