Final Fantasy XIV
News, coverage and analysis tracking Final Fantasy XIV across the outlets.
Latest coverage
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.
WRUP: Welcome to Gleepgurp’s Annual Whatever Awards edition
This installment of Gleepgurp's annual awards features host Feldon Snurch complaining about his long-term contract and the bizarre award categories. Staff and community members share their weekend gaming plans, including Pokemon Go, Guild Wars 2, The Elder Scrolls Online, Warframe, and Crimson Desert, while also discussing hobbies they wish they had pursued.
Massively Overthinking: What’s your first reaction to meeting someone in your main MMORPG?
This article discusses players' first reactions to encountering others in MMORPGs, particularly focusing on the contrast between competitive PvP and cooperative PvE environments. Contributors share their experiences and preferences, with many highlighting games like Guild Wars 2 for their community-friendly mechanics that encourage positive interactions over competition.
Blizzard knows World of Warcraft's removal of raid add-ons is "controversial," but the MMO's lead says its new UI "has been successful so far"
Blizzard Entertainment director Ion Hazzikostas acknowledges the controversy surrounding the removal of combat add-ons in World of Warcraft with the Midnight expansion, but states the new UI has been successful. He believes the changes promote a more approachable experience and a level playing field, with most players still completing content without external tools.
Final Fantasy XIV announces a Y’shtola Nendoroid with more characters on the way
Square Enix has announced a new Y'shtola Nendoroid figure for Final Fantasy XIV, available for pre-order. The company also revealed plans for future figures based on characters G'raha, Estinien, Haurchefant, Emet-Selch, and Yotsuyu.