Final Fantasy XIV is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 this August, but there is a big catch

Square Enix has announced plans to bring its long-running MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn to Nintendo Switch 2 this August. CEO Takashi Kiryu made the announcement during the April 2026 FFXIV Fan Fest keynote, alongside a costly catch that will have players on the hybrid platform rethinking their subscription plans.

Normally, if you own FFXIV on multiple platforms, you can play on any of them under a single subscription. But Square Enix will change that for the Switch 2 version, requiring players to get a separate subscription in addition to buying the base game.

"After discussions with Nintendo, it was decided that the Switch 2 version of Final Fantasy XIV would require a separate subscription," FFXIV director and producer Naoki Yoshida said via translator. "Again, this was decided after many months of discussions with Nintendo, and I understand that this is different to how we've done things before."

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Square Enix did manage to push through a few concessions to soften the blow. For starters, Nintendo Switch Online will not be required to play FFXIV on Switch 2, saving you $3.99 per month or $19.99 per year. Additionally, current FFXIV subscribers on other platforms will receive 50% off the Switch 2 subscription price.

The Nintendo portion of the keynote closed with a live demo of the game running on Switch 2. Yoshida brought a unit on stage to show off his Lalafell character in handheld mode, running around one of the hub cities for a few minutes. From a distance, there were no obvious issues spotted, though we won't really know how it holds up until we see more up close. It was a fun segment either way.

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Final Fantasy XIV does not have a specific Switch 2 release date beyond August, but Square Enix will open early access before launch to identify and resolve bugs. The game will be free to play for one month. It will not be launching on the original Switch, as expected, although a modder recently managed to run Final Fantasy VII Remake on a Switch Lite Pro.

The Switch 2 version includes expansions up to Dawntrail 7.5. The brand new expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Evercold, launches in January 2027 and will likely be available on Switch 2 as well. On other platforms, the free trial expands to Shadowbringers and its post-game patches, giving new players more content before purchase.