Final Fantasy XIV is a game where many players can play together online. It was created and published by Square Enix. Naoki Yoshida directed and produced the game, which was released worldwide for PlayStation 3 and Windows in August 2013. This version replaced the unsuccessful 2010 version. Later, the game was supported on PlayStation 4, macOS, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The game is set in a fantasy world called Eorzea, five years after a major disaster called the Seventh Umbral Calamity, which ended the original version. During the Calamity, a powerful creature named Bahamut escaped from a prison called Dalamud, causing widespread destruction. Through magic that affects time, the main character from the original version avoided the disaster and returned to the beginning of a new story called A Realm Reborn. As Eorzea recovers, players must protect the world from a renewed attack by the Garlean Empire.
The first version of Final Fantasy XIV did not do well in sales or reviews. At that time, Square Enix's president, Yoichi Wada, announced that a new team led by Yoshida would take over and fix the game's problems. The team improved the original version while secretly creating a completely new game. This new game, called "Version 2.0," used a new engine, better server systems, and updated gameplay, design, and story. The original version closed in November 2012, followed by a test phase for Version 2.0.
The relaunched game received mostly positive feedback. Critics praised its strong gameplay and story, and they praised Yoshida for turning the game around. Over the years, it has been named one of the greatest games ever made. After a weak 2013 financial year, Square Enix said the game's success helped the company return to profitability in 2014. By October 2021, the game had more than 24 million registered players and became the most profitable Final Fantasy game. Since its release, the game has received regular updates, including five major expansions: Heavensward (2015), Stormblood (2017), Shadowbringers (2019), Endwalker (2021), and Dawntrail (2024). A version for mobile devices was announced in 2024.
Gameplay
Final Fantasy XIV is an MMORPG where players can interact with each other and the game world. Players create and customize their characters, choosing names, races, genders, faces, and starting classes. Starting classes are War or Magic, while Hand and Land classes are not available at first. Each character must choose a game server. Servers have data centers in different regions to reduce lag, and players should pick a server in their area. Translated terms help players from different languages communicate.
PC and console versions use the same interface and controls, allowing players to use keyboards, mice, or game controllers. On PC, menus use drag-and-drop, while consoles use a bar similar to PlayStation 3’s XrossMediaBar. This bar lets players access menus, maps, logs, and settings. Both versions have a head-up display showing messages, party status, a mini-map, and action bars. Players can adjust the size and position of all UI elements.
Actions and battle commands differ between PC and console. PC players can use point-and-click or keyboard commands, including custom macros. Macros are pre-set action sequences. Console players use a "Cross Hotbar," a set of four icons arranged in a cross shape, accessed with shoulder buttons and directional or face buttons. Players can quickly switch between these icons. This interface is also available for PC players using controllers.
Players improve their characters by earning experience points (EXP) and stronger equipment. When enough EXP is earned, characters level up, improving stats and learning new abilities. Main sources of EXP include completing quests, exploring dungeons, participating in events, and defeating monsters. Quests, like the main story, give items and EXP. Some quests repeat daily or use "leve allowances" earned over time. Dungeons often require groups, but some can be played alone with AI helpers. Some dungeons help lower-level players gain EXP, while others offer rare items. The Duty Roulette system randomly assigns dungeons and gives bonus EXP daily. Events let players team up for tasks like fighting monsters or defending locations. Killing enemies gives EXP, and the Hunting Log rewards extra EXP for killing specific creatures. At maximum level, characters focus on upgrading equipment through endgame content, crafting, raids, and battles.
In addition to fighting enemies (PvE), players can compete in player-versus-player (PvP) battles. The Feast was a 4v4 arena, replaced by Crystalline Conflict, where two teams of five players compete to push a crystal to their goal. Frontlines is a large battle where teams of up to 24 players compete for points, representing military exercises between three nations. Rival Wings lets players control mechs and destroy enemy objectives. PvP rewards unique currency used to buy exclusive items.
