Square Enix’s long-running massively popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game Final Fantasy XIV is coming to mobile platforms, the publisher announced Wednesday. The mobile version of the game will be developed by Tencent-owned Lightspeed Studio, which previously developed PUBG Mobile. Square Enix said in its statement that Final Fantasy XIV Mobile will faithfully recreate the gameplay and story experience of the original game. The game will be released first in China and then globally.
Final Fantasy XIV mobile version released
“I’m excited to announce the development of FFXIV Mobile. It’s our latest MMORPG game, tailor-made for the mobile platform,” Final Fantasy XIV Online producer and director Naoki Yoshida said in a trailer for the upcoming mobile game.
The industry legend, better known as Yoshi-P, said Lightspeed Studios is working hard to faithfully recreate the story missions, combat content and other aspects of the original game. “I hope current FF14 players and those interested in exploring its story will look forward to what happens next,” he said.
The Final Fantasy XIV Mobile trailer showcases the characters, combat, and world of Eorzea. Square Enix said in its statement that the mobile version will also retain lifestyle content from the main game, such as fishing, triple play and chocobo racing.
“It’s been 11 years since FFXIV 2.0: A Realm Reborn was launched, and this new game will be a sister version of FFXIV, aiming to recreate the original’s grand story and combat mechanics on mobile devices,” Yoshida said in the announcement. “Non-combat features, such as Disciples of the Land and Hand, will also be implemented faithfully, and we look forward to growing with the passionate FFXIV community.”
After the release of FFXIV Mobile, Yoshida said in a Q&A video shared with IGN that the game will be completely free and encourages long-term participation from players. “Our goal is to make sure players can enjoy Final Fantasy XIV for a long time, while generating a small and sustainable amount of revenue to get as many people playing the game as possible. So there’s no need to worry too much – just jump in and enjoy the game,” the producers told IGN.
Yoshida said Square Enix had reservations about adjusting core aspects like monetization and gameplay in a more accessible mobile format, and shared “challenging feedback” with Lightspeed Studios.
Square Enix said that “FFXIV Mobile” will feature visual elements such as complex weather and time systems, providing more than 600 different weather modes in various landscapes, as well as detailed player character and equipment design from the original game.
Final Fantasy XIV Mobile is developed by Lightspeed Studios, co-developer of PUBG Mobile. The game doesn’t yet have a release date, but Square Enix confirmed that the game will soon be demoed through multiple playtests in China, with a global release shortly thereafter.
Final Fantasy XIV Online first launched in 2013 on PC and PS3 and is currently available on Mac, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X. This MMO game has over 30 million registered players.
