Nintendo’s next handheld is quickly becoming a key piece of Square Enix’s strategy to reach more players, and the publisher may not be stopping with the Final Fantasy 7 Remake. With the Switch 2 version of Final Fantasy 7 Remake reportedly performing well and selling strongly, new chatter suggests Square Enix is also considering bringing Final Fantasy 16 to the Switch 2—an idea that would have seemed far-fetched not long ago.
The rumor comes from comments shared on a recent gaming podcast, where well-known insider NateTheHate2 said Square Enix is weighing a Final Fantasy 16 port for Nintendo’s upcoming system. It’s an exciting prospect for RPG fans, but also a complicated one. Final Fantasy 16 is a visually intense action RPG that has already tested the limits of more powerful hardware. On PlayStation 5, the game’s demanding scenes have even been associated with reports of overheating consoles, underscoring just how heavy the workload can be.
So why would Square Enix target Final Fantasy 16 next? The logic is timing and momentum. The same insider believes 2026 could be a breakout year for third-party Switch 2 releases. If Square Enix is already moving forward with the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy on Nintendo’s platform—and with the possibility of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth arriving before year’s end—the company could soon be free to shift more resources toward other major entries in the franchise. There have also been hints from within Square Enix itself: back in June 2025, Final Fantasy 16 Creative Director Kazutoyo Maehiro suggested a handheld version wasn’t off the table, even if it wasn’t always part of the plan.
That said, fans hoping for an immediate surprise release should temper expectations. According to the podcast discussion, an announcement could happen this year, but the actual launch may not. In other words, it’s something to watch for, not something to preorder tomorrow.
Performance is the biggest question mark. Even on PS5, Final Fantasy 16’s performance mode can struggle to consistently hold 60 fps, and it compensates by dialing back image quality. Many players end up choosing the 30 fps quality mode for sharper visuals, but the tradeoff is that combat can feel less responsive compared to smoother action-focused games. The situation doesn’t get simpler on other hardware either. The Xbox Series X version is said to deliver steadier frame rates in performance mode, yet the image can look noticeably blurrier. On PC handhelds, the challenges are even clearer: Final Fantasy 16 isn’t verified for Steam Deck, and reports point to choppy gameplay on Valve’s system—an important comparison when discussing how a Switch 2 version might run.
Still, “difficult” doesn’t mean “impossible.” Recent ports have shown that developers can squeeze impressive results out of Nintendo hardware when the technology and optimization work together. The podcast pointed to examples like Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Star Wars Outlaws, and Cyberpunk 2077 as proof that ambitious games can land on the Switch 2 with the right engineering. One key advantage expected to help is DLSS upscaling support, a feature that can improve image quality and performance by rendering at lower resolutions and intelligently scaling the visuals.
If Square Enix can successfully optimize Final Fantasy 16 for Switch 2, it could pay off beyond Nintendo’s ecosystem. Better optimization work often carries over, and players on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X continue hoping for further performance and clarity improvements. A Switch 2 port could end up being more than just a new platform release—it could be the push that leads to a more polished experience everywhere.
For now, Final Fantasy 16 on Switch 2 remains unconfirmed, but the idea is gaining traction as Square Enix expands its multi-platform approach. If 2026 truly becomes the big year for third-party Switch 2 games, this could be one of the most surprising—and most requested—ports on Nintendo’s next system.
