Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy XIV will hit the Nintendo Switch 2 on August 4. Pre-orders are now available, and there’s a special 30% discount for a limited time at launch. This release marks the first time the popular MMORPG, relaunched in 2013, will be playable on a Nintendo console.
Along with the Switch 2 release date, Square Enix shared that the next expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Evercold, is set for January 2027. They also introduced Bastion as the first new job in Evercold. This gives current players a solid reason to stay engaged during the lead-up to the Switch 2 launch.
The pricing for the Switch 2 version is also important. The base game is currently listed at $19.99 on Steam. With the 30% pre-order discount, the Switch 2 version will temporarily drop below that price. Final Fantasy XIV uses a subscription model in addition to the base game purchase, which has often confused players new to MMO pricing on different platforms.
The hardware capabilities of the Switch 2 make this port more practical than it would have been on the original Switch. Currently, Final Fantasy XIV sees around 18,489 concurrent players on Steam, boasting an 87% positive rating from 66,259 reviews. These numbers indicate a healthy live-service community that Square Enix is likely eager to grow with access to new platforms. VGChartz confirms the global launch for the Switch 2 is set for August 4.
One key consideration for potential Switch 2 buyers is cross-platform play. Final Fantasy XIV allows crossplay between PC and PlayStation. This means Switch 2 players might join the same servers as existing players instead of being isolated in a smaller pool, which is vital for maintaining a healthy MMO community on any new platform.
| Switch 2 Launch Date | August 4, 2025 |
| Pre-Order Discount | 30% off |
| Evercold Expansion Target | January 2027 |
| Steam Price (Base Game) | $19.99 |
| Steam Review Score | 87% positive (66,259 reviews) |
| Current Steam Concurrent Players | 18,489 |
| Metacritic Score | 82 |
Recently, community sentiment about Final Fantasy XIV has taken a downturn, though not for the reasons you might think. One Steam reviewer mentioned: “I don’t recommend this game — not for it having bad gameplay, graphics, music, or anything like that — it’s the scummy decisions the company is doing with the game. When I bought the game it was on sale and…” This unfinished review highlights ongoing frustration with Square Enix’s business choices rather than any issues with the game itself, which is important for assessing the commercial prospects of the Switch 2 launch.
What To Watch
- Subscription model reception: How Switch 2 players, especially those new to subscription-based MMOs, react to Final Fantasy XIV’s monthly fee will be crucial. This response will determine if the port builds a loyal user base or sees a sharp decline after the launch discount ends.
- Crossplay confirmation: Square Enix hasn’t yet clarified if the Switch 2 will share servers with PC and PlayStation players. Full crossplay support could greatly enhance the port’s long-term success.
- Evercold job reveals: With Bastion confirmed as the first new job and the expansion more than 18 months away, Square Enix will need to keep the momentum going with more reveals. Look out for additional Evercold content drops around the Switch 2 launch window.
Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen is the Reviews and Guides Editor at Explosion.com. With a background in game design studies and 6 years of gaming journalism, Sarah brings technical insight to her reviews and creates comprehensive guides that help players get the most out of their games. She has reviewed over 200 titles across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo platforms. Her current obsessions include FromSoftware titles and indie roguelikes.
