How long should a game last? Final Fantasy XI has had an impressive run, but its glory days are indisputably past. That’s why Square-Enix has announced that the game’s active updates will be ending this year following one final main scenario, releasing during three updates in May, August, and November. The game’s service will continue “indefinitely,” and small updates to improve balance and fix bugs will still occur, but November’s update will feature the conclusion to a main scenario drawing from the game’s full history and will serve as the final large update.
PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 support for the game will be “concluding” in March 2016, allowing the developers working on the game to enhance the Windows experience of those still playing as well as improve the mobile client. Yes, the game will be getting a mobile version through partnership with Nexon, along with a spin-off mobile game which is currently planned for release only in Japan. It’s the end of an era for Vana’diel, but the game is going out with one last hurrah, and it’s not shutting down, both of which should be cause for celebration.
[Source: FFXI forums. Thanks to Nyttyn and Matt for the tip!]
