Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster is coming to the Switch 2

Square Enix is bringing the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster to the Nintendo Switch 2 on July 23. The two-game RPG collection is available for pre-order now on the Nintendo eShop.

The original Final Fantasy X launched on the PlayStation 2 in 2001. It was a major technical leap for the series at the time. The game introduced fully 3D environments and voice acting to the franchise. Square Enix followed it up with a direct sequel in 2003.

This specific high-definition compilation is not exactly a new product. It originally released for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in 2013. Over the last decade, Square Enix has ported the collection to the PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, and the original Nintendo Switch.

Same remaster, new hardware

The Switch 2 release includes the exact same upgrades seen in previous versions of the HD Remaster. Character models and backgrounds are upgraded to full HD resolution. The original PS2 geometry is largely intact, but the textures and lighting received an overhaul back in 2013 to look acceptable on modern flat-screen displays. The soundtrack has also been rearranged.

It also bundles in the extra content from the International Versions of both games. For Final Fantasy X, this means an expanded Sphere Grid for character leveling and new optional superbosses. For X-2, it includes a monster capture system and a roguelike bonus dungeon called Last Mission.

Square Enix has also retained the quality-of-life additions from the modern ports. Players have access to a high-speed mode and a toggle to turn off random encounters. The package is identical to the versions currently available on six other platforms.

A clean break from the original Switch

This is a distinct release from the 2019 Switch port. It is strictly compatible with the Switch 2 and will not run on older hardware. You cannot buy this version and expect it to work on a base Switch console.

Save data is also completely incompatible between the original Switch version and the Switch 2 version. Anyone hoping to carry over a 60-hour save file to finish grinding out the Sphere Grid on the new console is out of luck. You will have to start from the beginning.

The long road of Spira

Final Fantasy X follows Tidus, a sports star who ends up in the world of Spira and joins a summoner named Yuna on a pilgrimage to defeat a giant monster called Sin. The game replaced the series' traditional Active Time Battle system with a purely turn-based approach. This allowed players to swap party members in and out of combat freely.

The sequel, Final Fantasy X-2, picks up two years later and shifts the tone entirely. It brought back the Active Time Battle system and focused on a fast-paced job-class mechanic built around changing outfits mid-fight.

Having a portable version of the games on modern hardware is convenient, but the lack of cross-generation save support makes it a tough sell for anyone who already owns the prior Switch release. For everyone else, it is another chance to play a pair of 20-year-old RPGs on a new screen.