Released 25 February 2022 Developer FromSoftware Publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment
An open-world action role-playing game from the makers of Dark Souls. You travel across the Lands Between, fight demanding enemies and bosses, and shape a character from a large choice of weapons and spells. Optional online features let you call in other players to help or be invaded by them. The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion adds a large new area. It is hard, violent and rated for older teens and adults.
How it makes money
Bought once: A$89.95 on Steam and Xbox, A$84.95 on PlayStation. The main optional extra is the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion (A$59.95), also sold with the base game as the Shadow of the Erdtree Edition (A$119.95 on Steam, A$114.95 on PlayStation). A small Tarnished Pack (A$7.55: two starting classes, four armour sets and three Torrent skins) arrived in August 2026. The Nintendo Switch 2 Tarnished Edition (A$114.95) includes the game, the expansion and the pack's content. Everything is a fixed price, and we found no in-game currency or random-item purchases. Getting everything costs about A$115 to A$128 depending on platform.
Deluxe and Shadow of the Erdtree editions repackage the game (A$119.95 to A$149.95 on Steam), and the Switch 2 Tarnished Edition (28 August 2026, A$114.95) is a re-release with the expansion included.
minor part of the gameThe Tarnished Pack (A$7.55, August 2026) adds two starting classes, armour and Torrent skins; a Premium Bundle also adds an artbook and soundtrack to the expansion (A$74.95 on Steam).
minor part of the gameOnline co-op and PvP on PlayStation, Xbox and Switch 2 need the console's paid online membership (Nintendo says so for the Switch 2 edition); PC does not, and single-player does not.
minor part of the gameShadow of the Erdtree is a large paid expansion at A$59.95, or bundled with the base game as the Shadow of the Erdtree Edition (A$119.95 on Steam).
A$89.95 on Steam and Xbox (A$84.95 on PlayStation) for the base game.
What it costs
| What | Where | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Steam (AU) · PC | A$89.95 | Oct 2026 |
| Shadow of the Erdtree (expansion) | Steam (AU) · PC | A$59.95 | Oct 2026 |
| Tarnished Pack | Steam (AU) · PC | A$7.55 | Oct 2026 |
| Shadow of the Erdtree Edition (game + expansion) | Steam (AU) · PC | A$119.95 | Oct 2026 |
| Shadow of the Erdtree Deluxe Edition Game, expansion, digital artbook and soundtrack. |
Steam (AU) · PC | A$149.95 | Oct 2026 |
| Standard (PS4 & PS5) | PlayStation Store (AU) · PS5 | A$84.95 | Oct 2026 |
| Shadow of the Erdtree Edition (game + expansion) | PlayStation Store (AU) · PS5 | A$114.95 | Oct 2026 |
| Tarnished Pack | PlayStation Store (AU) · PS5 | A$7.55 | Oct 2026 |
| Standard | Xbox Store (AU) · Xbox Series | A$89.95 | Oct 2026 |
| Shadow of the Erdtree (expansion) | Xbox Store (AU) · Xbox Series | A$59.95 | Oct 2026 |
| Tarnished Edition Game, Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, new armour and Torrent customisation. |
Nintendo eShop (AU) · Switch 2 | A$114.95 | Oct 2026 |
Store prices change often and sales are common; we record the regular price on the date shown.
Reviews from across the web
Sees a major step beyond the Souls games, with tough combat in an open world where players choose their own route.
Praises its memorable mix of ideas and counts it among the best games ever made.
Finds it reaches new heights as an open-world action RPG, though it leans heavily on familiar ideas.
Describes a grand, mysterious world that is somewhat more welcoming thanks to tweaks to the FromSoftware formula.
Scores belong to the outlets that published them; follow the links to read the full reviews. Summaries are ours.
Age ratings & content
Fighting, weapons, injury and death, from cartoon bonks to realistic killing.
From ACB, ESRB and PEGI descriptorsBlood, injuries and body damage on screen.
From ESRB descriptorsCrime, cruelty, death, suicide and self-harm, discrimination, and crude humour.
From ACB descriptorsSwearing and crude language, from the odd 'damn' to frequent strong profanity.
From ESRB descriptorsSexual references, innuendo, sexualised imagery, nudity and sex scenes.
From ESRB descriptorsAge ratings judge content (violence, language, gambling themes), summed up in the content labels above. They say little about how hard a game pushes spending — that's what the money badges are for. About rating boards
Safety & parental controls
Online mode lets other players leave short messages built from preset words, appear as ghosts, be summoned for co-op with a password, or invade your game for PvP; there is no free-text or voice chat in the game. Playing offline switches the online features off. Rated MA 15+ in Australia (strong fantasy violence and themes), M in the US and PEGI 16; ESRB and PEGI also flag in-game purchases, which here means the paid expansion and DLC.
Who makes it
No track-record badges yet.
Competition-law action
European Commission fined Bandai Namco €340,000 in January 2021 for geo-blocking PC games; the company acknowledged the infringement and received a 10% reduction for cooperating.A company's history doesn't change this game's money verdict, which rates only how the game itself makes money. About company track records
Platforms & release
| Platform | Released | Store |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch 2 Sold as ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition. |
28 August 2026 | Store page |
| PlayStation 5 | 25 February 2022 | Store page |
| PlayStation 4 | 25 February 2022 | Store page |
| Xbox Series X|S | 25 February 2022 | Store page |
| Xbox One | 25 February 2022 | Store page |
| Windows PC | 25 February 2022 | Store page |
Facts last checked 22 October 2026. Sources: store.steampowered.com, store.steampowered.com, store.steampowered.com, store.steampowered.com, store.steampowered.com, store.playstation.com, displaycatalog.mp.microsoft.com, www.nintendo.com, api.ec.nintendo.com, www.classification.gov.au, www.rpgsite.net, opencritic.com, en.wikipedia.org. Spotted something wrong? Send a correction.