Final Fantasy 16 Walks towards Nintendo Switch 2

Final Fantasy 16, originally released for PlayStation 5 in 2023 and PC in 2024, seems to be on its way to the Nintendo Switch 2. The Xbox Series version was recently released, two years after the initial launch. Although there is no formal announcement, comments from the production team suggest that a port for the new Nintendo console is in development.

During a broadcast dedicated to Final Fantasy 14, Naoki Yoshida (producer) and Kazutoyo Maehiro (creative director) casually mentioned the Nintendo Switch 2 version, as if it were common knowledge.

Yoshida's mention of the Xbox Series version and Maehiro's subsequent statement ("let's do our best") when asked about the Nintendo Switch 2 version are interpreted as strong indications that work is already underway at Square Enix. Japanese discretion, usually notable, would hardly allow such comments if the project was not in production.

The arrival of Final Fantasy 16 on more platforms solidifies Square Enix's multiplatform strategy, aiming to expand the reach of its titles. Previously, the company had focused on timed exclusivity for PlayStation, but this trend has been decreasing.

Optimizing Final Fantasy 16 for the Nintendo Switch 2 will represent a technical challenge, considering the hardware differences compared to PS5 and Xbox Series. The game is known for its graphical demands and may require significant adjustments to maintain the expected performance. Previous reports indicated that fewer than 10% of PC players were able to run the game at 1080p and 60fps.

Including Final Fantasy 16 in the Switch 2 library may attract a new segment of players and strengthen the catalog of the new Nintendo console, which has shown strong sales performance.

Do you believe that Square Enix will be able to optimize Final Fantasy 16 properly for the Nintendo Switch 2, considering the technical requirements of the game and the history of challenging ports?