Category: Software

This is ridiculous: A machine that is a few dozen times more powerful than the Switch 2… stutters when playing Elden Ring.

And the problem is Windows.

The game runs better on weaker machines running Valve’s SteamOS (which is… based on Arch Linux).

So what sucks about the PC port of Elden Ring?

On my Legion Go S Z2Go, running SteamOS, naturally, it first has to pre-compile shaders; the emphasis being PRE-COMPILATION, it won’t happen IN the game itself, which causes stutters.

On my MinisForum HX90G, also running SteamOS, we also go through the shader pre-compilation party that reduces in-game stuttering.

On my big Lenovo desktop running Windows 11 Pro for Workstations… 20 seconds into the game, the game becomes a slideshow for three seconds, because, obviously, it’s compiling shaders in-game.

Oh, and when the scripted first death of the character happens, everything turns black for several seconds before we actually get to see the cutscene.

And then comes the ultimate insult:

Loading times, on that rather fast Samsung SSD the game is installed on… are MUCH SLOWER than on the no-name SD card I have the game installed on in my Switch 2.

It’s so ridiculous, it blows my mind.

But sure, the game looks very crisp and beautiful at 1440p on completely maxed-out settings.

It just runs like crap on a Windows PC.

Oh, the irony, friends from the “PC Master Race”, that a tiny gadget running on less than 20 watts TDP performs actually better and more reliable than your high-end monsters.

Level 35 Wretch.

With a staff, spells, a magical sword and undead militia men and wolves that can be summoned.

Margit The Fell Omen, the enemy that can kill you with just one hit when you meet him too early, is toast after only three attempts.

Grind long enough and the bosses that are a problem in the early hours of the game become easy enough to slay.

Exploring Stormveil Castle still is challenging enough at level 35, but absolutely doable – and, dare I say it, atmospheric, interesting and even fun.

The Switch 2 turned out to be the perfect platform to play this game, both in docked and handheld mode.

The game looks great on the Switch 2.

And the performance is also great on this tiny device that consumes less than 10% of the power the PS5 or the Xbox Series X consume; and an Nvidia RTX 5090 requires more than 57 (!) times the power of the Switch 2.

Keep that math in mind when you judge Nintendo’s little console.

In those 39 hours and 39 minutes, there simply were not stutters or noticeable frame drops on the Switch 2. None.

Still, I will NEVER recommend this game to anybody, especially not to casual gamers who just want to experience some relaxing entertainment.

Elden Ring is demanding, punishing and more often than not also very frustrating.

And yet, it is also addictive and it has a pull that totally immerses you into its brutal and quite literally insane world.

You have been warned.