Final Fantasy 14 launched on Nintendo Switch 2 on August 4, but some players have run into long loading times during certain parts of the game. Square Enix is now testing a fix for the problem.
What is causing the long loading times?
The slowdown happens when players enter an instanced duty while surrounded by a large number of characters. In those situations, loading can take longer than usual after the screen fades to black and may continue until the player leaves the instance.
The problem can also appear during a battle phase transition or a teleport to another map within an instanced duty. Players may encounter it after being revived following a knockout, or when using Return or another shortcut while inside an instanced duty.
In a notice on the Final Fantasy 14 website, Square Enix explained that data reloading and cache clearing needed for safe rendering were taking too long in certain cases. The company has optimized those processes, and the updated version is currently being tested.
Square Enix has not provided a release date for the fix, so Switch 2 players will have to wait for the tested update to move into a public release.
Players are praising the Switch 2 port
The loading issue has not overshadowed the early response to the port. Many players have praised it as a strong handheld option, with some preferring it to the Steam Deck version.
One player described the difference in an FFXIV subreddit comment: “The Switch version is a big upgrade over playing it on the Steam Deck. It only runs slightly better on the Switch 2, but the larger, higher-resolution display of the Switch 2 makes a huge difference.”
For an MMORPG of this size, the port’s early performance has left a positive impression. The separate subscription requirement remains another point players need to consider, but the loading fix could address the clearest technical complaint once it reaches the live version.
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