Square Enix confirms FFXIV Switch 2 release date and extra subscription

Square Enix is bringing Final Fantasy XIV to Nintendo Switch 2 in August, but there's a slight catch to how it'll work. Square Enix CEO Takashi Kiryu made the announcement during the April 2026 FFXIV Fan Fest keynote and said that after many months of discussion with Nintendo, the platform holder required Square Enix to change its subscription model for the Switch 2 version.

Normally, if you own FFXIV on multiple platforms, you can play it on any of them using the same subscription. FFXIV on Switch 2 will require a second subscription after users purchase the game, however. Kiryu said Square Enix managed to push a few concessions to mitigate the cost, though. Playing FFXIV on Switch 2 will not require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, and if you already pay a FFXIV subscription for other platforms, you'll get 50% off the Switch 2 sub price.

FFXIV producer Naoki Yoshida brought a Switch 2 unit on stage during Fan Fest to show the game in action, though only by zooming the camera in to see it played in handheld mode. Yoshida had his character run around one of the hub cities for a few minutes, which was hardly an in-depth look at how FFXIV will perform on Nintendo's console, but there were no obvious issues at least.

Square Enix will host an early access period prior to launch to identify and resolve any bugs, and the game will be free to play during that period. The Switch 2 version will include all existing expansions up to Dawntrail 7.5 and FFXIV 8.0 (Evercold) will presumably launch for it as well. FFXIV's free trial is being expanded to include the Shadowbringers expansion and its post-game patches on other platforms. However, Yoshida didn't say whether the game's oft-memed trial will be available on Switch 2 as well.