Players fight enemies using physical attacks, weapon skills, and magic. Most content requires specific party sizes, like four for dungeons or eight for boss battles. The "Duty Finder" matches players for content across servers, while the "Party Finder" lets players recruit others for any activity. Party roles include tanks, healers, and damage dealers. Tanks draw enemy attention, healers support the group, and damage dealers attack enemies. Teamwork is needed to defeat strong enemies. "Limit Breaks" are special abilities unlocked when players perform their roles well.
Free Companies are player-run groups under one of three Grand Companies. Members share a chest, chat channel, and 24-hour buffs like increased EXP. They can also buy houses, grow plants, train chocobos, and use airships. Linkshells are private chat groups where players can join multiple sub-groups.
Under the Armoury System, a character’s equipped weapon determines their class. Players can change classes by switching weapons. Classes are divided into four types: War (physical combat), Magic (spells), and Hand (crafting).
Plot
Final Fantasy XIV takes place on Hydaelyn, a fictional world with many different environments across several continents, with a focus on the region called Eorzea. Eorzea has four major cities: Gridania, located in the heavily forested Black Shroud; Ul'dah, a trade-focused city in the dry Thanalan region; Limsa Lominsa, a sea-based kingdom on the island of Vylbrand; and Ishgard, a secluded religious society in the snowy, mountainous Coerthas. A land bridge connects Eorzea to two other continents east of it, which were taken over by the Garlean Empire. Other groups in Eorzea include indigenous tribes like the Ixali and Kobolds, the scholarly city of Sharlayan, and Ala Mhigo, a city in eastern Eorzea that was taken over by the Garlean Empire 20 years ago. When the Garlean Empire attacked, Ishgard left the Eorzean Alliance, which caused the alliance to stop working together. The once-thriving Mor Dhona region was destroyed during a previous Garlean attack.
Eorzea’s history is divided into two types of periods: "Astral" eras, which are times of peace and progress, and "Umbral" eras, which are times of disaster caused by major events called Calamities. The First Umbral Era ended the time when gods were active in the world. The Twelve, guardian deities of Eorzea, stopped interacting directly with people. After Umbral eras, new Astral eras begin. During the Third Astral Era, under the Allagan Empire, technology advanced greatly, including the building of flying machines. Each Calamity was linked to one of six basic elements: air, lightning, fire, earth, ice, and water. The Sixth Astral Era was expected to last forever, but five years ago, the Garlean Empire caused the Seventh Umbral Calamity.
Garlean scientists working on Project Meteor used the smaller moon called Dalamud as a weapon. Under Legatus Nael van Darnus, they planned to destroy Eorzea by crashing the moon into the world. In response, the Eorzean Alliance reunited and reactivated their military groups. Adventurers defeated Nael van Darnus but could not stop Dalamud from falling. During the Battle of Carteneau Flats in Mor Dhona, Dalamud was revealed to be an ancient Allagan prison holding the primal dragon Bahamut. Bahamut’s escape caused the Seventh Umbral Calamity. Louisoix Leveilleur called on the Twelve to trap Bahamut but failed. Before dying, Louisoix sent adventurers "beyond the reach of time" to be ready for future needs. At the same time, the Garlean Empire became unstable after the old Emperor Solus fell ill.
The player character is an Eorzean adventurer living during the Seventh Umbral Era. They can join one of three Grand Companies: Gridania’s Order of the Twin Adder, led by Elder Seedseer Kan-E-Senna; Ul’dah’s Immortal Flames, led by Flame General Raubahn Aldynn; or Limsa Lominsa’s Maelstrom, led by Admiral Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn. Their allies include Minfilia and the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, a group formed from the remnants of the Sixth Astral Era’s Circle of Knowing and the Path of the Twelve. Members of the Scions include Thancred, Yda, Papalymo, Urianger, and Y’shtola. Y’shtola often appears in other games like Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call and Dissidia Final Fantasy NT. Louisoix’s grandchildren, Alphinaud and Alisaie, also help Eorzea. Cid Garlond leads Garlond Ironworks, a company that builds airships, weapons, and infrastructure for the Alliance.
Garlean enemies include Legatus Gaius van Baelsar of the XIVth Imperial Legion and his officers, Livia sas Junius, Rhitahtyn sas Arvina, and Nero tol Scaeva. Tribes also threaten peace by summoning primals, powerful beings that drain the land’s energy. These actions are controlled by the Ascians, immortal figures determined to awaken their dark god, Zodiark, which could destroy Hydaelyn.
