Square Enix has announced that a mobile version of the popular MMO, Final Fantasy 14, is in development.
A recent trailer featuring Final Fantasy 14 director and producer Naoki Yoshida (Yoshi-P), revealed that the mobile version of the game is in development by Lightspeed Studios. Lightspeed is a part of the Chinese conglomerate known as Tencent, and the developer of the successful mobile version of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG). Final Fantasy 14 Mobile will initially launch in China, with a global release following later.
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As an 11-year-old massively multiplayer game on PC and consoles, converting Final Fantasy 14 to mobile platforms will be no easy feat. However, it is certainly within the technical horsepower of modern smartphones and tablets. But like the majority of MMOs, it has a very involving interface with controls that cover a wide range of player abilities, macros, and other functions. Square Enix has promised that the controls will be optimized for mobile devices.
On the official website, it is noted that FF14 Mobile will start off with 9 character jobs (the current release has 10 base classes with 21 jobs). Yoshi-P hopes that new and returning players who wish to explore the story of FF14 will have an interest in the mobile version. Aside from the lack of jobs, FF14 Mobile will include most other features, including side activities like fishing, Chocobo racing, the Triple Triad card game, and customizable housing.
The PC and console business model of FF14 demands the traditional subscription for players in order to upkeep. However, it seems likely there will be some sort of free-to-play version available for the mobile game.
Square Enix once attempted to port its previous MMO, Final Fantasy 11, to mobile in collaboration with Nexon before being canceled in 2020.
It appears as if Square Enix is attempting to find new players for Final Fantasy 14, particularly in China, where gamers tend to spend lots of time on their phones. HoYoverse, a Chinese developer, has found incredible success there with its array of titles including Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3rd, Honkai Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero. Final Fantasy 14‘s aesthetic and social gameplay seem like a meaningful fit for the market.
For those interested in FF14 character glamour, check out our article that shows you how to make your character look like every protagonist in Final Fantasy history.