No. 09Open-world action role-playing game
Elden Ring: kit, cost and verdict for newcomers
FromSoftware's huge, hard open world, checked on every kind of kit, including the Switch 2 edition that arrived in August 2026.
01 · the kit listWhere Elden Ring plays
Moderate PC requirements for a game this size, Verified on Steam Deck, on both console generations and now on Switch 2. There is no Mac or phone version, and cloud streaming is limited to PlayStation.
- Desktop PCPlays
Steam. Minimum is a GTX 1060 3GB-class card; 60 GB of space.
- Everyday laptopNot available
The minimum card is beyond integrated graphics.
- Steam DeckPlays · Verified
Valve rates it Verified: default controls, on-screen prompts, text and settings all pass its checks.
- PlayStation 5Plays
One purchase covers both the PS4 and PS5 versions.
- Xbox Series X|SPlays
Smart Delivery covers Xbox One and Series X|S.
- Nintendo Switch 2Plays · Tarnished Edition
Tarnished Edition released on 28 August 2026 with the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion included.
- Phone & tabletNot available
No phone or tablet version.
- MacNot available
No Mac version.
- Cloud streamingWith caveats · PS Plus Premium only
Not on GeForce NOW or Xbox cloud streaming; PS5 owners with PS Plus Premium can stream a copy they own.
02 · on a PCWhat your PC needs
- System
- Windows 10
- Processor
- Core i5-8400 or Ryzen 3 3300X
- Memory
- 12 GB
- Graphics
- GeForce GTX 1060 3GB or Radeon RX 580 4GB
- Storage
- 60 GB
- System
- Windows 10 or 11
- Processor
- Core i7-8700K or Ryzen 5 3600X
- Memory
- 16 GB
- Graphics
- GeForce GTX 1070 8GB or Radeon RX Vega 56 8GB
- Storage
- 60 GB
Published by FromSoftware and Bandai Namco on Steam. DirectX 12 required. Official requirements.
03 · the verdictHard, generous and endlessly curious
Elden Ring is FromSoftware's open-world action role-playing game: a huge, broken kingdom to explore on foot and horseback, full of ruins, caves, castles and some of the most memorable bosses in any game. Fights are deliberate and punishing, and every slip is yours to learn from.
Its trick is freedom. When a boss blocks the road you can simply ride somewhere else, grow stronger and come back, and the game quietly offers help to anyone who looks for it: summonable spirits, other players, different weapons and magic. It is difficult, but it is rarely a dead end.
The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion adds a second land almost as dense as the first, aimed at players who have already reached the late game. Buying the base game is all a newcomer needs, and the expansion can wait until the end.
On kit, Elden Ring is friendly for a demanding game. The PC requirements are moderate by current standards, it is Verified on Steam Deck, and it runs on both PlayStation and Xbox generations. It is not on Mac or phones, and its frame rate is capped at 60 on PC.
Start it if…
you like to explore without a quest marker and enjoy mastering a hard fight through patience and preparation.
Skip it if…
difficult bosses would spoil the fun for you, or you want a story told in plain cut-scenes.
04 · the score8.2 out of 10, and why
05 · the billWhat it costs in the UK
| Store | What you get | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam | Base game | £49.99 | |
| Steam | Shadow of the Erdtree Edition (game and expansion) | £64.99 | |
| PlayStation Store | Base game (PS4 and PS5) | £49.99 | |
| Xbox Store | Base game (Xbox One and Series X|S) | £49.99 | |
| Nintendo eShop | Tarnished Edition (Switch 2, expansion included) | £64.99 | |
| All stores | Tarnished Pack add-on | £3.99 | Optional, August 2026 |
Online play on consoles
- PlayStation
- PS Plus for online co-op and invasions
- Xbox
- Game Pass Essential or higher for online play
- Nintendo
- Nintendo Switch Online for online play
What the shop sells
No in-game shop or currency. Paid extras are the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, a Premium Bundle with an artbook and soundtrack, and the small Tarnished Pack of August 2026.
PEGI purchase descriptor: In-game purchases (paid add-ons).
Which edition? The base game is complete on its own. The Shadow of the Erdtree Edition adds the expansion, but you can only enter it after beating two late-game bosses, so it is fine to buy later. On Switch 2 the Tarnished Edition already includes it.
06 · starting in 2026Complete, and newly on Switch 2
Elden Ring itself is finished, with a balance patch and the optional Tarnished Pack arriving in August 2026 and monthly community quests running to the end of the year. The biggest news for newcomers is the Switch 2 Tarnished Edition, which bundles the expansion.
Patch 1.17 added support for the Tarnished Pack and rebalanced some weapons and spells. Source.
The Tarnished Pack arrived with two new starting classes, and the Switch 2 Tarnished Edition launched. Source.
Monthly community quests began, running until the end of December 2026. Source.
Community quests continue monthly to 28 December 2026. No further patches or add-ons have been dated.
07 · strengths and catchesWorth knowing
Strengths
- An open world that rewards every detour
- Freedom to leave a hard fight and return stronger
- Moderate PC requirements for its scale, and Verified on Steam Deck
- A huge expansion for when the base game is done
Catches
- Deliberately obscure about its story and systems
- Some boss fights will test anyone's patience
- No Mac, phone or cloud streaming route
08 · first stepsBefore your first session
- Explore in every direction early on: the first areas hide upgrades that make later fights far easier.
- Use spirit summons and co-operative help without guilt; they are part of the design.
- Level up vigour (health) before damage stats if you keep being defeated in one or two hits.
- If a boss feels impossible, leave and come back later. That is what the open world is for.
09 · screenshotsHow it looks
Screenshots: official, © FromSoftware and Bandai Namco Entertainment.
10 · questionsCommon questions
Is Elden Ring on Switch 2?
Yes. The Tarnished Edition released on 28 August 2026 at £64.99 and includes the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Online play needs Nintendo Switch Online.
Does Elden Ring run on Steam Deck?
Yes, Valve rates it Verified.
Is there crossplay in Elden Ring?
No. PS4 and PS5 players can meet, and so can Xbox One and Series players, but PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch 2 are separate.
Do I need the expansion to start?
No. Shadow of the Erdtree only opens after two late-game bosses, so buy the base game first and add it later if you want more.