One of the big announcements coming out of Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest 2026 was that the critically acclaimed MMORPG would come to the Nintendo Switch 2 in August of this year. Director and producer Naoki Yoshida gave a live demo on-stage during the keynote presentation and outlined the separate FFXIV subscription model for Switch 2. But there weren’t many technical details shared at that time. So, in a roundtable interview at Fan Fest, Yoshida confirmed a few things: the Switch 2 version of FFXIV will have mouse controls and it will target 30 frames per second.
Yoshida was asked about Joy-Con mouse capabilities and whether or not he’s done high-level raid content in testing, and said, “For the first part of the question about the built-in mouse controls, yes, it is supported and it is possible. And for the second part, I have not tried going into a Savage raid with the built-in mouse yet!”
He did say that the QA team is checking and testing it in the lead-up to release, but also mentioned, “Because you can use a controller, I think I would prefer to use one,” specifically for the Switch 2 version. “You can choose the way you want to play. You can put it in the [dock] to play on the TV, and I think people who want to do Savage raids might want to sit down, go into the content, and I imagine they would hook up their mouse and keyboard,” Yoshida expanded.
Like the console versions, it appears the Switch 2 version will feature full keyboard and mouse support as well, but he spoke to the advantages of being on the handheld-console hybrid, saying, “Whereas, we can also play in handheld mode, if you’re a gatherer or crafter [in-game non-combat classes] you can take it with you and do more casual things.” He noted that this coincides with the update coming with the new expansion Evercold and Patch 8.0 that will move the MMO to emphasize a weekly cycle of recurring content instead of daily cycles, saying, “You can choose what you want to focus on and you are more free to choose which mode to play, so I hope players will find the way that is most suited for themselves.”
When it comes to in-game performance, Yoshida prefaced things by saying, “I’ve already noticed some comments on the social channels talking about the specs and how does it compare to the other more robust systems… I want to be honest to you, we are really working hard on the optimization for the platform and we are striving to get the best performance.”
Afterward, Yoshida confirmed that FFXIV on Switch 2 will be targeting 30fps. “In towns, you may see a lower frame-rate only because there are so many players rendered on screen,” he explained. “But we are still able to reach 30 frames per second, and stay in a stable state.” While 30fps isn’t exactly ideal for FFXIV when you get to higher level content (such as raids), he spoke to aiming for stability by saying, “I think performance is something you don’t have to be concerned about.”
If you’re interested in playing FFXIV on Switch 2, you’ll also have consider the platform-specific subscription model. While you will not be required to subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online, you will need a separate FFXIV subscription for the Switch 2 version. Subscribers of FFXIV on other platforms will get 50% off the Switch 2 fee, however. (The FFXIV free trial now extends to the third expansion, Shadowbringers, and does not require payment, although it comes with in-game restrictions.)
For more on the MMORPG, be sure to check out my breakdown of the announcement of the next expansion titled Evercold and the reveal of the Evangelion x FFXIV crossover raid content coming next year.
Michael Higham is an editor at IGN who regularly contributes with reviews, previews, features, and news in written and video form. He’s usually entrusted with covering long RPGs and tech products, but he’s got range when it comes to games. You’ll also catch him at events and hosting video content, including IGN’s weekly podcast Unlocked.
