Final Fantasy XIVis jumping to mobile devices with an ambitious port that aims to capture the magic of the original game. WhileFinal Fantasy XIVmay not have launched under the best circumstances, there’s no denying its rise to prominence asone of the best ongoing MMOs today. Square Enix has done a remarkable job listening to player feedback and using it to mold an experience that has pulled in millions of fans across consoles and PC, but nowit’s time for mobile players to see what all the hype is about.
Square Enix announced that it’s working with Lightspeed Studios to developFinal Fantasy XIV Mobile,a game that’s described as an “extension of the beloved franchise"that will focus on capturing the immersive experience of the original title on mobile.
Little is currently known about the project but by all accounts,it sounds like a full-fledged MMO that’s able to stand on its own. Beyond the expected systems like combat and traversal,FFXIV Mobilewill also feature lifestyle mechanics like fishing, Triple Triad, and chocobo racing.
Is Final Fantasy XIV Mobile A Separate Game?
It Certainly Sounds Like It
While some players are likely expectingFinal Fantasy XIV Mobileto be a simple port of the game in its current state that doesn’t appear to be the case.Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida describes the project as “a sister to FFXIV"that will provide the “grandeur of the original’s story and combat mechanics.” Based on that description, it sounds as thoughFFXIVMobileplans on distilling the coreFFXIVexperience into a more streamlined version for mobile players, which makes sense when one considersthe gigantic scale of the MMO.
As for when players can expect to get their hands on the game, they may need to be patient.Square Enix has confirmed that it plans to roll out the game in China before eventually bringing it to the rest of the world.Final Fantasy XIV Mobilewill be available to demo through several play tests in China but there’s no word on when these will go live.
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Do FFXIV Fans Want A Mobile Port?
It’s Worth A Try
I think many people forget the sheer size of the mobile gaming industry and while hardcoreFinal Fantasy XIVplayers may not be interested in a mobile port,I believe there’s a decent chance it performs well. There areundoubtedly plenty of interested fanswho may not have access to the hardware needed toplay such a massive gameso having a more focused version that works on their phone is a decent compromise. I can see it being a big deal for Square Enix, as long as it’s able to find the sweet spot in terms of monetization.
