For years, the prospect of having Final Fantasy XIV—a MMORPG of staggering length—on a Nintendo console seemed impossible, if not laughable. Yet the critically-acclaimed epic has indeed arrived on the Nintendo Switch 2, and the results may help feed another renaissance for Eorzea.
Since the console’s launch last June, studios have been surprising players with competent ports and remasters of games that would’ve made the first Switch burst into flames. Square Enix has been near the front of the charge on this, with potent ports of Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth. The Switch 2 is holding its own against the likes of the PlayStation 5 and PC, balancing a slight reduction of visual quality for a hybrid handheld approach.
For those approaching Final Fantasy XIV for the very first time because of this latest release, welcome, you’re in for quite the ride. The Switch 2 edition debuts with all the current content of the game found on other platforms: the base game (A Realm Reborn), five expansions (Heavensward, Stormblood, Shadowbringers, Endwalker, and Dawntrail), and vast swathes of content between and betwixt them. Considering you can play up through Shadowbringers without paying a subscription fee, it’s an almost unfathomable amount of game for the upfront price.
In many ways, Final Fantasy XIV is an approachable sort of Massively Multiplayer Online RPG, and better suited to consoles like Switch 2 than its peers and competitors. The vast majority of my time with the game has been on PlayStation consoles, and even when playing on PC, I still use a controller, so moving to the Switch 2 was a seamless transition.
“Naturally Final Fantasy XIV’s presentation is affected somewhat by the Switch 2’s specs, yet not to the extent I expected when the port was first announced.”
In fact, the Switch 2 is arguably the best (or at least easiest) way to play Final Fantasy XIV in handheld, whether in your own living room or on the go. I played most of Dawntrail on the PlayStation Portal, and being able to work on the Main Scenario Quests (MSQ) or other tasks without hogging the family TV or being shackled to the PC was a lifesaver. The Switch 2 takes that experience a step further, since it’s running natively on the system and not being streamed to a peripheral. It also has an advantage in convenience over the Steam Deck or ROG Ally in that regard, as there’s no need for a launcher program.
Furthermore, Nintendo’s unique form factor makes the MMORPG even more flexible and customizable. Handheld and docked modes offer their own obvious advantages, but on top of that, you have a plethora of controller options available, from the Pro Controller to the Joy-Con 2s or any number of third-party gamepads. For once I actually enjoyed using the Switch 2 in tablet mode with the Joy-Con 2 controllers detached, and this particular mode allows for use of the system’s mouse controls for those who miss the PC experience.
The design of Nintendo’s console is complementary to the gameplay model, but what of the performance? Naturally Final Fantasy XIV‘s presentation is affected somewhat by the Switch 2’s specs, yet not to the extent I expected when the port was first announced at Fan Fest in Anaheim.
Due to the isolated instances of the game’s Duties, this version holds to 60fps whether you’re playing on TV or handheld, at least for 4- or 8-player content; massive, splashy attacks may cause a slight hiccup here, even with Duty Support. 24-player Alliance Raids can dip to 30fps, while heavy player congestion in popular hub towns like Limsa Lominsa will drag that performance down too, depending on just how many people are crammed into the same virtual space. However, the load in social areas is largely tied to how busy those zones are, so they may not always struggle on Switch 2.
There’s a hint of diminished visual fidelity present, which should be starting to feel familiar to Switch 2 players by this point. Nonetheless I didn’t find it really impacted either the cinematic or gameplay experience too heavily. Cutscenes look great, and in the heat of a Full Party raid you don’t really have the time to sweat the difference between the graphics on a Nintendo console versus a high-end gaming rig. Final Fantasy XIV is, at its core, a 13-year-old game (more, if you include the 1.0 version) and even with the visual overhaul that came with Dawntrail, it‘s not exactly chasing the same visual cutting edge as many brand new games.
I was also pleasantly surprised to see that Final Fantasy XIV didn’t consume the Switch 2’s battery quite as sharply as I expected. Nor are load times egregious—definitely comparable to PC and PS5, and not on the level of the old (and soon to be decommissioned) PS4 port. There were some issues in that department at launch, but they were quickly rectified with a hotfix; mileage may vary slightly depending on internet connections and circumstances.
“The Switch 2 is arguably the best way to play Final Fantasy XIV in handheld.”
There is, however, one nagging thorn in this port’s side. Nintendo unfortunately insists upon adding an additional charge, so even if you already have an active subscription to Final Fantasy XIV, you’ll need to supplement it with “FFXIV Coins,” a supplemental currency/charge. Existing subscribers with time on other platforms get a 50% discount, but otherwise this essentially doubles the subscription. (Luckily that rate has remained consistently low even while the rest of the industry has been slowly ramping up costs.)
It’s an unfortunate drawback. As an existing subscriber to the game and Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, it’s hard not to see this as a “Nintendo tax,” which is a shame given how this version otherwise increases the convenience of playing the game. I expected technical limitations to be the barrier to enjoying Final Fantasy XIV on Switch 2, yet this logistical inconvenience could prove a bigger nuisance.
Subscription foibles aside, the Switch 2 version of Final Fantasy XIV is well worth its salt. The usual console drawbacks exist, like the inconvenience of communicating via chat without a dedicated USB keyboard or the necessity of using a controller (which is only a drawback if you’re inclined against them). I still can’t imagine this becoming the de facto platform for serious high-end players attempting Savage raids, for example.
And yet, for just about every other purpose, Final Fantasy XIV feels right at home on the Switch 2. Progressing through the lengthy main scenario, hopping on for daily roulettes, or working on hunting, gathering, and crafting quests all go hand-in-hand with the hybrid console’s form factor and features. I could easily see this port supplanting the PS5 and Portal as my primary means of keeping up with the game, and earning a place in many player’s lives as a secondary (or even primary) platform.
