Reflecting on FFXIV’s big comeback, from launch to November’s Endwalker expansion – PlayStation.Blog

In the marketplace, the advancement story of Final Fantasy XIV has attained an pretty much legendary position. Immediately after a hard launch, the next massively multiplayer on the internet RPG of the Ultimate Fantasy franchise wanted salvaging. Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida, an avid MMO participant himself, was the one tasked with this herculean undertaking, a approach that led him and his staff to rebuild the game from the ground up and relaunch it under a fitting new name, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.

Endwalker’s model-new title screen, a sight that will welcome players from the 19^th of November.

As a 1. participant myself, I vividly recall Yoshida-san’s preliminary introduction to the neighborhood. Mindful of the awkwardness of the condition, the freshly appointed producer chose to handle gamers instantly. He launched himself and his preliminary options in what he identified as a “Letter from the Producer” – a composed account to the local community that set the tone for a two-way communication that endures to this working day, originally gauging gamers for direct feedback in a handful of small, qualified surveys, evaluating anticipations and wishes for the match they were being taking part in despite the tumult.

It wasn’t until finally months later than the idea of A Realm Reborn was formally launched. Ultimate Fantasy XIV would be “nuked” to be reborn anew – both of those figuratively and quite pretty much. In 2012, just after a climactic cinematic and months of significantly gloomy in-game updates, the servers shut down. A several months later, A Realm Reborn would introduce a model-new world to examine.

The last days of Ultimate Fantasy XIV in advance of its shutdown and eventual 2. rebirth. Gamers experienced no concept what terrors slept in Dalamud, the ominous pink moon…

Now, 8 many years because A Realm Reborn’s release and on the eve of its fourth and biggest expansion to day, Final Fantasy XIV boasts additional than 24 million gamers and has turn out to be the most profitable title in the Final Fantasy franchise, a feat mainly attributed to the diligent function of Naoki Yoshida and his staff.

As portion of Sq. Enix’s new Media Tour, I was able to perform a preview model of its upcoming growth, Endwalker. Brimming with written content, this new behemoth of an update will enhance the character amount cap to 90 and will introduce two brand name-new playable careers, a male variant of the admirer-most loved Viera race, and a prosperity of raids, dungeons, and other new information to the MMO. Tag-teaming with fellow interviewer Jade King from TheGamer, I was able to get Naoki Yoshida’s views on the present-day state of the recreation, Endwalker’s development, and his own journey all the way to this new release.

Now with the more title of Director, Yoshida however regularly hosts his Letters of the Producer, today offered during livestreams in a continuation of this now 10 years-previous tradition. The most current instalment, the 66^th to be exact, introduced in element some of the interesting gameplay features to be released in the upcoming Endwalker expansion, fostering the enjoyment of players all all over the world.

The special romance Yoshida has nurtured with the game’s community because the start of his involvement has become a essential element of what helps make Remaining Fantasy XIV exclusive to its players. “From our point of view in the XIV workforce, we don’t consider of the gamers as just gamers,” he goes on to clarify, “we genuinely look to them as our close friends and part of our relatives, we’re in this match with each other.”

Probably most importantly, Endwalker will near the chapter of a tale arc that stretches back again to 2010, in advance of the game’s relaunch. Hydaelyn and Zodiark, two deities of the realm eternally at odds with one one more, are prophesied to solve their conflict in a climactic close to the age-previous saga. But we’ll have to wait around for the 23^rd of November to know more on that…

Still left – Sages management four floating nouliths to mend their allies, correct – Reaper’s weapon of option is a double-handed scythe.

In the preview, I examined the two model-new employment: the mecha-encouraged barrier healer Sage and the extremely rapid and powerful melee DPS Reaper. The two felt extraordinary to enjoy, Reaper featuring a enjoyable flow of attack phases that culminates in a quick, dispossessed burst of potent combos, and Sage showcasing intricate, pleasing-to-the-ear healing talents that feel primed to cope with wave following wave of incoming raid hurt. The design of these two work opportunities and the total talents rework seem to trace at interesting developments for the game’s at any time-hungry raiding scene.