The game begins with a vision of the player character defeating a masked, black-robed man. The adventurer wakes up near one of the starting cities: Gridania, Ul’dah, or Limsa Lominsa. Players who previously played the game appear in a column of light. Through small jobs and determination, the player joins the city’s Adventurer’s Guild and is compared to the "Warriors of Light," who disappeared during the Seventh Umbral Calamity. The adventurer stops attacks by mysterious masked men and gains the attention of the Scions. Minfilia explains that the player’s visions are the Echo, a power that marks chosen representatives of Hydaelyn, the world’s namesake deity.
After joining the Scions, the adventurer and Thancred investigate kidnappings and stolen crystals in Thanalan by the Amalj’aa tribe. The tribe captures the player to use them in summoning the primal Ifrit, but the Echo stops Ifrit from being controlled. The adventurer defeats Ifrit and is celebrated as a hero, gaining interest from all three Grand Companies. During a memorial for the Battle of Carteneau, the player meets Alphinaud and Alisaie, who disagree about the purpose of nationalist events. The Scions send the adventurer to the Black Shroud to help the Sylphs, a peaceful tribe whose radical group summoned the primal Ramuh against the Garleans. While rescuing the Sylph elder, the adventurer meets Lahabrea, a leader of the mysterious Ascians.
Minfilia sends the player to stop the Kobolds from summoning the primal Titan. The Scions seek help from the retired Company of Heroes. After completing trials disguised as banquet preparations, the leader reveals the way forward. The adventurer defeats Titan and learns that Lahabrea is helping Gaius van Baelsar, who plans to attack Eorzea again. The adventurer returns to the Scions’ headquarters to find it destroyed: Minfilia and others were captured by Garleans, and the remaining Scions were killed. After mourning the fallen, Alphinaud returns to recruit the adventurer to rebuild the Scions and fight the newly summoned Ixali primal, Garuda. To face Garuda, the adventurer must help Cid Garlond regain his lost memories.
Cid, Alphinaud, and the adventurer travel to Coerthas, the home of the reclusive Ishgardians, to find Cid’s lost airship, the Enterprise. After befriending the Ishgardian commander Haurchefant Greystone and stopping a heretic plot, they recover the Enterprise from a fortress overrun by dragons. With the help of the adventurer’s Echo, Cid remembers his past as a Garlean engineer,
Development
The original version of Final Fantasy XIV was first developed under the name Rapture from late 2004 to early 2005. It was officially announced in 2009. Nobuaki Komoto directed the game, and Hiromichi Tanaka, who also worked on Final Fantasy XI, produced it. The game used the Crystal Tools engine, which had been used for Final Fantasy XIII. After a short beta testing period with many bugs, the game was released in September 2010. It received mostly negative reviews. In December, then-Square Enix President Yoichi Wada apologized to players and fans. He announced major changes to the development team, including removing Tanaka from the project and demoting Komoto to Lead Designer. Monthly fees for the game were paused, and the planned PlayStation 3 version was canceled. Naoki Yoshida, who had worked on Dragon Quest X, was brought in to oversee the project as both producer and director.
Yoshida faced several challenges in improving Final Fantasy XIV. His first task was to rebuild trust with players and improve the game’s quality. To do this, he started writing "Letters from the Producer," which shared updates, design plans, and player feedback. However, outdated programming in the game’s code made major changes difficult. As a result, planning for a completely new version of the game began in January 2011, with development starting in April. A new game engine and server structure were created. Meanwhile, improvements to the original game were made in July with patch 1.18, which included changes to the battle system, added auto-attack and instanced dungeons, removed the "fatigue" system, and introduced the Grand Company storyline. Later patches continued to refine gameplay and set up events for the Seventh Umbral Era.
