Did you know Final Fantasy XIV is hosting an upcoming Fan Festival soon in North America? Especially with Patch 7.4 on the horizon, many wonder if the developers will make any significant changes. The good news is Producer Naoki Yoshida, also known as YoshiP, confirmed they have some interesting plans coming! Let’s see what the developers have to say.
Please note that the following information is translated from Umadori, a Japanese FFXIV news site. In addition, we also provided context from Inven‘s original interview.
A Second Rebirth
In a recent interview with Korean media Inven, YoshiP discussed several topics ranging from a new Eorzean Cafe in Korea to marketing collaborations in various lifestyle brands.
“We’re determined to give the game a second rebirth, and are rethinking everything from scratch with the goal of evolving the game into a cutting-edge service.”
Not many games today can say they’ve seen as much as Final Fantasy XIV has, but in YoshiP’s eyes, there’s still more the game can improve on.
To give some context: Final Fantasy XIV has been in service for well over 15 years. Originally released back in 2010, this MMORPG has seen both highs and lows: FFXIV started anew with A Realm Reborn in 2013, powered through an international crisis during Shadowbringers, and even began a whole new journey with Dawntrail. There are even concurrent live services for Korea and China, along with a sprouting Mobile version of FFXIV.
Why MMORPGs are a Dying Breed
For example, think about how much time you spend playing FFXIV. Is it an hour, 2 hours, or more like 6? If a Duty Roulette takes you 30 minutes to complete, how long would it take to complete all of them daily? If you craft in Cosmic Exploration or farm in Occult Crescent, you know you’re not leaving the chair for a while. We wish it was an exaggeration. 😅
FFXIV has well past a decade of experiences by now, and so has its community. Players have graduated from school, changed careers, started families… The changes are endless, but people in general have less disposable time now. According to YoshiP, “we think the game needs to adapt to that”.
YoshiP brings light to the situation perfectly himself: “MMORPGs are a genre that takes time to play, so I don’t think they fit well in today’s world. […] I don’t think it’s right to only [experience the fun] unless you invest hundreds of hours.
Conversely, if there’s something to look forward to every time you log in, and the [satisfaction matches those expectations], I think the MMORPG genre will continue to be loved. This is what Final Fantasy XIV is aiming for.”
Are Changes Still Possible?
With Final Fantasy XIV looking towards the future, 20 years of service may be a reality. However, as YoshiP highlights, players today are not interested in what was popular 10 or 15 years ago: “In the past, MMORPGs were built around repetitive tasks, known as grinding, and time-consuming gameplay. […]
Final Fantasy XIV’s design up until now has been about keeping players engaged, even if they play for short periods of time.
While collecting 450 Allagan Tomestones is readily understood by long-time Final Fantasy XIV players, it’s difficult for newer players, particularly those coming from smartphone-based online games or newer titles, to understand what happens after”.
Even though YoshiP admits the current game design is for helping players catch up after a long break, active players want some love too. What happens after we’re done with gear? Why collect Tomestones if there are no new raids? What if players prefer other activities in FFXIV?
Breathing New Life in FFXIV
“I believe that these things, which have been taken for granted until now, can be elevated to a higher level in online gaming services and entertainment, and that’s why I’m currently considering this direction.”
YoshiP understands a game’s success is a reflection of their communities. The original development of Final Fantasy XIV was a disaster. But the game survived, thanks to players supporting each other, and having developers who listen. We’ve seen them address issues in recent Live Letters as well, so they’re definitely doing something!
Many players in the community believe this is a sign of a rework starting in Patch 8.0. While the next expansion is likely in 2027, players have noticed coding infrastructure changes present in almost every patch release. Does this mean I don’t need 5 different menu windows open anymore?
While some players are hopeful, others expressed their fear and concerns. Building from the ground up requires time, money, and resources: no working developers, no player-base, no game. Focusing too much on back-end improvements may lead to a lack of obvious changes on the surface too. Where is my new content?!
What do players think of the interview? Do you agree or disagree with where FFXIV is going? What kind of changes would you like to see? We’ll be sure to stay up to date for you, dear Warriors of Light!