The 3 new locations I was in a position to take a look at were an complete dream to any Remaining Fantasy admirer, that includes the magnificent, historic Greek-influenced Old Sharlayan, the culturally dense and colourful lands of Thavnair, and their total antithesis, the monochrome and cadaverous lands of Garlemald, three lore-founded locations XIV players have been longing to check out for eons.

Up – the vivid grounds of Thavnair, down – the colourless ruins of Garlemald.

“Our method to designing new areas is a bit distinctive for every single enlargement,” clarifies Yoshida, ahead of heading on to explain: “In the circumstance of Stormblood, for case in point, we experienced Ala Mhigo as a locale. This was a location that was presently established in the lore in Ultimate Fantasy XIV, so for a site like that we did not really have a lot flexibility and leeway to include our possess concepts. What I did instead was assume about the remaining places that haven’t been demonstrated to the participant nonetheless.

“Endwalker is going to mark the close of the Hydaelyn and Zodiac saga, so for this growth, we concentrated on the free finishes we have in the recent story arc. Choosing on these aspects and producing the maps for the new locations go hand in hand, so in this regard, the system with Endwalker was a little bit equivalent to what we did with Stormblood.”

Alisaie and Alphinaud Leveilleur, twin Scions of the Seventh Dawn who have both of those been central to FFXIV’s ongoing story, return in Endwalker.

Of system, I was only ready to enjoy by means of a range of the a lot of new environments because of to be launched in Endwalker, some of which remain magic formula so players can knowledge them initial-hand.

“There are some areas which we have not introduced in Endwalker however. I have no intention of asserting them until the video game is unveiled! I’m definitely energized for players to experience these areas themselves and I’m absolutely sure they will be stunned with what they obtain.”

The make of the sport that I played was definitely stripped of any lore hints, meticulously preserving the storyline surprises Endwalker has in retail outlet for its players.

“I think if there’s a single factor that actually sets Closing Fantasy XIV aside from other titles in the genre, it is that we genuinely purpose for FFXIV to be a gold-typical, story-pushed MMO,” states Yoshida. “I assume which is an significant issue of differentiation as opposed to other MMO titles.”

Reaper’s harmful restrict break witnessed from the back again

If FFXIV’s most the latest growth Shadowbringers is any indicator, Endwalker will assuredly consider players on a thrilling journey of impressive reveals. In truth, Shadowbringers was so critically acclaimed that I simply just had to question if the team was emotion any strain with its comply with-up.

“My scenario may be a bit identical to a film director,” Yoshida explains. “When a motion picture director works on a new development, they are normally trying to produce it to the most effective of their skill. They are often trying to create the most effective story, the best detail that they can.

“I feel that different players will have their very own views and preferences. There could possibly be some who savored Heavensward far better than Shadowbringers, and other folks who most well-liked the journey-centric adventure we experienced in Stormblood.”

“My solution is to often go a single step additional and increase the bar we have formerly founded, striving to make anything improved with each individual instalment.”

Sage’s restorative limit break witnessed from the entrance

“Having claimed that,” he continues, “Endwalker will in simple fact close the Hydaelyn and Zodiac saga, which has been carrying on because XIV was at first introduced and carried by all of our former expansions. In that respect, we have been functioning toward a massive climax. As a standalone growth, the quantity [of story] in Endwalker is big. There genuinely is a lot to get by.

“I would be happy if… soon after you’ve played via the whole of Endwalker, why not go by way of the past expansions and enjoy as a result of them again? Then you may possibly be equipped to take pleasure in the route we’ve taken with Endwalker and all the intricate matters we’ve carried out with the plot.”

This final sentence definitely leaves a great deal to the imagination, and I’m certain quite a few players cannot wait around to encounter the conclusion of this ten years-very long story for themselves… but hold out we will have to.

Endwalker launches 23rd November, with early obtain from 19th November for those who pre-order. See you then!

This write-up is centered on the participate in of an in-enhancement build of Closing Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, and information in the ultimate variation is matter to adjust. Interview answers have been a little bit edited to enhance brevity and circulation. FFXIV 1. screenshots kindly delivered by fellow meteor survivor and ten years-long Eorzean pal Llen Coram.