Final Fantasy XIV
News, coverage and analysis tracking Final Fantasy XIV across the outlets.
Latest coverage
MMO Week in Review: Lament for Elder Scrolls Online
Microsoft's decision to lay off a significant portion of The Elder Scrolls Online team has led to further management turnover and a restructuring of the studio. This week's MMO news also covers the early access launch of SpiritVale, the cancellation of Final Fantasy XIV Mobile, and discussions on lessons for Guild Wars 3.
One Shots: Quick, save your game!
This week's "One Shots" feature highlights community screenshots from various MMOs, including Dungeons and Dragons Online, Elite Dangerous, Fallout 76, Final Fantasy XIV, and Equinox: Homecoming. Players are encouraged to submit their own memorable in-game moments for a chance to be featured.
Question time: How long have you been playing MMOs?
This opinion piece discusses the perceived age of MMO players and the evolution of MMO design towards seasonal structures and midcore content. It highlights the longevity of games like World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy 14, contrasting them with the shorter lifespans of newer titles like New World. The author, who has played MMOs since middle school, invites readers to share their own experiences and how long they've been engaged with the genre.
WRUP: Sonic the Hedgehog As Played In Kyle’s Basement edition
This week's 'What Are You Playing' roundup features staff and community members discussing their weekend gaming plans. Titles mentioned include Sonic the Hedgehog, Palworld, Final Fantasy XIV, Warframe, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard, among others. The discussion also touches on game updates and personal preferences for dried fruits.
Final Fantasy XIV previews more of the North Horn and more Hildibrand ahead of patch 7.55
Final Fantasy XIV is preparing to release patch 7.55, which will include new content for the North Horn of the Occult Crescent and Phantom Weapon upgrades. This patch will also conclude the Dawntrail edition of the Hildibrand adventures.
Square Enix just killed Final Fantasy 14's mobile port before it could even launch globally, offering "sincere apologies for being unable to meet your expectations"
Square Enix and Tencent have officially canceled the global release of Final Fantasy 14 Mobile, citing business and market changes. The Chinese version, which launched in June 2025, will also go offline on September 30. This decision follows the earlier shutdown of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remaster and the upcoming closure of Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis.
FF14 Mobile is officially dead, will shut down in September
Final Fantasy XIV Mobile, a standalone adaptation of the MMORPG developed by Tencent's Lightspeed Studios under Square Enix's license, will cease operations in China on September 30, 2026. The licensing agreement has been terminated amicably, leading to the cancellation of its planned global release. Account registration and microtransactions have already been disabled.
Vague Patch Notes: Long-term content vs. short-term content in MMORPGs
This analysis explores the distinction between short-term and long-term content in MMORPGs, using examples from Final Fantasy XIV, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and Warframe. It argues that both types of content are crucial for player engagement and game longevity, with short-term content providing immediate experiences and long-term content offering sustained engagement.
Final Fantasy 14 hit with yet another stalking mod, not even 2 weeks after the MMO's last one shut down
Final Fantasy XIV is facing a new stalking mod called EchoVault, just two weeks after a similar plug-in, Memoria, was shut down. Players are concerned that EchoVault, allegedly created by the same developer as Memoria, enables harassment and tracking of other players. Despite community reports and complaints, Square Enix has not yet taken action, leading to frustration among players about the game's handling of third-party tools and player safety.
A university is offering scholarships to MMORPG players who have completed lengthy grinds
The University of Silicon Valley is offering the Max Achievement Scholarship program, providing up to $5,000 per term for students who have completed significant in-game grinds in MMORPGs like World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, Guild Wars 2, and RuneScape. The university aims to recognize skills such as persistence and problem-solving demonstrated through these gaming achievements.
Wisdom of Nym: Speculating about the second half of Final Fantasy XIV’s Occult Crescent
This article speculates on the upcoming second half of Final Fantasy XIV's Occult Crescent content update, discussing potential changes to Phantom Weapons, currency rewards, and the challenging Forked Tower instance. The author anticipates adjustments to balance and progression compared to the first half, while acknowledging some design issues may persist.
