Final Fantasy XIV, a critically acclaimed MMORPG, is finally making its much-anticipated debut on Xbox consoles after years of waiting.
For a long time, fans of the series have expressed their longing for the game’s arrival on Microsoft’s gaming platform. This year’s Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival finally granted their wishes.
Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft Gaming, made a surprise appearance to announce the thrilling news.
Enjoyed being onstage with Yoshi-P and Kiryu-san to announce Final Fantasy XIV coming to Xbox. We’re thrilled that the Xbox community will join the Warriors of Light and we look forward to partnering closely with Square Enix on future games. pic.twitter.com/zq0ETkDFq1
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) July 28, 2023
Square Enix, the producers of the game, in a momentous partnership with Xbox, are bringing the award-winning experience to the Xbox Series S/X next spring. The game has only been available on PC and PlayStation since its 2013 launch, making a significant expansion like this a momentum occasion in the MMORPG’s accessibility.
According to the game’s director, Naoki Yoshida, one of the most prevalent requests from fans was to extend the gaming experience to the Xbox platform.
The Xbox versions of Final Fantasy XIV will feature enhanced loading speeds and 4K resolution support for the Series X. In addition to this, an open beta is scheduled to take place during the launch of patch 6.5. The progress from the open beta will carry over to the full version, an enticing offer that Yoshida encourages all Xbox players to take up. The game, however, will only be available as a digital release.
The Xbox’s version debut will coincide with the release of the new expansion, Dawntrail, scheduled for the summer of 2024. This new chapter brings with it a host of updates and expansions, including a major graphical overhaul, new jobs, and a “New World” with a delightful summer vacation theme.
One might recall the initial difficulties faced by Final Fantasy XIV at its launch in 2013. The game’s initial version faced many challenges and even had to be shut down for a time before being re-released as A Realm Reborn.
Since its rebirth, it has risen from the ashes to deliver an increasingly excellent series of expansions, each introducing a new set of characters, classes, and conflicts for players to immerse themselves in. The upcoming Xbox version holds promise to continue this legacy of quality.
Despite the excitement surrounding this announcement, there have been complex negotiations behind the scenes leading to this moment. In the past, Yoshida cited Microsoft’s restrictive stance on crossplay as a deterrent to bringing the game to the Xbox platform. Spencer echoed this sentiment, expressing a desire for cross-platform MMORPGs during an event back in 2019. Finally, in 2021, Yoshida reported a positive tone in discussions with Microsoft, ultimately leading to this major reveal.
This move reflects a broader shift in Square Enix’s strategy. Historically, the game developer has often partnered with Sony and PlayStation rather than Microsoft and Xbox. However, recent announcements indicate a pivot towards a more balanced relationship with both platforms. With this new partnership, the Xbox community will get to explore Hydaelyn, completing quests, navigating dungeons, and embarking on thrilling raids.
Given Final Fantasy XIV’s tremendous success on other platforms, this announcement is a considerable win for Xbox and its passionate gaming community. This is not just a step forward for this specific game, but potentially a new chapter in Xbox’s partnership with Square Enix. As Spencer and Square Enix CEO Takashi Kiryu have alluded to, this could be the beginning of a closer relationship in the future. For Xbox fans and the Final Fantasy community alike, these are exciting times.
Creative Business Unit III, the division responsible for the development and maintenance of Final Fantasy 14 over at Square Enix, is currently contemplating DLC content for Final Fantasy 16, one of this generation’s best-selling titles and easily one of the best entries in the franchise of all time. A PC port of Final Fantasy 16 is in development as well.
