Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood
News, coverage and analysis tracking Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood across the outlets.
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By defying MMO convention, FF14 has grown from total failure to a titan beyond its genre
Final Fantasy XIV has transformed from a critically panned launch into a highly successful MMORPG, driven by a complete rebuild under Naoki Yoshida and a focus on compelling storytelling and player-friendly design. The game is preparing for its next major overhaul with the upcoming 8.0 expansion, Evercold, which will introduce significant system changes and a new narrative arc, building on its 35 million registered accounts.
You can try the newly-launched Switch 2 port of Final Fantasy 14 for free, right now, if you have a spare 117GB
Final Fantasy XIV has launched on Nintendo Switch, offering a free trial that includes the base game and three expansions: Heavensward, Stormblood, and Shadowbringers. Players will need a Square Enix account and can play up to level 80 without a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Square Enix is also waiving subscription fees for approximately one month post-launch to ensure a stable experience.
Final Fantasy 14 On Switch 2 Is A Sobering Reminder That Storage Isn’t Cheap
Final Fantasy 14 will require 117.2GB of storage on the Nintendo Switch 2, consuming nearly half of its internal SSD. This large size is due to the inclusion of the base game and its five major expansions. The article also notes that other Square Enix games like Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth also have substantial install sizes on the Switch, and discusses the rising costs of microSD cards and other PC hardware components due to global shortages.
Final Fantasy 14 receives first Nintendo Switch 2 gameplay trailer
Square Enix has released the first gameplay trailer for Final Fantasy XIV on the Nintendo Switch 2, following its announcement at the recent Fan Festival. The trailer showcases footage of the MMORPG running on the upcoming console, which is slated for an August release. The game's director has also commented on the expected frame rate performance.
FFXIV Y’shtola Nendoroid Appears Ahead of Emet-Selch, Haurchefant, and Yotsuyu
Good Smile Company and Square Enix have announced new Nendoroid figures for Final Fantasy XIV characters, with Y’shtola Rhul pre-orders opening now. Figures for Emet-Selch, Haurchefant Greystone, and Yotsuyu Brutus are also planned. The Y’shtola figure, depicting her Shadowbringers attire, will release in Japan in November 2026 and worldwide in Q2 2027.
Once cruelly stolen away, FF14's ultra-cute otter backpack is finally returning for good
The highly anticipated Senor Otter Pack cosmetic item for Final Fantasy XIV is returning permanently with the Make It Rain 2026 event, which begins May 29. This event, celebrating the Manderville Gold Saucer, will also feature a Senor Otter minion and a 50% boost to Gold Saucer Points earned. The item was previously distributed erroneously in patch 7.5 and subsequently removed.
Final Fantasy 14's newest expansion name almost broke the series' 12-year tradition as Yoshi-P 'really…
Final Fantasy XIV director and producer Naoki Yoshida revealed several rejected names for the MMORPG's expansions, including 'Absolute Zero' for the upcoming 'Evercold'. While the team often favored compound words for expansion titles, Yoshida explored alternatives like 'World's End' for Endwalker and 'Darkbringer' for Shadowbringers, but ultimately stuck to the established naming convention.
Siliconera’s 2026 Mother’s Day Game Gift Guide
Siliconera's 2026 Mother's Day game gift guide offers suggestions for single-player and multiplayer titles, recommending the Nintendo Switch 2 as a versatile and affordable console. Featured games include Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, Hello Kitty Island Adventure with new expansions, the relaxing InKonbini, the deep roguelike Mewgenics, and Monster Hunter Stories 3. The guide also highlights Pokemon Pokopia, Resident Evil Requiem, Bluey the Videogame, and Final Fantasy XIV with its upcoming Evercold expansion.
Final Fantasy 14's Unreal trials are such a brilliant way to reintroduce old fights for new players and I wish we…
The article praises Final Fantasy XIV's Unreal trials as an innovative method for reintroducing older Extreme trials to current players. These trials scale down older content to the current level cap, allowing players to experience them with their full modern kits, which is seen as a valuable and developer-resource-friendly approach to engaging with legacy content.
FFXIV Free Trial Now Includes Shadowbringers Expansion
The free trial for Final Fantasy XIV now includes the Shadowbringers expansion, in addition to the base game and previous expansions Heavensward and Stormblood. This update allows new players to reach level 80 and access all jobs and races from these expansions. Restrictions on gil, Party Finder, trading, and market board usage remain in place.
Yoshi-P hoped we wouldn't notice, but Final Fantasy 14 Evercold is indeed inspired by Norse mythology
Final Fantasy XIV director and producer Naoki Yoshida confirmed that the upcoming expansion, Evercold, is inspired by Norse mythology. Elements such as serpent-adorned architecture and frosty settings in the trailer hint at these influences. This follows the game's trend of drawing from various cultures and mythologies for its expansions.
As if Final Fantasy 14's free trial wasn't already generous enough, it now includes the best expansion in the…
The free trial for Final Fantasy XIV has been expanded to include the Shadowbringers expansion, allowing players full access to content up to level 70. This update, effective with Patch 7.5, also enables free trial players to unlock races like bunny boys and hrothgals, and participate in Nier-themed alliance raids. Standard free trial limitations such as gil caps, restricted chat, and no access to Free Companies or Party Finder remain in place.
FF14 Evercold's 'Evolved Mode' jobs aren't a replacement, because Yoshi-P remembers what happened to Star Wars Galaxies
Final Fantasy XIV director Naoki Yoshida discussed the upcoming 'Evolved Mode' for the Evercold expansion, emphasizing it will be an optional alternative to the existing 'Reborn Mode' to avoid alienating the player base. Yoshida cited the unpopular overhaul of Star Wars Galaxies as a cautionary tale, ensuring that established systems will remain supported and viable. The development of Evolved Mode began about a year and a half ago, with battle system planner Hikaru Tamaki playing a key role.
Final Fantasy XIV: Evercold Expansion And Switch 2 Version Announced
Square Enix announced Final Fantasy XIV: Evercold, the next major expansion launching in January 2027, which will include new jobs, a level cap increase to 110, and new content. A version for the Nintendo Switch 2 is also set for August 2026 with a separate subscription. The announcement was made at the Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival 2026 in Anaheim, which also revealed an Evangelion collaboration and a battle system overhaul.
Final Fantasy XIV's Biggest Expansions Almost Had Very Different Names--Here's What They Were
Final Fantasy XIV's next expansion, Evercold, was almost named 'Absolute Zero,' according to director Naoki Yoshida. He revealed that several major expansions, including Stormblood, Shadowbringers, and Endwalker, also had their original proposed names rejected by Square Enix for various reasons, including legal issues.
Wisdom of Nym: What we learned about Final Fantasy XIV’s next patch from the first live letter
The latest Final Fantasy XIV live letter revealed details about upcoming patch content, including the new limited job Beastmaster, which will feature roguelike elements. Other discussed topics include a new trial boss, potential story hints related to Ilsabard and the Void, updates to housing and glamour systems, and dye consolidation. The article also touches on the schedule for future content releases.