Poll finds 100% of Japanese online game developers are using AI, though mostly for 'user preference analysis'…
A poll of Japanese online game developers revealed that 100% are using generative AI, primarily for user preference analysis and behavior prediction. While concerns exist about AI's impact on creativity and potential homogenization of games, the current primary uses are considered benign. Tools like Google Gemini, Claude, and GitHub Copilot are widely adopted.
Final Fantasy XIV announces its Fan Festival schedule and next Live Letter for July 25th
Final Fantasy XIV has announced the schedule for its upcoming Fan Festival in Berlin, with the keynote speech set for July 25th at 4:00 a.m. EDT. The same day will also feature a Letter from the Producer live stream at 10:30 a.m. EDT, detailing the new Limited Job, Beastmaster, with a gameplay demonstration.
World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy 14 fans can now earn up to $15,000 in scholarship money by tackling achievements with a less than "1% global completion rate"
The University of Silicon Valley is offering scholarships of up to $15,000 to students who demonstrate exceptional mastery through rare in-game achievements. Players of titles like World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy 14, Minecraft, and Dark Souls can apply if they meet demanding criteria, such as unlocking specific in-game feats that have less than a 1% global completion rate.
id Software producer says 'you'll never get another WoW or Morrowind in the current climate' in the wake…
id Software producer Andrew Willis believes the current climate prevents the creation of long-lasting franchises like World of Warcraft or Morrowind, attributing this to large publishers and a lack of understanding from executives. He advocates for developer-owned studios as the path forward for sustainable growth and artistic integrity in the gaming industry, contrasting this with Xbox's stated goals of returning to growth through further layoffs.
Summer Games Done Quick raises $2.4 million for charity, cancels sponsored stream with SNK over Saudi Arabia ties
Summer Games Done Quick successfully raised over $2.4 million for Doctors Without Borders. However, the event faced backlash and canceled a sponsored stream with SNK due to the company's majority ownership by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, citing human rights concerns. Games Done Quick apologized for the oversight and committed to strengthening its sponsor evaluation process.
Final Fantasy XIV reportedly sees a stalker mod rebuilt and released because we can’t have nice things
A mod called EchoVault, described as a 'stalker engine,' has reportedly been released for Final Fantasy XIV, circumventing privacy measures implemented by Square Enix. This mod allows users to identify alternate characters linked to main accounts and store the data, despite previous efforts by the company to enhance character security. The developer of EchoVault is reportedly mocking takedown requests, and concerns are being raised about the mod's data harvesting practices.
MMO Week in Review: 213
Microsoft's significant layoffs have heavily impacted the Elder Scrolls Online live team, reducing its size to that of 2015-2018. This week also saw Warframe's TennoCon, Aion 2 previewing its monetization, Tencent acquiring the PlanetSide franchise, Star Trek Online launching Undiscovered, and Gamigo porting Fiesta Online to consoles.
We're not quite done with 2026, but here are 9 videogame bangers that have defined the year so far
This article highlights standout video game music and soundtracks from the first seven months of 2026, despite a challenging year for the industry. It features tracks from games like Arcade, Mewgenics, Crimson Desert, and Paralives, praising their diverse musical styles and emotional impact.
2026's best RPG might look like Disco Elysium, but it was heavily inspired by Deus Ex, and its creator wants 'to do a first-person game at some point'
Developer Christoffer Bodegård discusses his journey into PC gaming, highlighting influential titles like Dragon Age: Origins and Deus Ex. His recently released CRPG, Esoteric Ebb, was inspired by tabletop RPGs and aims to replicate their unpredictability. Bodegård is exploring ideas for his next project, potentially a first-person game, and shares his current gaming habits, including extensive play of Paradox Interactive's grand strategy titles like Victoria 3 and Europa Universalis IV.
