I love the idea of playingElden Ringon the Nintendo Switch 2: one of my favorite games ever made, combined with the system’s portability is almost enough to make me buy the game again at full price. FromSoftware’s notoriously clunky online functionality is keeping me from being entirely convinced, though. The developer struggles with – or perhaps just isn’t interested in adopting – networking features that have largely become commonplace in the industry.
FromSoftware multiplayer has always been incredibly idiosyncratic, ever since the odd invasion and summoning mechanics were codified in 2009’sDemon’s Souls. I’ve made peace withElden Ring’s objectively lacking co-op, though, even if it annoys me that significant strides weren’t made for the multiplayer-focusedElden Ring Nightreign. What’s keeping me from playingElden Ringon Switch 2 isthe likely lack of cross save support.
Elden Ring Doesn’t Support Cross Save Between Platforms
Only Console Families Can Share Saves
Part of FromSoftware’s general lack of common online functions is an absence of cross-save support. If I ownElden Ringon both PlayStation 5 and PC, for instance,there is no way to transfer my save from one to the other. The only thing resembling cross save is transferring your save file to the current-gen version of the game. If you initially boughtElden Ringon PS4, and later buy it on PS5, you can transfer your save to the upgraded version; same for Xbox.
I could be proven wrong whenElden Ring: Tarnished Editioncomes to the Switch 2, but with FromSoftware’s track record, I’m fairly certain it will have no cross-save support.Elden Ringfor the Switch 2 was recentlyrated by the ESRB, and by all indications will be a competent port complete withShadow of the Erdtreeincluded, butI don’t expect it to introduce anything newto what is, at this point, a three-year-old game.
No Cross Save In Elden Ring Is A Barrier To Repeat Customers On Switch 2
The New Audience Is Partly The Old Audience
I have no illusions about the primary reason for bringingElden Ringto the Switch 2 being the chance to reach a new audience. Nintendo loyalists who may not own other consoles or a PC now have a chance to play one of thegreatest games ever made, and that’s great. I do think, however, thatFromSoftware is leaving money on the tableby refusing to modernize its network architecture.
Prior to the release ofShadow of the Erdtreeand occasionally since, I have been playing my most recently createdElden Ringcharacter. I don’t replay a ton of games, butDark SoulsandElden Ringare two notable outliers (joiningmy belovedOcarina of Time), and my current playthrough of the latter has about 35 hours under its belt.
I know there are plenty of more dedicatedElden Ringfans eager to start a new game on their Switch 2, butI can’t be bothered to replay the first third of the game againafter I’ve just steadily done it over the course of a year or so whenever I get the itch to play FromSoftware’s opus. I’m surely joined by many others who would happily buyElden Ringa second time, but feel disinclined to since I can’t pick up where I last left off.
FromSoftware Refuses To Modernize Its Online Functionality
Nightreign Suffers, & The Duskbloods Will Too
Maybe I’m making mountains out of mole hills – I’m sure someone will let me know in the comments if so – but it’s extra frustrating to have FromSoftware’s otherwise brilliant games dragged down by such issues withNightreignfresh on my mind.Elden Ring Nightreign, with its multiplayer design focus,should have been a watershed releasefor the developer’s online features.
The easiest to highlight is the lack of crossplay between systems. Just like inElden Ring,Nightreignmultiplayer is only shared by console families: a PS4 player can matchmake with PS5 users, but not with someone on PC or Xbox. This is only exacerbated byNightreignhaving many different queues – for each boss and further subdivided by the Shifting Earth maps – and a limit on how many people can have a quest objective in one game.
I cherish FromSoftware co-op as some of my favorite multiplayer experiences, butwrestling with its clunky design is growing tiresome. Cross save is an extremely common feature in the modern gaming industry; FromSoftware should have adopted it by now. If the studio can’t be bothered to for its first multiplayer-focused game, I have doubts anything is going to change for the Switch 2 version ofElden Ring, let aloneThe Duskbloodsnext year.
The Duskbloodsis one of my most anticipatedSwitch 2 exclusives. I’m probably looking forward to it more than most, especially since a lot of FromSoftware fans aren’t sold on its PvPvE extraction gameplay. But it’s likely going to be an unfortunately frustrating meeting between FromSoftware’s and Nintendo’s equally clunky online services.
I want to playElden Ringon the go, or obnoxiously at a roof party, even though the Switch 2 wasn’t notoriously advertised for that purpose, butI also want to be able to play the characters I’ve already created. Maybe that makes me entitled, butElden Ring’s lack of cross-save support is emblematic of much larger issues FromSoftware continues to grapple with, and it’s actively making the studio’s projects less appealing on the Switch 2.
Elden Ring
Elden Ring is a popular game released by From Software, creators of games such as Armored Core, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne. Players assume the role of a Tarnished, a being once exiled to the Lands Between and has returned to repair the Elden Ring after the events of “The Shattering.” “The Shattering” occurred when the offspring of Queen Marika battled to claim the shards of the Elden Ring, known as Great Runes. Their war has brought lawlessness, destruction, and chaos to the land, and the player will challenge them with the assistance of a Maiden known as Melina as they travel towards the great Erd Tree to face their destiny and to become the one true Elden Lord. Players can tackle the game how they choose and can adventure across realms as they build their character how they want - be it a powerful magic caster or a brutal swordsman - they will have complete control over their build.
