Though Closing Fantasy 11 turns 24 this yr, the MMORPG loved a giant increase in concurrent participant depend because of the profitable Closing Fantasy 14 crossover occasion. In mild of this sudden rise in reputation, FF11’s present director Yoji Fujito talked about what’s subsequent for the net recreation, suggesting {that a} model new space and story may very well be within the pipeline.
In a current Famitsu interview, Fujito hinted that the group would possibly have the ability to add new areas and storylines to FF11. Nonetheless, he defined that technical points and a scarcity of workers implies that they will’t simply merely add a brand new space onto the 24 yr outdated on-line recreation ASAP.
Though FF11 has been transferring its getting old bodily servers to digital servers, this initiative is to make sure the sport stays playable in its present state, and no modifications have been made with a view to supporting a large-scale growth. “Even when we determine so as to add a brand new space, we can not do that utilizing typical strategies at current as a result of now we have run out of IDs for administration. Nonetheless, we all know that we will liberate a number of ID slots, so we’re at present investigating how we will make use of this,” Fujito defined, including that these efforts might make it attainable so as to add a brand new space to the sport. “Relying on the outcomes, I really feel that some type of challenge would possibly get underway.”
Fujito emphasised that the group is at present laying the groundwork for potential new FF11 story content material. FF11 hasn’t had a brand new episodic story since The Voracious Resurgence, and a part of the rationale for that is that storywriting workers are at present tied up with different initiatives at Sq. Enix. However, as soon as they’ve completed, “we’re planning to have them return to the FF11 group to see if they will produce one thing new,” Fujito stated. On the identical time, engineers are engaged on graphics useful resource administration middleware. “As soon as we resolve this, it is going to be attainable to make new cutscenes once more,” Fujito added.
Final yr, Closing Fantasy 14 kicked off the Echoes of Vana’diel crossover occasion with FF11, which introduced renewed consideration to the FF collection’ first MMORPG outing. Previous adventurers and new gamers alike have been drawn to FF11 because of EoV, a welcome again initiative, the revamped Limbus and the Mog Bonanza weapons giveaway, pushing up the participant depend. A lot to the builders’ shock, reasonably than taking a short lived trip to Vana’diel, gamers appear to be sticking with veteran MMO.
This unexpected rise in concurrent gamers compelled Sq. Enix to shut some servers to newcomers to stop overpopulation. “We predicted that many individuals would check out FF11 and shortly cease enjoying, so we anticipated the participant surge to return down, nonetheless many gamers have chosen to remain in Vana’diel,” stated Fujito. “Total, the excessive participant depend has been steady with no sudden drop.”
Echoes of Vana’diel additionally attracted streamers to FF11, with Fujito noting: “I really feel that we reached an viewers we hadn’t reached earlier than.” The EoV crossover triggered a virtuous cycle of FF14 gamers changing into concerned about FF11 and testing streams. “They then assume, ‘I need to give it a go myself,’ and begin enjoying (FF11) and sharing data about it.”
Over the previous yr, the Closing Fantasy 11 improvement group has progressively revamped the sport’s Limbus content material for prime stage gamers so the issue and rewards higher match right now’s playerbase. Fujito famous that their objective is to “prioritize ease of play for solo gamers and small teams.” To this finish, the group has additionally been enhancing the Faces system, which permits solo gamers to create a digital get together for group quests, bringing digital character ranges in-line with the participant’s.
Fujito revealed that Limbus’s revamp is slated to wrap up this June, when they’ll add the ultimate boss and two new accompanying battle themes by veteran FF11 composer Naoshi Mizuta.
He additionally acknowledged the sharp variations in problem stage between FF11’s worlds. “We notice that this is a matter,” Fujito stated, including that the group plans to look into adjusting Grace buffs after the Limbus revamp is accomplished. “If we have been to regulate it, we’d make uniform changes to Grace buff speeds throughout all worlds as an alternative of coping with every world individually.”
Finest Mainline Closing Fantasy Video games
Finest Mainline Closing Fantasy Video games
FF11 was initially launched on PC and PS2 means again in 2002. These days, with automated updates, on-line shops and achievements, connecting your PC or current-gen recreation console to the web is a no brainer, so it’s simple to overlook that FF11 comes from a era through which hooking up your console to the web was nonetheless a novelty. It required attaching a chunky proprietary Sony HDD to the again of the unique fats mannequin PS2, plugging within the ethernet cable and praying your web was steady sufficient so that you can benefit from the recreation.
Though PS2 connections to FF11 servers ended help in 2016, FF11 remains to be alive on PC. What’s extra it appears to be thriving past Sq. Enix’s expectations, 24 years and three console generations on.
Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance author who beforehand served as editor, contributor and translator for the sport information web site Automaton West. She has additionally written about Japanese tradition and flicks for varied publications.