YOU NEED TO SEE THIS VERSION BECAUSE THE FIRST ONE ONLY SCRAPED THE SURFACE — here is everything from the latest update! First, let me re-hype the trailer itself since this new gameplay cut actually shows us playing on Switch 2 hardware in depth: you get quick battle segments mixed with actual in-game cinematics and not just a sizzle reel. But more importantly there's an early access window that officially kicks off in August, and here is where it gets interesting for current players because the Nintendo Life update adds some critical detail about subscriptions! If you already play on PC/PS5 but want to switch over to Switch 2 edition you do need a separate purchase of both the game AND its own dedicated subscription — BUT there's a massive win: your existing remaining playtime from another platform can get credited toward a half-price Nintendo Switch 2 subscription for about a month, and most importantly none of this version requires an additional Nintendo Switch Online membership to play during early access or official service which is probably the biggest cost-saving detail that should have been in my first post!

Let's talk what else dropped from that same Direct because it wasn't just FF XIV — they also announced Final Fantasy Resonance, their new HD-2D title. It comes out October 18 and gets the full cross-generation treatment playing on both Switch and the newer model with crossplay supported between them. So if you're a fan of that classic sprite style while waiting for your MMO fix there is another thing to look forward to this fall too! I can't wait to get my hands on XIV running natively at 4K/60fps when it launches — the hardware just makes sense for these games and Square Enix has definitely made the most of every frame.

Source: https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2026/06/square-enix-releases-final-fantasy-xiv-online-switch-2-gameplay-trailer