Square Enix has indicated an interest in bringing its popular MMORPG Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn to the Switch and Xbox One a lot of times, but has mentioned how the lack of cross platform play between the platforms has been the big roadblock so far. The thing is, the issue is not on the Switch’s or Xbox’s end- as games like Fortnite have shown, Nintendo and Microsoft are more than willing to let their consoles play with all other consoles.
No, the issue comes down to Sony categorically blocking cross platform play with Nintendo and Xbox systems. And that seems to be what has held up the release of any possible versions of Final Fantasy 14 for those platforms.
That said, Square Enix has not yet given up on trying to make the game happen. Speaking to VGR, Producer Naoki Yoshida said that discussions are still ongoing with Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo, with the intent of bringing the game to Xbox and Switch. Yoshida noted that he wanted the game to reach as many players as possible, so he was trying to make it happen- stating that he “hopes to announce something as soon as [they] can.”
I suppose I get it- Square wants cross platform play for all its MMOs, and doesn’t want siloed playerbases on any system. That makes sense. What this sadly means is that thanks to Sony’s hostile policies, the Switch and Xbox versions of the game may be held up. I hope Square can make the impossible happen, and negotiate with Sony so that Xbox and Switch versions of Final Fantasy 14 do end up happening.
