History VideoGame / FinalFantasyXIV

The initial incarnation of the game was met with largely negative reactions from players and reviewers alike, citing, among other things, poor optimization, a barebones story, questionable and poorly implemented features, a very convoluted UI, tedious and copy-pasted level design, an unbalanced in-game economy and a ridiculous amount of LevelGrinding as the game's main problems. Creator/SquareEnix responded by [[https://www.pcgamer.com/square-enix-say-sorry-for-final-fantasy-xiv-announce-staff-changes-and-free-trial-extension/ apologizing for the state of the game]], and replaced several key members of the development team, including bringing in Creator/NaokiYoshida to be the new producer. Despite making several noticeable quality-of-life improvements that made the game less of a chore to play, they eventually realized that there was no way to fix a game that was fundamentally broken at its core, so the decision was made to throw everything out and rebuild the game from the ground up, keeping only the lore and story as a means to set up an all-new saga.

A Platform/PlayStation3 version, originally scheduled for a March 2011 release and initially put on indefinite hold, was finally released alongside the ''Realm Reborn'' client in August 2013. An Platform/Xbox360 version was also in development, but has been canceled after they failed to come to an agreement with Xbox Live and Microsoft. The Platform/PlayStation4 version was announced in E3 2013 and was released in April 2014. A smartphone app called ''Libra Eorzea'' was also released as a reference for quests and such, though it has since been rendered defunct and replaced by the ''FFXIV Companion App''. In February 2021, an open beta for a Platform/PlayStation5 version was announced to launch on April 13, 2021. On July 28, 2023, it was announced that Platform/XboxSeriesXAndS versions would launch in Spring 2024 ahead of the ''Dawntrail'' expansion complete with crossplay, fulfilling a promise made by Phil Spencer back in 2019 to bring the game to Microsoft's consoles. It has also been hinted that Square Enix would like to publish the game on Platform/NintendoSwitch, but nothing more has been said about this.

The initial incarnation of the game was met with largely negative reactions from players and reviewers alike, citing, among other things, poor optimization, a barebones story, questionable and poorly implemented features, a very convoluted UI, tedious and copy-pasted level design, an unbalanced in-game economy and a ridiculous amount of LevelGrinding as the game's main problems. Creator/SquareEnix responded by [[https://www.pcgamer.com/square-enix-say-sorry-for-final-fantasy-xiv-announce-staff-changes-and-free-trial-extension/ apologizing for the state of the game]], and replaced several key members of the development team, including bringing in Creator/NaokiYoshida to be the new producer. After realizing that there was no way to fix a game that was fundamentally broken, the decision was made to throw everything out and rebuild the game from the ground up, keeping only the lore and story.

The initial incarnation of the game was met with largely negative reactions from players and reviewers alike, citing, among other things, poor optimization, a barebones story, questionable and poorly implemented features, a very convoluted UI, tedious and copy-pasted level design, an unbalanced in-game economy and a ridiculous amount of LevelGrinding as the game's main problems. Creator/SquareEnix responded by [[https://www.pcgamer.com/square-enix-say-sorry-for-final-fantasy-xiv-announce-staff-changes-and-free-trial-extension/ apologizing for the state of the game]], and replaced several key members of the development team, including bringing in Creator/NaokiYoshida to be the new producer. After realizing that there was no way to fix a game that was fundamentally broken, the decision was made to rebuild the game from the ground up, keeping only the lore and story while throwing out everything else.

* ''Endwalker'' [[note]]"Dawnmoon Finale" in Japanese[[/note]] (2021): A sinister plot has been set into motion that threatens the whole of Hydaelyn. It is up to the Warrior of Light to face this new menace head-on, traveling to the island nation of Thavnair and the scholarly settlement of Old Sharlayan, going behind enemy lines in Garlemald, and even reaching to the stars in the GrandFinale of an epic tale several years in the making. While the plotline at launch marks the definitive conclusion of this story, post-launch updates will begin a brand new tale. Additions include a new housing district in Ishgard, male Vieras, an Island Sanctuary where players can raise crops, an overhaul of the combat system, and two new jobs: Sage, a healer who uses [[AttackDrone nouliths]] to aid allies and assail enemies with lasers; and Reaper, a SinisterScythe-swinging menace that can harness the PowerOfTheVoid.
* ''Dawntrail'' [[note]]"Gilded Legacy" in Japanese[[/note]] (2024): With the Final Days averted, a new adventure dawns on the Warrior of Light and the Scions on greener lands. Tural, also known as the New World, is a tropical paradise where a contest of succession to sit upon the throne of Tuliyollal is underway. And if the rumors are true, the contest may lead them to the fabled city of gold spoken of in legends. However, the Scions may find themselves at odds with one another when they arrive. This expansion features two new Jobs: The Viper, a dual swords-wielding hunter that can transform their weapons into a fearsome twinblade, and Pictomancer, a Caster DPS capable of painting their spells into reality to attack enemies. A planned later update will add TheBeastmaster as the second limited job after Blue Mage. It also brings along additional lifestyle updates in a "Cosmic Exploration" where the player sets out to explore the universe at large, the addition of female Hrothgar, graphical updates for the game's textures, lighting, shaders, all existing races and many gear sets, as well as a second dye channel for dyeable gear to add even more variety to armor coloration.[[/folder]]

The initial incarnation of the game was met with largely negative reactions from players and reviewers alike, citing, among other things, poor optimization, a barebones story, questionable and poorly implemented features, a very convoluted UI, tedious and copy-pasted level design, an unbalanced in-game economy and a ridiculous amount of LevelGrinding as the game's main problems. Creator/SquareEnix responded by [[https://www.pcgamer.com/square-enix-say-sorry-for-final-fantasy-xiv-announce-staff-changes-and-free-trial-extension/ apologizing for the state of the game]], and replaced several key members of the development team. The team then had to decide if they wished to try to fix and salvage what they could or rebuild the game from almost the ground up. They ultimately opted for the latter.

