Final Fantasy 14 is now playable on Nintendo Switch 2, marking the first time the MMO has appeared on Nintendo hardware. Before you download anything, three things decide how smoothly your first launch goes: which edition you pick, how the Switch 2 subscription is billed, and how you handle the permanent account link on first startup. Get the account step wrong and you can lock yourself out of your existing character.
Quick answer: Buy the edition that matches the content you want on the Nintendo eShop, and on first launch pick the Square Enix service account you already use — that link is permanent. Subscription fees are waived for about a month after release, then your 30-day free play period begins, and after that you pay the separate Switch 2 subscription using FFXIV Coins from the eShop.
Switch 2 editions and pricing
Four versions sit on the eShop. The Free Trial costs nothing and takes new players through the base game and its early expansions with some restrictions. The paid editions differ only in how much of the story they unlock, and each one bundles a 30-day free play period.
| Edition | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free | Base game (A Realm Reborn) plus Heavensward, Stormblood, and Shadowbringers, with restrictions on chat, trading, and some features. |
| Starter Edition | $19.99 | Base game plus Heavensward, Stormblood, and Shadowbringers. Adds a 30-day free play period. |
| Complete Edition | $59.99 (30% off to $41.99) | Everything above plus Endwalker and Dawntrail. Adds a 30-day free play period. |
| Complete Collector’s Edition | $139.99 (30% off to $97.99) | Same content as Complete Edition plus cosmetic mounts, minions, and glamour items. Adds a 30-day free play period. |
The 30% launch discount applies to both Complete versions and runs through Thursday, August 13, 2026. After that, prices return to $59.99 and $139.99. The Collector’s Edition extras are purely cosmetic and change nothing about gameplay, so it only makes sense if you don’t already own those items on another platform.
Every edition installs the same full client — roughly 108 to 117 GB — because all content is downloaded and simply gated by your license. If you already play on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox and want the same access, the Complete Edition is the match. You can browse and buy any version from the FINAL FANTASY XIV Online Switch 2 store page.
Note: Once you buy a paid edition on a Square Enix account, you can’t switch back to the Free Trial on that account. Do as much as you want in the trial first if you’re only sampling the game.
The account link on first launch is permanent
The single step you cannot reverse happens the first time you open the game. Your Nintendo Switch 2 user profile becomes tied to one Square Enix account, and that connection can never be unlinked or moved to a different account. Choose the correct profile and account before you confirm.
You’ll know it worked when your existing character list loads on the World you already play on. New players choosing a fresh World will see prompts about New or Preferred World bonuses during character creation. There is no countdown on the confirmation screen, so pause and verify both accounts are correct before continuing.
How the Switch 2 subscription works
Square Enix is waiving subscription fees for approximately one month after launch to keep the servers stable while a large new group of players comes online. When that waiver ends, the 30-day free play period included with your purchased edition begins. Only after both windows pass does a paid subscription become required to keep playing.
The important catch for existing players is that Switch 2 needs its own subscription, separate from the one that already covers PC, PlayStation, and Xbox together. Paying for the game elsewhere does not carry over. There is a discount, though: if you have remaining game time on another platform, the Switch 2 subscription is available at half price.
| Situation | Switch 2 subscription cost |
|---|---|
| First ~month after launch | Waived for everyone |
| Your included 30-day free play period | No charge |
| Standard subscriber with remaining paid game time elsewhere | Half price (about $7.49/month) |
| Standard subscriber, no discount conditions met | Full price (about $14.99/month) |
The half-price rate does not apply while free game time is active on another platform. It only kicks in when you have paid game time remaining elsewhere. A Standard-tier player who keeps every platform active would pay roughly $22.48 a month in total ($14.99 for the other platforms plus $7.49 for Switch 2).
Paying with FFXIV Coins
On Switch 2, subscription fees, account services, and optional items are paid for with a currency called FFXIV Coins, which you buy through the Nintendo eShop. If you play only on Switch 2, this is your one and only payment path — there is no credit card option for the subscription on this platform.
If you play across multiple platforms, you have more flexibility for optional purchases. When buying items from the Online Store, you can change the platform setting and pay with a different method tied to your Square Enix account, such as a card. The Switch 2 subscription itself still has to be paid with FFXIV Coins.
Nintendo Switch Online is optional
Unlike most online games on Nintendo hardware, Final Fantasy 14 does not require a Nintendo Switch Online membership to connect. You can play on shared Worlds without one.
There is a small bonus if you do have Nintendo Switch Online. Members can register one additional aetheryte as a free teleport destination, meaning you can warp to it for 0 gil. That perk only works while you’re playing the Switch 2 version. It’s a convenience, not a requirement, so factor it in only if you already subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online for other reasons.
Put together, the safe path is simple: pick the edition that covers the content you want, sign in with your existing Square Enix service account on the very first launch, and plan to top up FFXIV Coins through the eShop once your free time runs out. The account link is the only step you truly can’t take back, so slow down for that one and let everything else follow.
