Overview
- Square Enix released the free demo Tuesday, Apr. 28, on Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and the Microsoft Store on PC.
- The trial covers Chapters 1 and 2, lets progress transfer to the full game on June 3, and unlocks the Kupo Charm and a Survival Set for players who keep their demo save.
- The demo includes Streamlined Progression options that can make play easier, such as unlimited HP and MP, an always‑full ATB gauge, 9,999 damage, faster weapon ability gains, and instant materia or gil boosts.
- Hands‑on reports praise smooth handheld play at a 30 FPS target with cutbacks like lower‑resolution textures, fuzzy hair and pop‑in, while deeper comparisons flag occasional dips to about 19 FPS in busy town scenes and fewer background props on Switch 2.
- The download is about 45 GB on Switch 2 and roughly 91 GB on Xbox, preorders are live with platform bonuses, and players who want carry‑over should avoid starting a fresh save in the full game before importing the demo data.