Final Fantasy XIV coming to Xbox Series consoles
The critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV, which has an expanded free trial that lets players play up to level 60 free with no restrictions on playtime, is finally coming to Xbox Series X and S.
On July 28, at the Final Fantasy XIV FanFest Keynote in Las Vegas, NV, producer Naoki Yoshida confirmed that Square Enix’s hit MMORPG would finally arrive on Xbox Series consoles in spring 2024.
Just like the game’s PlayStation 5 version, the Xbox Series X and S versions will offer 4K graphics and faster load times. In addition, while the full release is still nearly a year away, prospective players will be able to try the game out via an open beta which will arrive alongside patch 6.5x.
While Final Fantasy XIV as we know it today originally launched back in 2013, for the longest time it was available only for PC and PlayStation players. Back then, Yoshida attributed this to Microsoft’s restrictive crossplay policies at the time.
“The main reason from our side is that I don’t want the community to be divided; to be split into two or more. For example, one player might be on the PC version, another might be on the PS4 version, and I’m playing the Xbox version – but we’re not able to join the same game servers,” he said, talking with RPGSite. “That is just … I just don’t like the idea. I disagree with it.”
However, Microsoft has since relaxed its stance on crossplay, with rival Sony now seen as being more restrictive.
More things coming
Final Fantasy XIV‘s Xbox ports weren’t the only thing announced at the FanFest. Square revealed that the game’s free trial—which previously allowed players to play through the entirety of A Realm Reborn and the “award-winning” Heavensward expansion up to level 60—will now be expanded to include the Stormblood expansion.
Beyond that, the company also revealed a new expansion called Dawntrail via a teaser trailer.
Dawntrail takes place Tural, water-filled tropical world that gives a heavy Final Fantasy X vibe—albeit, Yoshida confirms, without Blitzball. The new world features a new social hub called Tuliyollal and will raise the level cap from 90 to 100. It will also introduce two new DPS jobs, new dungeons and a tribe called the Pelupelu.
Beyond this, when Dawntrail arrives in the summer of 2024, it will come with a significant graphical update for the entire game. Of course, the new graphics will be most noticeable in the expansion but will also be visible in the existing content as well.
Finally, Yoshida teased the possibility of a crossover with Final Fantasy XVI—a game he also produced. During a panel discussion over the weekend, Yoshida stated that fans can expect an announcement on this sometime later in the year. (Read: Final Fantasy XVI’s Game of Thrones influence belies the series’ history with gritty political fantasy)
10 years on from its A Realm Reborn, and 13 from its original release, Final Fantasy XIV looks to continue to deliver more content for its player base. From the upcoming Xbox Series ports to new expansions and crossovers, it looks like its players will continue to have much to look forward to moving forward.
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