According to Wccftech, Final Fantasy XIV director and producer Naoki Yoshida teased a port of the MMORPG for Nintendo Switch platforms during a 2026 in-game New Year celebration on Japanese servers. When asked about it, he replied, “Please look forward to it,” as reported by the blog Livedoor. This follows his earlier openness to the idea in June 2024 and more detailed comments in a Gamescom 2025 interview with VideoGamesChronicle, where he revealed positive discussions with Nintendo, specifically musing on the benefits for a “Nintendo Switch 2” version. The game recently got patch 7.4, and a mobile version, Final Fantasy XIV: Crystal World, launched in China on June 19, 2025.
Yoshida’s Switch Vision
So, what’s the actual pitch here? Yoshida’s 2025 comments are fascinating because they break down the use case so clearly. For veterans, it’s about lifestyle flexibility. You do your hardcore raiding on the big PC screen, but then you can kick back on the couch and grind your crafting or gathering jobs on the Switch 2. That’s a legitimately compelling idea—turning the grind into a truly portable, relaxed activity. For newcomers, especially a younger crowd, it’s about accessibility. Introducing the MMO genre to someone through their primary console, the Switch, is a smart gateway. But here’s the thing: his New Year tease just said “Switch,” not “Switch 2.” That’s a big difference. The original Switch could probably run the base game, but the current expansions? I’m skeptical. The safe money is absolutely on this being a next-gen console launch.
The Platform Puzzle
This isn’t a simple port job. Final Fantasy XIV is a massive, ever-evolving live service game. Getting it to run smoothly on a mobile chipset, even a modern one, is a huge technical hurdle. They have a blueprint, though. The Chinese mobile version, Crystal World, developed by Tencent, proves a streamlined experience is possible. But a global console port needs to be the full, cross-platform experience. That means account synchronization, full controller UI optimization, and managing the install size. It’s a monumental task, which is why Yoshida has been tempering expectations for years. The fact that discussions with Nintendo are “positive” is a great sign, but “please look forward to it” is classic Yoshi-P—it’s hopeful, but it’s not a release date.
What It Means For Players
For the FFXIV community, this is potentially huge. It would further cement the game as the most accessible major MMORPG, already on PC and PlayStation. A Switch version would literally let you take Eorzea anywhere. But look, let’s be real about the business side too. This is a user acquisition play. The Switch 2’s launch will need major software, and FFXIV is a system-seller for a dedicated fanbase. For Square Enix, it’s a new revenue stream and a way to hook an entire new demographic. The risk? Diluting the experience. Can they deliver a stable, beautiful game on portable hardware without major compromises? That’s the billion-gil question. If anyone can pull it off, it’s this team, but they’ve set a high bar for themselves.
