There’s no need to worry too much, according to game producer Naoki Yoshida.
Fans of the Final Fantasy and MMORPG spaces have been excited since Square Enix recently announced the coming of a mobile version of popular MMORPG Final Fantasy 14, developed in collaboration with Tencent’s Lightspeed Studios. Now, there are even more reasons for everyone to be excited, as the game’s producer Naoki Yoshida has confirmed that it will be free-to-play and won’t have gacha mechanics.
This was confirmed in a detailed discussion with Naoki Yoshida, which was released by Square Enix on social media on Friday (November 22). The game producer addressed concerns about monetization, mobile optimisation, and the challenges of bringing the game to a new platform, while staying true to its roots.
Yoshida explained that Lightspeed Studios approached the project with a vision of respecting the original game while adapting it for mobile audiences. Final Fantasy 14 originally followed a subscription model. However, because they wanted the game to appeal to mobile users, the mobile version of the game will be adapating a free-to-play model.
So where will monetisation come from? For most F2P mobile games, the modern solution is to include in-game gacha mechanics. However, according to Yoshida, Lightspeed Studios’ proposals for monetization did not “prioritise profits by pushing a gacha system.”
Instead, they focused on a design that “respects the essence of FFXIV and encourages long-term engagement.” He elaborated that they want as many people as possible to be able to play Final Fantasy XIV, with an emphasis on long-term pleasure and a model of modest, sustained income.
“So there’s no need to worry too much just dive in and enjoy the game! It’s always good to see players having fun,” he added.
Yoshida didn’t specify where the monetisation will come from, but one such opportunity could be the PC version’s Glamour system, which allows players to transform the appearance of their equipment and weapons. It’s also possible that certain upgrades, exclusive mounts, or in-game currency will be available for purchase.
Final Fantasy 14 Mobile will hold multiple playtests in China before launching globally. Yoshida promised that the team will listen to player feedback while playtests are happening in China, and once they are satisfied with the outcome, the team will release the game globally. “I'm going to continue to develop it as an MMORPG, and I'm going to continue to make it fun for anyone, any platform, any play style,” he stated.
“So I don't think there's a goal, and I'm going to do my best until I retire or die, so thank you for your continued support.”
