In the end, Xbox homeowners will quickly get to benefit from the MMORPG PlayStation gamers have loved for practically a decade. Closing Fantasy XIV is headed to Xbox Sequence X/S in spring 2024 after being a PlayStation console unique since 2014.
Producer and director Naoki Yoshida made the announcement on stage on the sport’s 2023 fanfest in Las Vegas, NV alongside Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer. The Xbox Sequence X/S model will supply 4K graphics and quicker load occasions, like its PlayStation 5 counterpart. Whereas the complete launch continues to be nearly a yr away, an open beta might be accessible for gamers to strive a lot sooner when patch 6.5x arrives within the months forward.
For many who have been dwelling beneath an adamantoise shell, Closing Fantasy XIV has you full fetch quests, dungeons, and raids throughout the dazzling world of Hydaelyn, stuffed with political intrigue and legendary marvel. The sport was one of many first live-service disasters when it first launched in 2013, and was even fully shutdown for a time earlier than re-releasing as A Realm Reborn.
It’s recieved more and more glorious expansions ever since, every introducing new characters, lessons, and conflicts. And whereas it’s an MMO, a Responsibility Help system helps you to play solo with AI-controlled NPCs. By the point Closing Fantasy XIV involves Xbox Sequence X/S, Sq. Enix says the characteristic will allow gamers to finish every little thing from the beginning of the sport up by its most up-to-date Endwalker growth with out ever needing to work together with one other human being.
Why did it take so lengthy to get FFXIV on Xbox?
The story of how we obtained right here, nevertheless, is a protracted one. Yoshida was requested as early as 2013 why the sport wasn’t on Xbox One. His reply on the time was that Microsoft’s stance on crossplay was too restrictive. “The primary purpose from our aspect is that I don’t need the group to be divided; to be cut up into two or extra. For instance, one participant is likely to be on the PC model, one other is likely to be on the PS4 model, and I’m taking part in the Xbox model – however we’re not in a position to be part of the identical sport servers,” he informed RPGSite on the time. “That’s simply… I simply don’t like the thought. I disagree with it.”
That was again when Microsoft was the corporate seemingly standing in the best way of crossplay between the 2 consoles. Years later, roles had been reversed, with Sony pushing again in opposition to crossplay for video games like Fortnite. Yoshida repeated his requirement for crossplay in a 2017 interview with Kotaku, and issues gave the impression to be progressing in that path not lengthy after.
Spencer publicly promised to convey the sport to Xbox on the X019 fanfest occasion in London. “We have now a fantastic relationship with Yoshida-san and we’re working by what it means to convey a cross-platform MMO, that they’ve run for years,” he informed VGC on the time. “Will probably be one of many video games that’s coming and it’s one thing that I do know our Xbox followers might be extremely excited to see.”
No deal immeidately materialized, nevertheless. Yoshida was requested once more what the issue was throughout a 2021 interview across the time Closing Fantasy XIV got here to PS5. “So I really feel unhealthy for saying the identical factor each time,” he informed Simple Allies. “However we’re nonetheless in discussions with Microsoft and I really feel like our conversations are getting into a optimistic tone.”
The optimistic tone of these conversations seemingly wasn’t sufficient to lastly get Sony to comply with crossplay although, till now. The 2 corporations additionally just lately reached a 10-year settlement for Name of Responsibility to maintain coming to PlayStation after Microsoft’s acqusition of Activision Blizzard is finalized. Purely a coincidence, I’m positive. Sony, Microsoft, and Sq. Enix didn’t instantly reply to requets for remark.