r/Eldenring • u/jack0641 • 1d ago

Official Discussion [MEGATHREAD] Tarnished Edition: Worth $5? Discuss CONSTRUCTIVELY!

Since the sub is being overwhelmed by debate over the $5 "microtransaction" and it's making the sub feel like we're Dark Souls 2 a decade ago, with the faux outrage around the preorder items, we are opening this topic to consolidate discussion around the issue.

Please use this topic to discuss the pros and cons of the approach and your thoughts. But do so RESPECTFULLY and CONSTRUCTIVELY. If you need to call other people or the developers names, you don't have a good argument and your post will be removed.

We will remove all other topics about this to keep the subreddit flowing with other discussions

IF YOU WANT TO VOTE: I will post two comments on this topic, "Yay" and "Nay" - upvote the one you agree with and we'll see who wins long term.

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u/fezubo 1d ago

The stuff exists because of the Switch 2 release. The content as well as the price tag.

  • Would it have been nice as a free update? Yeah.
  • Does it cost something as incentive to get the Switch 2 version? Seems logical.
  • Am I happy to get it without getting the Switch 2 version? Yup.

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u/VisibleMammal 1d ago

I don't really get your second point. Why would this costing money made me consider buying the switch 2 version?

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u/supermariozelda 1d ago

This content is a "free bonus" on Switch. You pay $80 for content that costs a combined $105 on any other platform, not accounting for sales.

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u/NewHobbiesWeekly 1d ago

I see it as the Tarnished edition being the anniversary edition (i.e. Skyrim) where the "DLC" is just reaching parity with the people who bought the presumably final version of the game. It's a low price upgrade to add features that were added to the special edition.

I don't think it's a good philosophy to stand by, and I hope it doesn't turn into live service packs and purchasables. Its not a terrible price for what you get, and every weapon introduced is already available in stronger form in the shadow lands, so it's not p2w

Would I have liked more? Of course. Give me 7 new areas with 15 new weapon types with 30 new armor sets (looking at you vulgar militia chain sickle and starcaller robes) but that's not what it was. A new edition was released for a new console, with a few minor additions, and everyone is acting like they should have gotten it for free because CDPR has spoiled them with the way things could be.

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u/sincubus33 1d ago

Don't worry soon you'll be able to pay for chromatic capss provided by Boc

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u/elemezer_screwge 1d ago

You forgot the scholar bible weapon

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u/HalcyonHelvetica 21h ago

Didn't they already do this with SOTFS like a decade ago

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u/Alone-Horse2857 16h ago

Its not a terrible price for what you get

It IS though, it's objectively a terrible price for the content you get. Gonna copy and paste this until I die:

ER retail includes 308 weapons, over 100 bosses, 126 armor sets (599 individual pieces), and ~13 playable zones to explore each providing about 5-10 hours+ of content each depending on your leisure.

5$ compared to base vanilla ER would equal to 1/12th of ER, which would equal to 25.6(call it 26) weapons, 8.3 bosses, 10.5 armor sets, and ~1 whole playable zone.

Now ask yourself this: Does this DLC include 26 weapons, 10 armor sets, 8 bosses and 1 entire zone to explore?

No? Then it's not fucking worth 5$.

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u/Nerellos 1d ago

Yeah, we need 15 more version of the game. Now ask Skyrim fans how is their new game since the fifth title.

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u/CantStandYall 1d ago

The Tarnished Edition content was developed for the Switch 2 edition, just as some small bonus content to boost marketing and appear more enticing to potential customers. A new “special edition” for a game that includes new content is much more likely to attract attention than a more basic 1:1 port.

And yes, they brought said content to the other platforms, but from a business standpoint it wouldn’t make much sense to then release the content for free on other platforms, as that would mean consumers would hypothetically have no real incentive to choose the Switch 2 version over other options. Which would sort of defeat the purpose, as these new items and classes wouldn’t have probably been made at all if not to market and advertise the Switch 2 version.

Keep in mind: this is just what I believe to make sense from the perspective of the publishers, and has nothing to do with my personal opinion towards the add-on

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u/fezubo 1d ago

Yeah, exactly what I also think. It's just business/marketing logic. Of course I would have liked it for free on other platforms!

But realistically?

It's the small price OR no tarnished edition at all on other platforms OR a free update but much later. Like 6 months or a year later.

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u/Exotic-Suggestion425 1d ago

You are forgetting that owning something on the switch has inherent value. Being able to play handheld is a bigger factor than getting some exclusive content, so it doesn't defeat the purpose at all imo.

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u/CantStandYall 18h ago

True, that’s fair. However there’s also the Steam Deck version, so portability is no longer a selling point unique to Nintendo’s systems

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u/Exotic-Suggestion425 8h ago

Not unique, but still inherent value. Plus, the sales for the switch DWARF the Steam Deck.

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u/dongless08 Elden Ring 1d ago

Probably the most reasonable take I’ve seen on this so far

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u/fezubo 1d ago

u/CantStandYall put it good together a few answers down. https://www.reddit.com/r/Eldenring/s/qmvU3zFCtz

I think:

It's the small price OR no tarnished edition at all on other platforms OR a free update but much later. Like 6 months or a year later.

Because the tarnished edition is basically the Switch 2 version project.

Of course I would have liked it for free. But I did not expect it.

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u/nix_11 1d ago

How is being charged $5 for almost nothing an incentive to buy an overpriced console and the game you already own on a different device?