Breaking
Korean Beauty Ingredient Emerges as Potential Weapon Against Killer Bacteria FDA fast-tracks three psychedelic drugs toward approval From Pixel to Plate: The Gaming Cookbook Boom Shows No Signs of Slowing Doctoral Student Found Dead on Bridge; Roommate in Custody as Search Continues for Missing Partner Warrington routs Wigan to pile on pressure for struggling Warriors Korean Beauty Ingredient Emerges as Potential Weapon Against Killer Bacteria FDA fast-tracks three psychedelic drugs toward approval From Pixel to Plate: The Gaming Cookbook Boom Shows No Signs of Slowing Doctoral Student Found Dead on Bridge; Roommate in Custody as Search Continues for Missing Partner Warrington routs Wigan to pile on pressure for struggling Warriors
Gaming

Final Fantasy XIV Heads to Switch 2 This August, But Nintendo Players Face Extra Fee

Emily Chen 0 comments 8 min read
Final Fantasy XIV Heads to Switch 2 This August, But Nintendo Players Face Extra Fee

Square Enix confirmed during Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest 2026 that the MMO juggernaut will launch on Nintendo Switch 2 in August, marking the series' first appearance on a Nintendo platform since the original game debuted in 2013. The catch: Switch 2 players will need to pay a separate subscription on top of the base game.

FFXIV director Naoki Yoshida and Square Enix president Takashi Kiryu announced the news alongside a live demonstration of the game running on the hybrid console. The separate subscription requirement emerged as a key difference from how the game operates across PC, PlayStation, and other platforms, where players need only one subscription to access their account everywhere.

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

The company softened the blow with two major concessions. Players will not need a Nintendo Switch Online membership to play FFXIV on Switch 2, and anyone with an active subscription on another platform gets a 50% discount on the Switch 2 version. The Switch 2 release has no specific date beyond August, though Square Enix will offer a free one-month early access period before launch.

Yoshida revealed that the on-stage gameplay demonstration nearly didn't happen, joking that Nintendo initially worried about the live reveal. "They were like, 'What?!' But they cooperated and helped us so much to make this happen," he said.

The Fan Fest keynote also revealed the next expansion, Evercold, arriving in January 2027, alongside a crossover with Neon Genesis Evangelion that will introduce a 24-player raid series following the expansion's launch.

Author Emily Chen: "The separate subscription feels like a corporate workaround that will frustrate longtime players, but at least the 50% loyalty discount and no NSO requirement show Square Enix tried to make it sting less."

Comments