Final Fantasy XIV Online is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in August 2026. Square Enix announced this during the producer keynote at the Berlin Fan Festival, where Naoki Yoshida revealed lots of new info about the game and the upcoming expansion, Evercold.
The Switch 2 release brings the MMO to Nintendo hardware for the first time and adds another platform to the game, which is already available on PC, Mac, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Table of contents
Final Fantasy XIV Switch 2 release date
The Switch 2 version was set for August 2026, but in Berlin, Square Enix announced that it’s coming as early as August 4. The release will begin with an approximately one-month early access period to test server stability before official service starts. Access during this period will not require a monthly subscription.
This access is separate from the free trial that Final Fantasy XIV offers on every platform, and it will not require a Nintendo Switch Online membership either.
Does Final Fantasy XIV Switch 2 have a free trial?
Final Fantasy XIV already has a free trial that lets new players play up to level 80 with no restriction on playtime, and it will be applied to the Switch 2 version as well.
The current free trial includes A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, Stormblood, and Shadowbringers, after Shadowbringers was added with Patch 7.5.
The free trial will also come with all the usual restrictions that apply to players on every platform: free trial players can’t use some chat channels, personal messages, market board, trading, moogle delivery, retainers, or Free Companies, and they also cannot access PvP.
Players who buy the Starter Edition or Complete Edition also get a 30-day free play period. Be careful, though, because once you purchase the game and activate this free play access, you can’t go back to Free Trial and will have to pay a monthly subscription to access the game.
It’s advisable to do as much content as possible while in the free trial, unless its restrictions are too much for you to enjoy the game properly.
How does the Switch 2 subscription work?
After the Switch 2 players are done with their Free Trial, they will need to buy the game and pay for a subscription to keep playing. Both Square Enix and Nintendo explicitly stated that a Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required; players will only have to pay for the game’s subscription.
Existing players who wish to play on Switch 2 will have to re-buy Final Fantasy XIV with all its expansions, like with any other platform. However, due to how Nintendo’s online structure works, players will not be able to access the game with their pre-existing game subscription, and will need to pay for the separate Switch 2 subscription.
To ease the burden, Square Enix announced that if a player has remaining game time on any other platform, the Switch 2 subscription will be available at half price.
Does Final Fantasy XIV Switch 2 support crossplay?
Switch 2 players of Final Fantasy XIV will be granted access to the very same servers that every other platform has access to. In essence, Switch 2 is just another avenue of availability for the already existing game.
Final Fantasy XIV has an incredibly robust controller support, so Switch 2 players will not need any external accessories to properly enjoy this critically acclaimed MMO.
Final Fantasy XIV Switch 2 content and price
The free trial and Starter Edition now cover the base game and the first three expansions: A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, Stormblood, and Shadowbringers. The Complete Edition is the version aimed at players who want the current full package, including later expansions: Endwalker and Dawntrail. Upon the release of Evercold in January 2027, the Complete Edition will also include that expansion as well. Existing players will have to purchase it separately, of course.
- The Starter Edition is priced at $19.99.
- The Complete Edition is $41.99.
- The Complete Collector’s Edition is $97.99.
FAQs
Q: When does the Switch 2 edition of Final Fantasy XIV come out?
A: The game comes out on August 4, 2026.
Q: Do you need a Nintendo Switch Online membership to play Final Fantasy XIV?
A: A Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required.
Q: How much content does the free trial provide?
A: The free trial includes the base Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn along with its three expansions, Heavensward, Stormblood, and Shadowbringers. This is easily 300-400 hours of free content.
