If you thought the Nintendo Switch 2 was just for Mario and Zelda, Square Enix has news for you: Final Fantasy XIV — yes, the beloved MMORPG that's been running on PC and PlayStation for over a decade — is coming to Nintendo's new console. And it arrives in August.
Square Enix announced the port alongside a slate of major news for the game at its latest press event, including a brand new expansion called Evercold and an Evangelion crossover. But the Switch 2 port is what has the internet going absolutely wild, and for good reason.
What This Means for Players
Final Fantasy XIV has one of the most dedicated fanbases in gaming. It's also a game that historically required a pretty serious PC setup or a PlayStation to play properly. Bringing it to Switch 2 opens the doors to an entirely new audience — players who might have casually enjoyed the Switch's library but never had access to an MMO of this scale.
The Switch 2 version is getting a month-long free early access period before the full launch. That's a smart move by Square Enix — let players dip in, experience the world, and decide if they want to commit. For a game with a free-to-play model up to a certain level, the barrier to trying it is already low. This just makes it even easier.
Evercold Expansion
Beyond the console port, the new expansion Evercold is the next major chapter in FFXIV's ongoing story. If you've never played the game, think of it as a JRPG-quality narrative wrapped inside a persistent online world. The storytelling in Final Fantasy XIV is genuinely excellent — some story arcs are considered among the best in the entire Final Fantasy series, which is saying something after 40+ years of games.
The Evangelion crossover is the kind of thing that sounds random but actually fits perfectly. FFXIV has a history of surprising collaborations — Final Fantasy content collaborations with other franchises have been a hallmark of the game's live-service strategy.
Is the Switch 2 Powerful Enough?
This is the big question. Final Fantasy XIV is a graphically demanding MMO with a lot of simultaneous players, complex effects, and large environments. The Switch 2 is more powerful than the original Switch, but it's still a console that's smaller than a gaming PC. How well FFXIV runs on it will be one of the first real stress tests of Nintendo's new hardware.
If the port is solid, it signals that the Switch 2 can handle more complex online experiences than many people expected. If there are issues, it'll be a cautionary tale about the limits of console portability. Either way, August is going to be a huge month for Switch 2 owners who are also MMO fans.