The new version, called '''''Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn''''', [[NothingIsTheSameAnymore brought about sweeping changes by rebuilding the world and engine from the ground up]]. Set five years after [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the climax of the original game]], the world has entered the "Seventh Umbral Era": a period of decline brought about by the [[ColonyDrop fall of the lesser moon Dalamud]] and the ensuing rampage of [[SealedEvilInACan the ancient Primal Bahamut]]. The people of Eorzea have survived thanks to the "Warriors of Light", but for some reason [[LaserGuidedAmnesia no one can remember exactly how they were saved or who the Warriors even are]]. With the aid of the [[BigGood three Grand Companies]] and the enigmatic "Scions of the Seventh Dawn", a new generation of adventurers must rise to take on this brave new world, fighting not only the rallying beastman hordes and the looming Garlean Empire, but a [[BlackMagic dark sect]] of [[MaskPower masked sorcerers]] whose origins [[AncientConspiracy may be deeply rooted in Hydaelyn's history]].

%% In June of 2019, it was announced that the game will be getting a LiveActionAdaptation via Sony Pictures Television and Hivemind, although details are scarce for now.

The initial incarnation of the game was met with largely negative reactions from players and reviewers alike, citing, among other things, [[ObviousBeta poor optimization]], a barebones story, questionable and poorly implemented features, a very convoluted UI, tedious and copy-pasted level design, an unbalanced in-game economy and a ridiculous amount of LevelGrinding as the game's main problems. Creator/SquareEnix responded by [[https://www.pcgamer.com/square-enix-say-sorry-for-final-fantasy-xiv-announce-staff-changes-and-free-trial-extension/ apologizing for the state of the game]], and replaced several key members of the development team. The team then had to decide if they wished to try to fix and salvage what they could or rebuild the game from almost the ground up. They ultimately opted for the latter.

* ''Dawntrail'' [[note]]"Gilded Legacy" in Japanese[[/note]] (2024): With the Final Days averted, a new adventure dawns on the Warrior of Light and the Scions on greener lands. Tural, also known as the New World, is a tropical paradise where a contest of succession to sit upon the throne of Tuliyollal is underway. And if the rumors are true, the contest may lead them to the fabled city of gold spoken of in legends. However, the Scions may find themselves at odds with one another when they arrive. This expansion features two new Jobs: The Viper, a dual swords-wielding hunter that can transform their weapons into a fearsome twinblade, and Pictomancer, a Caster DPS capable of painting their spells into reality to attack enemies. A planned later update will add TheBeastmaster as the second limited job after Blue Mage. It also brings along additional lifestyle updates in a "Cosmic Exploration" where the player sets out to explore the universe at large, the addition of female Hrothgar, graphical updates for all existing races and many gear sets, and a second dye channel for dyeable gear to add even more variety to armor coloration.[[/folder]]

A UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 version, originally scheduled for a March 2011 release and initially put on indefinite hold, was finally released alongside the ''Realm Reborn'' client in August 2013. An UsefulNotes/Xbox360 version was also in development, but has been canceled after they failed to come to an agreement with Xbox Live and Microsoft. The UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 version was announced in E3 2013 and was released in April 2014. A smartphone app called ''Libra Eorzea'' was also released as a reference for quests and such, though it has since been rendered defunct and replaced by the ''FFXIV Companion App''. In February 2021, an open beta for a UsefulNotes/PlayStation5 version was announced to launch on April 13, 2021. On July 28, 2023, it was announced that UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS versions would launch in Spring 2024 ahead of the ''Dawntrail'' expansion complete with crossplay, fulfilling a promise made by Phil Spencer back in 2019 to bring the game to Microsoft's consoles. It has also been hinted that Square Enix would like to publish the game on UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, but nothing more has been said about this.

* ''Stormblood'' [[note]]"Liberators of the Crimson Lotus" in Japanese[[/note]] (2017): In the hopes of pushing back against the Garlean Empire, the Warrior of Light and the newly-reunited Scions must travel abroad to bolster their ranks, their journey leading them from Ala Mhigo, the Empire's last remaining foothold in Eorzea, to the far eastern land of Doma, and help both conquered nations throw off imperial yoke. Along with a new housing district situated in the Hingashi neighborhood of Shirogane, ''Stormblood'' introduced two new jobs at launch: TheRedMage, a MagicKnight mixing swords and sorcery; and Samurai, a [[KatanasAreJustBetter katana-wielding]] master of the blade. Later updates also add the Blue Mage, a special solo-based class that learns spells by [[PowerCopying copying the abilities of monsters]].

* ''Dawntrail'' [[note]]"Gilded Legacy" in Japanese[[/note]] (2024): With the Final Days averted, a new adventure dawns on the Warrior of Light and the Scions on greener lands. Tural, also known as the New World, is a tropical paradise where a contest of succession to sit upon the throne of Tuliyollal is underway. And if the rumors are true, the contest may lead them to the fabled city of gold spoken of in legends. However, the Scions may find themselves at odds with one another when they arrive. This expansion features two new Jobs: The Viper, a dual swords-wielding hunter that can transform their weapons into a fearsome twinblade, and Pictomancer, a Caster DPS capable of painting their spells into reality to attack enemies. It also brings along additional lifestyle updates in a "Cosmic Exploration" where the player sets out to explore the universe at large, the addition of female Hrothgar, graphical updates for all existing race and many armor sets, and a second dye channel for dyeable gear to add even more variety to armor coloration.[[/folder]]