Collaborations play a pivotal role in keeping things fresh and enticing for gamers. Naoki Yoshida, director and producer of Final Fantasy 14, knows this all too well. In fact, his aspirations for crossovers within the game’s universe know little to no bounds. At the very top of his wish list? A potential partnership with Blizzard Entertainment’s iconic series, Diablo.
The love Yoshida has for Diablo isn’t a newfound passion. He expressed his deep admiration for Blizzard’s creation back in 2019, even humorously suggesting that he’d abandon all other projects if given the chance to work on Diablo 4 in an interview with Official PlayStation Magazine. He echoed these sentiments at the recent Final Fantasy Fan Festival in London, where he highlighted Diablo as the “collaboration of his dreams.
However, the aspiration doesn’t come without its fair share of challenges. Yoshida acknowledges the stark contrast in its tone and aesthetic. Diablo is renowned for its “hardcore” graphics with a world characterized by its mature content and blood – as he amusingly observes – an abundance of spikes. On the other hand, even though Final Fantasy 14 has dealt with intense themes, especially in expansions like Endwalker, the overall world is somewhat lighter in its presentation.
Navigating the potential collaboration, therefore, would necessitate a delicate balance. Stripping Diablo of its essence is a big risk. Merely presenting a softened version of it within the realm of FF14 might not resonate with the expectations of players from both worlds. Yoshida articulates this dilemma poignantly, indicating the possible challenges in harmonizing the intense, mature themes of Diablo with the diverse universe of FF14.
While Blizzard hasn’t yet responded to Yoshida’s overt enthusiasm for a collaboration, it’s clear that Final Fantasy 14 isn’t shy about integrating other universes into its fold. The game’s history is full of crossovers, from mainline Final Fantasy entries to Monster Hunter and, more recently, the lighter and more whimsical Fall Guys. The depth and authenticity with which these crossovers are executed are testament to FF14’s commitment to delivering meaningful experiences. Instead of superficially incorporating in-game skins or mere costumes, collaborations often introduce brand new gameplay mechanics, custom questlines, and uniquely designed challenges.
The intention isn’t merely about diversifying content. For Yoshida and his team, it’s a celebration of gaming and its way to generate excitement. In addition to this, it’s a way to support fellow developers. The ultimate goal? Making FF14 players happy. This is the kind of collaborative spirit that makes FF14’s crossovers unique.
FF14’s collaborations vary. Some, such as the Monster Hunter crossover, was the result of Yoshida’s direct discussions with developers. Others, such as the Fall Guys crossover, were initiated by the partner developers themselves, indicating FF14’s broad appeal and reputation.
Adding to the recent plethora of exciting news around Final Fantasy 14 is the much-anticipated revelation that the game will soon be playable on Xbox consoles. Scheduled for release in January 2024, this move marks a significant expansion in the game’s accessibility. Fans of the Xbox platform have long-awaited this development, and Yoshida himself, an avid Xbox gamer, expressed his profound elation over this realization, noting that probably only he and Phil Spencer could match the happiness Xbox gamers would feel.
As FF14 expands its horizons to include Xbox players, we’re curious to see which universes it chooses to intertwine with next. Whether a Diablo collaboration is on the horizon remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain: the future of FF14 is as promising as it is boundless.
Now that Microsoft owns Blizzard, it could improve its relationship with Square Enix by offering a Diablo collaboration with Final Fantasy 14. If nothing else, the latest entry in the popular MMORPG could use some good will.
Speaking of Diablo, Blizzard is asking fans to save lines with its unique blood drive twist. Finally, Diablo 4 is on Steam, which hasn’t gone so well.
