Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn was doomed to failure at some point, but made a resurgent comeback thanks to the efforts of its development team. Today, with a relaunch and two major expansions out of the way, the MMORPG has more than 14 million registered players. Trial accounts are also included in this figure but it’s a strong achievement all the same.
Producer and director Naoki Yoshida issued a statement on the same, thanking the player base and other individuals. “Although the original Final Fantasy 14 failed to meet expectations, through the support of people in the media, the companies we have worked with, and of course our dedicated players, we were able to launch A Realm Reborn in 2013. FF14 was indeed reborn, and over the course of these past five years, it has grown to become the title that we all know and love today. I cannot thank you enough.
“We in the development and operations teams have been working at full capacity ever since the launch of A Realm Reborn, and while we have made our share of missteps along the way, the Warriors of Light continue to spur us onward. There are many new gaming experiences and epic tales that we wish to share with you all. We will be working harder than ever to expand the world of FF14, where players form lasting bonds with one another through their adventures.
“Final Fantasy 14 is the result of everyone’s passion and commitment, including all of you Warriors of Light, and I hope you will continue to support us as we build this world together.”
August 27th actually marks the fifth anniversary of Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn, and to celebrate the current player milestone, a 14 hour livestream will be held on September 1st. Along with Yoshida, there will be other developers, like Capcom’s Ryozo Tsujimoto (who many will recognize as the senior producer for Monster Hunter World), voice actors, and so on making appearances. Fans can expect to hear more information on the upcoming Patch 4.4: Prelude in Violet.