There was some understandable skepticism and general recoil after the announcement that Final Fantasy XIV is getting a mobile spinoff, but the developers at Tencent’s Lightspeed Studios don’t appear to be shying away from some of those gamer conclusions. In fact, they’re attempting to address them directly in a message to fans.
“We know that Final Fantasy XIV is much more than just a game. It’s a home,” writes the team. “FFXIV Mobile won’t be your typical fast-paced, bite-sized mobile experience. We’re committed to offering a rich world where you can explore, enjoy, and connect, even if you’re playing in shorter bursts throughout your day.”
The open letter promises that the studio has been working hard to condense the world of Eorzea into a pocket-sized package without losing the richness of the original title’s gameplay while offering thanks for guidance from mobile dev experts, from Square-Enix, and from FFXIV’s producer and director Naoki Yoshida.
Finally, the note stresses that FFXIV Mobile will be holding tests in various regions around the globe, collecting feedback on the game and with a particular focus on monetization. From there, the game will launch in mainland China and roll out across the globe gradually. There’s no timetable for any of this progress, but the studio appears determined to ensure that this will not just be low-effort dreck.
