Final Fantasy 14 Mobile Launches, But Not Quite Where You’d Expect

Earlier this week, Square Enix finally confirmed the rumors: a mobile version of Final Fantasy 14 is officially on the way. The game is being developed by Lightspeed Studios, the Tencent-owned team well-known for their work on PUBG Mobile. While details are still sparse, they did share a few key pieces of information with the announcement. We learned about the initial job classes that will be available and that the game will debut in China before seeing a global launch. Naturally, the big question on everyone’s mind was about where the game’s storyline would begin. With five expansions already under its belt, the MMO offers seasoned players a lot to dive into, but new players need a starting point. Thankfully, producer Naoki "Yoshi-P" Yoshida addressed this in a Q&A video released yesterday.

When Final Fantasy 14 Mobile is released, players will kick off their adventure with A Realm Reborn. Yoshi-P pointed out that this is an opportunity for longtime fans to relive the story on their phones, while newcomers can experience the full narrative for the first time. "A vast amount of content and narrative has already been developed," he noted, adding that Lightspeed Studios intends to roll out this content gradually. The pace might adjust in response to player feedback, potentially accelerating or sticking to the initial schedule depending on player preferences.

It’s important to mention that A Realm Reborn isn’t the absolute beginning of Final Fantasy 14. Some fans may recall the elusive 1.0 release, which introduced story elements that still resonate in today’s revamped version. Unfortunately, 1.0 is unplayable now, leaving some fans yearning for a chance to revisit it, perhaps much like how World of Warcraft Classic was handled. For now, those nostalgic players will have to be content with revisiting old YouTube footage.

If you’re curious about what else is in store for the mobile version, their full video is definitely worth checking out. It touches on various aspects, including the game’s monetization plans. The game will be free-to-play, and the monetization strategy, as described, doesn’t sound overly aggressive, though we’ll have to see how it pans out once the game launches.