On the anniversary of the game’s release, Wada said the initial launch had "greatly damaged" the Final Fantasy brand. In October, Wada and Yoshida announced a new version of Final Fantasy XIV, called "Version 2.0," which had been in development since January. A roadmap for future updates was shared for both PC and PlayStation 3. Current players received the new PC version for free, along with their character data and progress. Monthly fees were reintroduced in January 2012 to cover redevelopment costs. To encourage players to pay, Yoshida introduced the "Legacy Campaign," which rewarded those who paid for three months of service with lower fees, an exclusive in-game chocobo mount, and credit in Version 2.0.
At Electronic Entertainment Expo 2012, Square Enix showed "Agni's Philosophy," a demo for their new Luminous Studio engine. Though some Final Fantasy XIV developers worked on Luminous, Yoshida noted that both engines were not suitable for online games with many players. Version 2.0 used a completely different engine, which Yoshida called a "sibling" to Luminous because of similarities. In July 2012, Square Enix announced that Version 2.0 would be called Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. Development of A Realm Reborn increased, and the original game’s servers were shut down on November 11, 2012, marking the end of the old version with a cinematic trailer called "End of an Era."
At the Game Developers Conference 2014, Yoshida discussed the challenges of updating the original game while developing a new one. He identified three main reasons for the original launch’s failure: too much focus on graphics, a lack of experience with modern MMORPGs, and the belief that all issues could be fixed later. These problems stemmed from the team’s experience with Final Fantasy XI, where they studied EverQuest but did not learn from newer games like World of Warcraft. For A Realm Reborn, Yoshida prioritized making the game accessible to both experienced players and newcomers. He made 400 key design decisions to speed up development and focused on standard MMORPG features. The Duty Finder system was created to help busy players, and the game’s structure made it easier for returning players to rejoin. Yoshida emphasized clear communication with players as vital to rebuilding trust.
The alpha test for A Realm Reborn began after the original game’s shutdown and ended in late December 2012. Wada admitted the project delayed other Square Enix games. Yoshida shared a roadmap for the beta test, which had four phases starting in February 2013. He stressed that the game would not launch until it was ready. In May 2013, Square Enix announced the release date, pre-order bonuses, and a collector’s edition with an art book, bonus disc, soundtrack, and in-game items. A PlayStation 4 version was also in development for 2014. Early access began on August 24, with the game launching on August 27.
Mobile version
On November 20, 2024, Square Enix announced that a mobile version of the game Final Fantasy XIV, called Final Fantasy XIV Mobile, is being developed for iOS and Android devices. Game director Naoki Yoshida explained that the game will be similar to Final Fantasy XIV, with the same story and ways to fight, but made for mobile devices. Final Fantasy XIV Mobile is created by Square Enix and LightSpeed Studios, a company owned by Tencent. The first testing of the game will take place in China, followed by a global release. According to Famitsu, the game will be free to play and will not use gacha mechanics. It will include nine battle jobs, five character races (Hyur, Elezen, Lalafell, Miqo'te, and Roegadyn), and will cover the main story of Final Fantasy XIV, A Realm Reborn. The game was first released in China on June 19, 2025, under the name Final Fantasy XIV: Crystal World.
Reception
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn received mostly positive reviews and strong sales after its release. Before the game came out, both critics and fans were surprised by how much better it was compared to the original version. IGN's Charles Onyett pointed out many improvements in the game's design and said that Square Enix had made the right changes to fix problems from the first version. After a strong showing at Gamescom 2012, the game won Destructoid's Gamescom Community Choice Award. The editors noted major changes to the game's engine, interface, and combat system, which made it very different from the original version. However, GameSpot's Jonathan Toyad said the game had some features that felt similar to other modern MMORPGs.
Most reviewers agreed that the remade game did well with traditional MMORPG elements and fixed the original version's issues. Kevin VanOrd of GameSpot said the game stuck to classic MMORPG basics, which he considered a criticism, but praised the quality of the story. USgamer's Pete Davison liked the story and how non-player characters responded to the player's actions, which helped build the game's world. Many reviewers appreciated the ability to play as multiple classes on one character, a feature from the original version. Davison noted that each class had unique gameplay styles.
The console versions of the game had the same features as the PC version. Phil Kollar of Polygon praised the game's use of controllers, calling it a major improvement for the MMORPG genre. The PlayStation 3 version had some issues with frame rate, loading times, and graphics, but these were fixed in the PlayStation 4 version, making it equal to the PC version. Kollar and IGN's Leif Johnson said the game played well on PlayStation Vita through Remote Play with only small delays.
