During a recent live stream, the producer of Final Fantasy XVI, Naoki Yoshida, hinted that the game could potentially arrive on Nintendo Switch 2. Speaking about the recent launch on Xbox Series X/S, Yoshida stated, “Nintendo is the last platform remaining that doesn’t have the game,” with creative director Kazutoyo Maehiro adding, “I’ll do my best,” further fueling speculations. Originally released exclusively on PS5 in the summer of 2023, the game launched on PC in September 2024, and on Xbox just a few weeks ago.
Square Enix’s Shift in Strategy
Square Enix seems intent on continuing its strategy of moving away from console exclusives. After the announcement of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade for Xbox—five years after its debut on PS5—and the confirmation that the title will also be arriving on Nintendo Switch 2, rumors about a wider distribution of the main chapters of the saga have gained strength. The game director of the remake, Naoki Hamaguchi, even suggested that the entire Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy might be destined for the new Nintendo console.
This shift comes after Square Enix admitted that the sales of Final Fantasy XVI and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth did not meet expectations. In September, the Japanese company announced a shift toward a multiplatform strategy to increase the global accessibility of its flagship IPs.
