Elden Ring’s Switch 2 Launch Sells Out, Sparking Controversy

FromSoftware’s Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition for Switch 2 was quickly in short supply across Japan after its August 28 release, with multiple retailers confirming that their initial stock was gone on launch day. The edition includes the base game and Shadow of the Erdtree, marking Elden Ring’s first appearance on a Nintendo platform. The shortage has also pushed its Game-Key Card format into the spotlight.

The demand is unsurprising given Elden Ring’s performance across platforms, but the launch looks like a combination of the game’s established audience and the limited supply surrounding its Nintendo debut. Compared with the PC and PS5 versions, the Switch 2 release is not competing through superior image quality. Its draw is the chance to play Elden Ring on Nintendo hardware, with the complete base game and DLC bundled together.

The controversy is concentrated around the packaging. The box contains only a download code, with no physical game card, leading some players to dismiss it as an “air cartridge.” For collectors accustomed to traditional physical releases, that makes it a fundamentally different kind of physical release. Anyone comparing it with the traditional physical editions available on other platforms may be less inclined to buy the Switch 2 edition.

The resale prices point to strong interest, though they are not conclusive. On eBay and other platforms, a physical copy originally priced at around $80 has been listed for more than $120. That points to genuine demand, but it does not rule out the possibility that the initial shipment was simply too small. Rather than asking only whether the edition is worth the price, the more practical question is whether restocks can keep pace. Players who only want the base game and DLC in handheld form will usually be better served by waiting for normal inventory than by paying a markup.

Community reaction points to a familiar combination: the promotion succeeded, but the supply did not keep up. Some players believe Nintendo’s videos helped drive interest, while others argue that the bigger problems are the physical edition’s delivery method and an initial shipment that was too small from the outset.