Will recapture the essence of Final Fantasy XIV for players, but this time at its inception, rather than a point in its evolution many may be familiar with.
After months of speculation and rumors about an impending announcement, Square Enix finally confirmed the development of a new Final Fantasy game earlier this week. Enix has finally announced that a mobile version of Final Fantasy XIV, developed by Tencent-owned Lightspeed Studios, best known for their work on PUBG Mobile. Several details had been unveiled, including the initial job numbers and the simultaneous launch in China, but the pressing question on many minds remained: where will it start? The massively profitable MMO has had 5 expansions, however new gamers cannot begin on the finish after all – fortunately, in a Q&A video launched yesterday that includes producer Naoki “Yoshi-P” Yoshida, the air has been cleared on that one.
When launching the cell model, you will always start anew with Square Enix’s iconic MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. “Gamers familiar with Final Fantasy XIV can re-experience the story on-the-go, while newcomers have the opportunity to begin a fresh adventure and engage fully with the narrative,” Yoshi-P explained. According to the producer, an impressive volume of content and storytelling has already been created, and developer Lightspeed Studios intends to roll out this content incrementally and at a measured pace. We will adapt our discharge plan according to player feedback, potentially accelerating replacement rates or maintaining our initial pace if that’s what players deem most suitable.
Watch on YouTube
While some might overlook the fact that Final Fantasy XIV’s A Realm Reborn isn’t actually its starting point, it’s worth noting that the infamous 1.0 launch, although no longer playable, still contains relevant story content tied to the revamped MMO’s primary narrative. While some fans have speculated about a potential WoW Classic or “Traditional” scenario allowing players to revisit and play the original game, this cellular model would have served as an alternative solution for achieving that experience in the future. It appears that those who require a refresher can simply revisit outdated YouTube videos featuring the topic.
Here’s an improved version: The entire video is a must-watch for those interested in the cell model, as it delves into some details on monetization strategies, which don’t seem entirely unreasonable, considering it’ll be free-to-play – though we’ll have to wait and see how it all unfolds.
