FINAL FANTASY XIV director Naoki Yoshida has told Famitsu in a new interview that he and Square Enix plan to ramp up the difficulty of their long-running MMORPG, which originally released over a decade ago in 2013 but, apparently, failed to provide any real challenge even after its major A Realm Reborn update, having been developed as an “approachable” game that both casual and hardcore players could cope with. Yoshida, whose credits stretch all the way back to 1999’s Bomberman 64, likened the current version of FFXIV to a basic side-scrolling action game, one that didn’t even have gaps that players could fall through.
Yoshida explained:
- “As we’ve continued to operate Final Fantasy 14, we’ve made the game more approachable, so that it can be played without stress. But looking back on the last 10 years, we may have overdone it a bit.”
- “Video games should, of course, include an element of stress, but finding that balance is extremely difficult. For example, if you play a side-scrolling action game and there aren’t any gaps you could fall down when you miss a jump, the game would be free of stress. But it would also not be fun.”
- “In terms of Final Fantasy 14, I would like to restore that [stress] somewhat. By doing that, we could offer players the right kind of challenge, and do it better than ever. This is a development challenge for the next 10 years, and I’m currently working on various game design elements, which is fun. However, I’m sure some people will think, ‘Why on earth would you do that?'”
Microsoft on FFXIV, which finally arrives on Xbox Series X|S consoles on Thursday, March 21:
Filled with bustling cities, towering forests, and deadly deserts, FFXIV’s constantly updated, and ever-engaging world takes you to the far reaches of the land and beyond, with a captivating and ongoing story. But it isn’t just about defeating massive monsters with your personalized Warrior of Light. You can also gather materials and craft items, enjoy series staples including Chocobos, Moogles, and Airships, enjoy a day of mini-games and mahjong at the Gold Saucer, and even buy a house.