Square Enix posted an update on its official Final Fantasy XIV page today to remind players that the free one-month grace period for its long-running MMO on Switch 2 will be ending soon. Starting September 7th, 2026, players will either need to buy the “Starter” or “Complete” editions of the game, or switch over to the free-trial that limits access to certain features. If you’ve already purchased FFXIV on Switch 2, your included month of game access will take effect on September 8, 2026.
This can be a little confusing to those not familiar with MMOs, but Square Enix launched FFXIV on Switch 2 with 30 free days as a means of testing the server stability on Nintendo’s console. Technically speaking, the game doesn’t actually release until September 7th, so Square Enix wants to remind players that they’ll soon need to start paying to keep playing. MMO fees go towards server maintenance and the development of additional content, of which Final Fantasy XIV has received six major expansion packs, so this isn’t anything new. This announcement is merely a warning so that people aren’t caught off guard if they suddenly lose access.
In order to pay for access on Nintendo Switch 2, players will need to utilize FFXIV coins, as Square Enix calls them. This is a separate subscription from the PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S versions, though having dual subscriptions will net you a 50% discount for access on the Switch 2 port. Basically, you purchase coins ahead of time and use those to pay off the monthly fee. FFXIV coins can be purchased from the game’s launcher, which will redirect to the eShop for completion of the purchase. It seems a little convoluted, but I suppose Square Enix is trying to conform to standards set by Nintendo’s online ecosystem.
If you don’t want to deal with any of that, Final Fantasy XIV does have a rather generous free trial. You’re limited in certain aspects, such as losing the ability to form parties with other players, but you can otherwise experience the entirety of XIV’s story and even play through the first four expansions. It’s certainly a hell of a lot of content for the low price of $0.
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
