Overview
Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix. It is the fourteenth numbered entry in the Final Fantasy series and the second MMORPG in the franchise after Final Fantasy XI. The game is set in the fantasy world of Hydaelyn (later Eorzea).
FFXIV is best known for its comeback story: the failed original 2010 version was completely rebuilt and re-released in 2013 as A Realm Reborn. The relaunch turned the game into one of the largest MMORPGs in the world, with more than 27 million registered accounts.
Development History
The original Final Fantasy XIV launched on September 30, 2010 to overwhelmingly negative reviews. The game suffered from a clunky interface, an unoptimized engine, an empty world and a lack of content. Press scores were among the lowest in the entire Final Fantasy series.
In December 2010, Square Enix replaced the project lead with Naoki Yoshida (Yoshi-P). Under his direction, a full overhaul of the game began. On November 11, 2012, the original servers shut down during the in-game event "The End of an Era," in which the lesser moon Dalamud crashed into the world.
On August 27, 2013, A Realm Reborn launched — effectively a brand-new game built on the Crystal Tools engine. The relaunch earned high scores and became one of the most celebrated turnarounds in video game history. Major expansions have followed regularly: Heavensward (2015), Stormblood (2017), Shadowbringers (2019), Endwalker (2021) and Dawntrail (2024).
Gameplay
FFXIV's combat is built on the classic "holy trinity" of tank, healer and DPS, with a 2.5-second global cooldown (GCD). As you level up, rotations grow more complex thanks to off-GCD abilities (oGCD). The game supports both keyboard and gamepad controls.
The core of the experience is the Main Scenario Quest (MSQ), which is required to unlock most content. Beyond the MSQ you'll find dungeons, 8- and 24-player raids, Trials, PvP modes and a wide range of non-combat content: crafting, gathering, housing, the Gold Saucer casino and the glamour (transmog) system.
A standout feature is the Armoury system: a single character can master every class and job, switching between them simply by swapping weapons.
Key Features
FFXIV stands out from its competitors largely for its story, which players often compare to single-player JRPGs. The Shadowbringers and Endwalker expansions earned especially high praise for their narrative.
The free trial includes the base game and the Heavensward expansion with no time limit, giving it one of the lowest barriers to entry among subscription MMORPGs. FFXIV also supports cross-platform play between PC and PlayStation.
Alongside World of Warcraft, FFXIV is considered one of the two leading subscription MMORPGs. It also competes with free-to-play titles such as Guild Wars 2 and Black Desert Online.
Community
The FFXIV community is known for being friendlier than most MMORPGs. This is helped by the in-game mentor system and Square Enix's strict policy on toxic behavior. The game draws a broad audience, including players who don't usually touch other MMOs.
The annual Fan Fest event is where new expansions are revealed. An active streaming scene, a large body of fan art and a thriving modding community are also part of the FFXIV ecosystem.
Criticism
The most common complaint about FFXIV is its slow start. The base A Realm Reborn features a long quest chain that many players find dragged out, especially the stretch between the base game and the first expansion (the so-called "patch content" quests). Square Enix trimmed it partially in patch 5.3, but the issue isn't fully resolved.
The 2.5-second global cooldown makes combat feel unusually slow at low levels, which can put off newcomers used to the faster action of games like Black Desert Online.
Server overload at expansion launches is a serious problem. The Endwalker release in December 2021 was plagued by hours-long login queues, forcing Square Enix to temporarily suspend sales of the game. Critics also point to the aging engine that limits visuals and technical features, and to the slow rollout of PvP content.