Square Enix has officially confirmed that Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade will arrive on January 22, 2026, for Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S, marking a major milestone in the franchise’s history. This announcement, revealed during the September 2025 Nintendo Direct, brings the celebrated reimagining of Cloud Strife’s journey beyond PlayStation and PC for the first time. 
For fans, it represents both nostalgia and a new era: a chance to revisit Midgar’s dystopian skyline or discover it fresh on next-gen platforms that have until now been excluded.
The release closes a long wait – almost six years since the original PlayStation 4 debut in 2020 and nearly five since the Intergrade upgrade for PS5 in 2021. With Switch 2 and Xbox users finally joining the adventure, the launch signifies Square Enix’s full embrace of multiplatform strategy. The decision comes with bonuses too: those who secure a digital purchase before January 31, 2026, will unlock the 1997 classic Final Fantasy 7 at no extra cost. Xbox players can dive into the original as soon as their pre-order is confirmed, while Switch 2 players must wait until launch day to access it.
Interestingly, Square Enix is adding some unique flair for Nintendo’s hybrid console. Fans who pre-order a physical copy for Switch 2 will receive a Magic: The Gathering – Final Fantasy Play Booster, a collectible crossover item that taps into the ongoing surge in popularity of trading card tie-ins. For collectors and longtime fans, this is a small but enticing nod that blends the worlds of JRPG storytelling and card-game strategy.
Yet perhaps the most controversial addition comes in the form of the new “Streamlined Progression” setting. This optional mode introduces five tweaks that essentially remove grind: HP and MP always at full, ATB and Limit gauges perpetually charged, and every attack striking for 9999 damage. Director Naoki Hamaguchi defended the decision, framing it as a way to adapt to modern gaming habits. He likened it to how audiences now consume content on streaming platforms, tailoring experiences to fit limited time. For him, these features offer accessibility, letting players focus purely on story if they choose, without the time-sink of leveling or resource management. Critics, however, argue that this risks reducing the challenge to little more than an interactive movie.
Beyond Intergrade, Square Enix reassured fans that the entire Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy will eventually release on Switch 2 and Xbox, alongside PS5 and PC. That confirmation reassures players worried about platform fragmentation. It also means the upcoming chapters, including Rebirth, won’t remain locked to Sony’s ecosystem forever. Still, some disappointment lingers: the announcement only covered Intergrade, leaving Switch and Xbox audiences waiting longer to step into the next act of the saga.
The move to expand platforms also reveals something larger about Square Enix’s evolving philosophy. The company once leaned heavily on exclusivity to drive hardware sales, but as the industry shifts toward service models and cross-platform reach, accessibility has become the new selling point. The Switch 2’s anticipated popularity ensures millions of new players may now experience Midgar on the go, while Xbox’s inclusion – complete with PC and cloud play – aligns with Microsoft’s broader ecosystem approach.
Whether you’re returning to see Cloud face off against Sephiroth again or starting the journey for the first time, January’s release promises to be one of the most significant moments for JRPG fans in years. The combination of nostalgia, modern upgrades, and controversial ease-of-play features makes this launch as much a cultural conversation as a game release. And with the trilogy’s future confirmed across all major platforms, the coming years look bright for one of gaming’s most iconic tales.
1 comment
Square really regrettin keepin this PS exclusive all these years, now everyone else eats too