Final Fantasy XIV free subscription period for Switch 2 ends on September 7, will require FFXIV Coins after
Square Enix has announced that the free subscription period for Final Fantasy XIV on Switch 2 will end on September 7.
After this period, those who purchased the Final Fantasy XIV Starter Edition or Complete Edition will get another 30-day free period. After that period, players will require FFXIV Coins to subscribe and play on Switch 2. If you haven't gotten it yet, read my FFXIV Switch 2 impressions here. Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is now available on Switch 2, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, macOS, and PC.
You can find the details for the Switch 2-exclusive FFXIV subscription and more below via Square Enix:
The free subscription period for the full version of FINAL FANTASY XIV on Nintendo Switch™ 2, introduced to help ensure server stability, will end on Monday, September 7 at 11:59 p.m. in each region.
Accordingly, the 30-day free play period granted when registering the Starter Edition or Complete Edition will begin starting Tuesday, September 8. Once this 30-day free play period has elapsed, a subscription fee will be required to continue playing.Subscription Fees
A separate subscription is required to play the Nintendo Switch 2 version, regardless of whether you are subscribed on another platform. However, users with an active FFXIV subscription on another platform can purchase the Nintendo Switch 2 subscription at half the price (Nintendo Switch 2 Subscription Discount).
* The Nintendo Switch 2 Subscription Discount is not available while the 30-day free play period is active on another platform.
* If you set up payment for your subscription before your free play period ends, the subscription fee will be automatically deducted from your FFXIV Coins balance once the free play period expires. Please note that the discount will apply if you still have remaining game time on other platforms at the time of this charge.
Check here for the subscription fees.Paying Service Fees
Payment for subscription fees, additional services, and optional items will require FFXIV Coins, which can be purchased from the Nintendo eShop.
Once purchased, FFXIV Coins can be used on the FINAL FANTASY XIV: Mog Station for subscription fees and other account services, or on the FINAL FANTASY XIV Online Store for optional items.
* Registration for payment of subscription fees and other account services (such as hiring additional retainers) for the Nintendo Switch 2 version will begin on Tuesday, September 8 at 3:00 a.m. (PDT).
When Playing Only on the Nintendo Switch 2 Version
Payments will be handled using FFXIV Coins only.
When Playing on Multiple Platforms
When purchasing optional items, you can visit the Online Store and change the platform to select your desired method of payment. The Nintendo Switch 2 subscription, however, may only be purchased with FFXIV Coins.How to Purchase FFXIV Coins
A known issue is currently preventing the launcher from redirecting to the FFXIV Coins purchase screen in Nintendo eShop. This issue is scheduled to be resolved with Patch 7.56 on Tuesday, September 8. Until this is addressed, press the + button on FINAL FANTASY XIV from the console's HOME menu, and navigate to “Software Information” → “Nintendo eShop” → “In-Game Items.”
Select Buy FFXIV Coins from the launcher and choose the amount you wish to purchase, and you will be redirected to Nintendo eShop to complete your purchase. After confirming your order, return to the launcher and log in. Your FFXIV Coins will be automatically credited to your account, and your updated balance will be displayed before launching the game.
Any FFXIV Coins you purchase will be credited to your Square Enix account the next time you log in to FINAL FANTASY XIV. If you make a purchase while logged in to the game, you will need to log in again for the purchased coins to be reflected.Playing the Nintendo Switch 2 Version
A Square Enix account and Nintendo account are required to play FINAL FANTASY XIV.
1. Link your Nintendo account with your user profile on Nintendo Switch 2.
2. Purchase FINAL FANTASY XIV on the user profile that you will use to play the game.
For players with an existing Square Enix account:
Please note that the registered region of your Square Enix account (Japan / The Americas / Europe & Other Regions) must match the country/region of residence of the Nintendo account linked to your user profile.
For example, to play FFXIV with a Square Enix account for the Americas, it must be purchased on a user profile linked to a Nintendo account registered in the United States, Canada, or other applicable region.
3. Once purchased, launch FINAL FANTASY XIV from the HOME menu.
4. Enter your Square Enix account details.
5. Upon launching the game, the Nintendo Switch 2 user profile will be linked to your Square Enix account. You will not be able to unlink the accounts or transfer to another account once linked. Please be careful and confirm that both accounts are correct before linking.
* If you are playing on another platform, and would like to continue playing with the same character on the Nintendo Switch 2 version, you must select the service account that you have already been using to play when prompted to register the license. After this, follow the additional instructions displayed on screen. You will be unable to play as your existing character if you select the option to create a new service account.
When creating a new character, you will be prompted to select a starting World. Special bonuses are offered for creating a character on certain Worlds.
Learn more about bonuses earned for creating characters on New and Preferred Worlds.
Visit the Server Status page for a list of Worlds that are currently classified as New or Preferred.
* There may be times when no Worlds are classified as New or Preferred, or character creation is temporarily unavailable on certain Worlds.
A Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required to play FINAL FANTASY XIV Online.Nintendo Switch Online Perk
Those with a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be able to register one additional aetheryte as a free destination, which you can teleport to for free (0 gil).
This perk is only available when playing the Nintendo Switch 2 version.Stay Updated with FFXIV News
The launcher for the Nintendo Switch 2 version will generally focus on news concerning game-related announcements. For information regarding other services, merchandise, and live events, please refer to the Lodestone website.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have created a support article that addresses several frequently asked questions and offers troubleshooting for issues like encountering problems starting the game, registering your account, purchasing FFXIV Coins, and more. Additionally, we have included answers to several other topics below.
Q: Can family members take turns playing on a single console?
Issue: My subscriptions for additional services, such as the retainer service or Companion app premium plan, have stopped.
Q: Can I pay my subscription fees automatically each month?
Yes. The subscription fee for the Nintendo Switch 2 version is set up for automatic renewal after a subscription payment is made; as long as you have a sufficient balance of FFXIV Coins, the subscription fee will be automatically deducted each month. If your account balance is insufficient, automatic renewal will be halted and you will need to renew your subscription period manually.
Issue: Nothing happens when I try to select an option in the “Buy FFXIV Coins” section of the launcher.
A known issue is currently preventing the launcher from redirecting to the FFXIV Coins purchase screen in Nintendo eShop. This issue is scheduled to be resolved with Patch 7.56 on Tuesday, September 8. Until this is addressed, you can purchase coins by pressing the + button on FINAL FANTASY XIV from the console's HOME menu, and navigating to “Software Information” → “Nintendo eShop” → “In-Game Items.”
Issue: I logged in using a character I play on another platform, but my settings—such as the hotbar and macros—have changed.
Settings such as hotbars and macros are saved on your device and are not automatically synced. If you want to use those settings in the Nintendo Switch 2 version as well, the server backup feature comes in handy. After uploading your settings from another platform, please download them on the Nintendo Switch 2 version.
If you want to use hotbars, HUD layouts, or character-specific macros, see “Saving a Backup of Character Settings“; if you want to use button customization or shared macros, select “Saving a Backup of Client Settings.”Issue: I'd like to change the controller settings so that the A button cancels and the B button confirms.
You can configure this with the “Button Configuration” option, located under System → System Configuration → Controller Settings → “Controller Customization” in the game's main menu.
Please note that if you swap the A and B buttons in the button configuration settings on your Nintendo Switch 2 console itself, the A and B button controls within the game will be swapped as well.