Critics were happy with the game's improvements. Adam Harshberger of GamesRadar compared it to a "buffet dinner" with everyone's favorite meal, accepting the lack of new ideas. Kevin VanOrd said the game felt like the "old world" of MMORPGs, safe and familiar. Johnson and Davison saw the new version as a strong base for future content. Kollar called it a return to form, saying it captured the energy and joy that made him love the series. Motoki Shinohara of Famitsu said he was glad to be back in Eorzea.
By the end of its first week, the PlayStation 3 version of the game was second in Japan's sales charts, with 184,000 physical copies sold. In late October 2013, the game had 1.5 million registrations. It was the 16th best-selling PC game in the U.S. in 2013. In Japan, the PlayStation 3 version was ranked 32nd in sales, with 244,574 retail copies sold. After a poor fiscal year in 2013, Square Enix leaders praised the game's sales and subscriptions for helping the company become profitable in 2014. Yoshida said the success of A Realm Reborn was due to its traditional monthly subscription model. He believes the free-to-play model is unreliable because it requires too much work on items that are used up quickly or for looks, leaving less time for better story and battle content. He also said over 80% of players are happy with the subscription model because they trust it will provide steady quality content. Yoshida has no plans to switch to a free-to-play model soon.
By August 2018, the game had over 14 million registered players, increasing to more than 22 million by April 2021. Before the release of the fourth expansion, Endwalker, Square Enix said the game had over 24 million registered players and was the most profitable Final Fantasy game. By January 2024, the game had 30 million registered players, six months before the fifth expansion, Dawntrail.
In Japan, the expansion Shadowbringers sold about 22,260 physical copies for PlayStation 4 during its launch week in July 2019.
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn was highly praised in many "Game of the Year" lists. It was named Best MMO of the year by Game Informer, ZAM, and Joystiq's Massively. AbleGamers called it the most accessible mainstream game of 2013. RPGFan named it the best MMO and Game of the Year. Players chose it as Reader's Choice at ZAM and Game Informer. It won a Special Award at the 2013 PlayStation Awards and the Award for Excellence at the CESA's 2014 Japan Game Awards.
Stormblood won "Best MMO" at Game Informer's Best of 2017 Awards and was second in the same category in their Reader's Choice awards. It was nominated for "Still Playing" at the 2017 and 2018 Golden Joystick Awards and for "Best Expansion" at PC Gamer's 2017 Game of the Year Awards. It was also nominated for "Best Ongoing Game" at the 2019 Game Critics Awards and for "Best Community Support" and "Best RPG" at The Game Awards 2019.
Shadowbringers was nominated for "Best Game Expansion" and "PlayStation Game of the Year" at the 2019 Golden Joystick Awards, for "Role-Playing Game of the Year" at the D.I.C.E. Awards, and for "Evolving Game" at the British Academy Games Awards. It won "Excellence in Multiplayer" at the 2020 SXSW Gaming Awards and "Best Online Game" at the Famitsu Game Awards 2019.
Endwalker won "Role-Playing Game of the Year" at the 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards and "Online Game of the Year" at the following year's awards. It also won "Excellence in Narrative," "Excellence in Original Score," and "Video Game of the Year" at the 2022 SXSW Gaming Awards. It won the "Evolving Game" award at the 19th British Academy Games Awards and was nominated again in 2021. It won "Best Ongoing Game" and "Best Community Support" at The Game Awards in 202
Related media
A miniseries connected to the game, called Final Fantasy XIV: Dad of Light, was released in 2017. A manga that combines characters from Saki and Final Fantasy XIV, titled Saki & Final Fantasy XIV, was introduced in Japan in January 2021. A second manga series, Final Fantasy XIV: Eorzea Academy, was published in December 2021.
Three books that explain the game’s story and world, titled Encyclopaedia Eorzea I–III, were released on October 17, 2016, November 24, 2018, and December 19, 2023, respectively. A cookbook containing recipes for dishes from the game was also published.