Final Fantasy XIV or Elden Ring: the Switch 2 newcomers
August 2026 brought two huge role-playing games to Switch 2 within weeks of each other. Here is how they compare on the console, and beyond it.
01 · the short answerTwo August arrivals with opposite price models
Elden Ring's Tarnished Edition is a one-off £64.99 with its expansion included. Final Fantasy XIV is free to try up to level 80, then needs its own subscription on Switch 2 as well as the game. Both also run on PC, PlayStation and Xbox; Final Fantasy XIV adds Mac and shares one world across every platform.
02 · the kitWhere each one plays
| Kit | Final Fantasy XIV | Elden Ring |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop PC | Plays | Plays |
| Everyday laptop | Not available | Not available |
| Steam Deck | With caveats · Playable | Plays · Verified |
| PlayStation 5 | Plays | Plays |
| Xbox Series X|S | Plays | Plays |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Plays · New in August 2026 | Plays · Tarnished Edition |
| Phone & tablet | Not available | Not available |
| Mac | Plays · Apple silicon | Not available |
| Cloud streaming | With caveats · Xbox or PS Plus Premium | With caveats · PS Plus Premium only |
03 · the factsSide by side
| Point | Final Fantasy XIV | Elden Ring |
|---|---|---|
| Kit List score | 8.4 / 10 | 8.2 / 10 |
| Entry price | Free trial · Complete Edition from £34.99, then from £7.69 a month | £49.99 on Steam, PlayStation and Xbox |
| PEGI | 16 | 16 |
| PC storage | 140 GB | 60 GB |
| Minimum graphics class | B | B |
| Crossplay | Yes: every platform shares servers | No crossplay |
| Price on Switch 2 | £64.99 once | Free trial, then £44.99 plus a subscription |
| Switch Online needed | Yes, for online play | No |
| Playing with others | Online summons and invasions | One shared world across every platform |
| Space on Switch 2 | 41 GB | 120 GB |
04 · the verdictWhich one to start
Try Final Fantasy XIV first: the free trial costs nothing and runs for hundreds of hours. If you want a single, self-contained adventure with no ongoing cost, buy Elden Ring's Tarnished Edition instead.
Pick Final Fantasy XIV if…
you want a long story in a shared online world and do not mind a subscription later.
Full review