FFXIV Hits Switch 2 August 4 With Free Trial as Evercold Teaser Drops
Final Fantasy XIV Online will officially launch on Nintendo Switch 2 on August 4, Square Enix confirmed during the Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival keynote in Berlin, alongside pre-orders now live on the eShop and a hefty 117GB download requirement for the long-running MMORPG. In an update, Square Enix confirmed its MMORPG will be launching for Nintendo’s new hybrid system on 4th August 2026, with pre-orders now available on the Switch 2 eShop. The same Berlin showcase also delivered a meatier look at Evercold, the game’s next expansion, including a new tank job and a Final Fantasy VII Remake crossover raid.
117GB Download and a Free First Month on Switch 2
The download size listed on the eShop is 117GB for FFXIV on Switch 2, a figure independently confirmed by multiple outlets tracking the storefront listing. Previously, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was the largest Switch 2 game at over 102 GB, meaning the new digital-only Switch 2 version will occupy 46% of the Nintendo console’s storage capacity. Only the Kingdom Hearts collection sits above it on Switch 2’s biggest-download list.
Square Enix is softening the blow for newcomers with a trial run. The first month will be free for all as a stability test, and a free trial will also be available. Players who already subscribe on PC, PlayStation or Xbox won’t be able to simply carry that subscription over, though. If you already play XIV and want to keep playing on other platforms and Switch 2, you will need a new Switch 2-specific XIV subscription, though Square Enix is offering a 50 percent discount to existing subscribers on that new tier, according to Gematsu.
Four Editions Span $19.99 Starter to Collector’s Bundle
Pricing on the eShop breaks down across four packages. A “Starter Edition” is on sale for $19.99, covering the base game A Realm Reborn and the three expansions Heavensward, Stormblood, and Shadowbringers plus 30 days of play time. The most recent expansion, Dawntrail, is sold separately, while a Complete Edition bundles the Starter package with Dawntrail, and a Complete Collector’s Edition rolls in every expansion plus bonus items.
Nintendo Life’s own listing of the eShop pricing notes discounts are already running ahead of launch: the Complete Edition sits at $59.99 / £44.99 with a pre-order price of $41.99 / £31.49, and the Complete Collector’s Edition is $139.99 / £87.99 with a pre-order price of $97.99 / £61.59. No New Zealand or Australian dollar pricing has been published yet, but Switch 2 owners in the region will get access to the eShop listing and free trial the same day as the rest of the world.
Evercold’s Bastion Tank Job Gets Its Own Trailer
Beyond the Switch 2 news, Square Enix used the Berlin keynote to expand on Evercold, the sixth FFXIV expansion due in January 2027. Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida revealed the first new job coming to Evercold: Bastion, a main tank that wields a pair of greatshields known as skyltborg, and unveiled a trailer showcasing the new job in action. A second job for the expansion is being held back for a future Tokyo showcase.
A fresh five-minute extended teaser also expanded on the expansion’s story hook. The trailer provided a glimpse into the world of the Fourth and the adventures that await the Warrior of Light in the start of the Godless Realms Saga story arc. Square Enix has also detailed sweeping systems changes arriving with the expansion, including the ability to switch between Reborn Mode, based on the current combat system, and Evolved Mode, designed to highlight each job’s unique identity.
Final Fantasy VII Remake and Evangelion Crossovers Confirmed
Two major crossovers were also locked in during the keynote. Final Fantasy VII Remake series Director Naoki Hamaguchi joined Yoshida on stage to reveal “Beyond the Lifestream,” a new Final Fantasy VII-themed 8-player raid series that players will challenge in Evercold, with both development teams working closely together on the encounter. Square Enix had already announced an Evangelion alliance raid series called “Ghosts of Desire” back in April, and Yoshida used Berlin to add a notable name to that project.
Following the reveal of the EVANGELION – Ghosts of Desire alliance raid series in April, Yoshida unveiled a new teaser trailer and announced that acclaimed director and animator Mahiro Maeda will join the project as a special guest artist and designer. Maeda’s credits, per Square Enix’s own announcement, include concept artist and designer work on “Mad Max: Fury Road” and director, concept art director, storyboard artist, art setting designer and key animator duties on “EVANGELION:3.0 +1.0 THRICE UPON A TIME.”
Read also: FFXIV: Evercold Expansion Confirmed for Jan. 2027, Switch 2 Version Launches Aug. 4
With the console launch now just days away, Switch 2 owners weighing up whether to make room for a 117GB commitment at least get to try before they buy. The bigger test for Square Enix will be whether the free trial and discounted first month are enough to convince handheld-first players to stick around once Evercold, and its accompanying content updates, start rolling out from January.
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