How Final Fantasy XIV Became No Longer Just A Fantasy

When first announced, its title was supposed to be called Final Fantasy: Rupture. The game had already been in development for five years, and in 2010 it was released for PC. A version for the Ps3 and Xbox was to be released as well, but due to some disagreements with Microsoft, the game was only released for the Ps3 in August of 2013.

Step Into The Fantasy

The game was originally released back in 2010, and it was supposed to be available for PC and the PS3, but due to some memory problems, the console version was pushed back to 2011. There was also supposed to be a version for the Xbox 360, but Microsoft had some issues with the game, as Square Enix envisioned the game to share servers across the different platforms, and Microsoft did not want that.

Fans were extremely excited that after a couple of years, Square Enix was finally going to release another MMORPG, so expectations were extremely high.  So, it goes without saying that fans were extremely disappointed with the fact that the game did not live up to their expectations on release. Critics were also not happy with the game, as it was filled with different types of bugs and glitches, so the general opinion was that the game was released before being finished. There were no fun aspects to the game, and other than having good graphics and a great soundtrack, the game did not have anything else to offer. The game did have a good idea, and some of its concepts were interesting, but that wasn’t enough to make up for the mess that the game was. Complaints about the confusing interface, weird pace, and progress overall were very frustrating. On paper, the game showed a great premise, but what we got was a complete disappointment.

Square Enix heard the critics and the players, and they went on to try and fix and polish the game on all aspects that weren’t working. Square Enix always was able to deliver a great and amusing gaming experience, and some of its games are regarded as the best RPGs ever made. Some changes needed to be made, so to try and work on improving the game, some changes to the team were made, Naoki Yoshida, who previously worked on the Dragon Quest series took over the position of director and producer. Some other staff changes were made as well, in the art and gameplay department. This team tackled the task of transforming the game into a more enjoyable experience, to make up for its horrible reception at release. Sizable changes were made to the game, there was more gear customization, the battle system was revamped, among many other notable changes. An official Final Fantasy XIV forum was created so that the team could interact more directly with the players, and to get suggestions and feedback about the game.

However, no matter what kinds of changes they made, it became obvious to them that there was only one viable solution. And that was to start over from the start. That was not an easy decision to make, but they knew that was the only way to make the game have a future. So instead of announcing a completely new game, a reboot was announced instead. Square Enix issued an apology at the Tokyo Game Show back in 2011, and two years later, the new game was released and was now named Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.

A Brand New Game

This was Final Fantasy XIV’s second chance. Again, it was released initially for Microsoft Windows and PS3, and now it can be played on the PS4, PS5, and even has a macOS version.

This reboot introduced a new game engine, a new story, a better-looking and overall improved user interface, and the combat received a massive upgrade. So, unlike its previous version, this one was a huge success and was well-received by critics and fans. Everyone was surprised with the result, and it was comforting to see a company as big as Square Enix be so thoughtful with its fans. 

Square Enix showed the gaming community that even big companies care about their player base and that they listen to what they have to say. This big change showed just how great Square Enix is as a company, and that if what they released isn’t good, they will not rest until they make something of extremely high quality. Since its reboot, A Realm Reborn is still a popular MMORPG, and it gets regular expansion packs. This shows that there is always hope for a game if the team behind it wants to deliver something amazing.

Gameplay 

Now we will talk about just how much the game changed, focusing especially on the gameplay aspect. If you are the type of player that enjoys focusing on creating and customizing your characters, Final Fantasy XIV has a lot to keep you busy. There are plenty of features for you to mess around with, different races and classes for you to choose from before choosing a server, and beginning your journey.

Completing missions and side quests will reward the players with experience points and equipment. There are different ways for players to gain experience, you can progress through the main story, and even go on dungeons. For lovers of PVP, three different types can be played. Wolve’s den, a four versus four-mode, Frontlines, a mode where up to twenty-four players team up, and battle against other teams to see who can first reach the targeted points. And lastly, Rival Wing is a mode where players manipulate their troops to destroy the enemy’s objective.

Now there are twenty-two classes, and in the game, they are referred to as jobs. So there are plenty of different choices so you can find the job that suits your gameplay style the best. So be sure to explore all different types of jobs, as you can easily change between them by simply changing your weapons.

It also has an interesting economic system that is primarily influenced by players. Gil is the currency used within the game, and with it, you can buy different kinds of equipment, and an assortment of other things. Farming enough Final Fantasy XIV Gil to be able to buy everything you want can be a little tiring at times, especially if you are new to the game. In case you want to get enough Gil to buy everything you want, be sure to check out the services in eldorado.gg, a safe place where you can buy Gil for the best prices, and they also offer other services like accounts and items.

Overall

Final Fantasy XIV is living proof that just because a game did not do well at its release, that it will never amount to anything. It was a long and arduous journey for Square Enix to reboot the game and turn it into what it is today, but it for sure paid off. The game remains popular today, and fans will always remember just how attentive Square Enix is when it comes to their games.

So if you’re into games of this genre, and you’re looking for something new to play, be sure to try out Final Fantasy XIV, as it is filled with amazing gameplay, a long and entertaining story, and it is also a great place to make new friendships.