Final Fantasy XIV (2010 video game)

Final Fantasy XIV, released in 2010 for Windows, was a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) created and published by Square Enix. It served as the original version of the fourteenth mainline Final Fantasy title and was the series’ second MMORPG, following Final Fantasy XI. The game took place in the fantasy realm of Eorzea, where players controlled a customized avatar exploring the land, becoming entangled in an invasion by the hostile Garlean Empire and the threat of primals—deities worshiped by the beastmen tribes. The plot eventually involved a Garlean Legatus’s scheme to destroy the primals by crashing the artificial satellite Dalamud—a prison for the elder primal Bahamut—into Eorzea.

Development began in 2005 under the codename “Rapture,” and the game was announced in 2009 for Windows and the PlayStation 3. It used Square Enix’s Crystal Tools middleware engine, adapted for the game’s needs. The team carried over several visual elements from Final Fantasy XI while aiming to create a distinct experience. However, various factors caused development problems that later severely impacted the game. Attempts to release it on Xbox 360 failed due to disagreements with Microsoft over Xbox Live usage.

Following an alpha test and a delayed beta, the game launched on September 30, 2010, and remained active until its servers shut down on November 11, 2012. Upon release, it received negative feedback: while the graphics and music were praised, other aspects—such as gameplay, interface, and an overall unfinished feel—were widely criticized. This backlash led Square Enix to suspend subscription fees, indefinitely postpone the PlayStation 3 version, and replace the development leadership with Naoki Yoshida as producer and director. Yoshida implemented minor improvements before the game’s closure, ultimately replacing it with a new version initially subtitled *A Realm Reborn*, which was well-received upon release.

**Gameplay**

In Final Fantasy XIV, players controlled a customized Adventurer avatar from one of five playable races, each with two tribes. All but two races allowed male or female characters. Customization included eye and hair color, facial features, skin tone, and optional birthmarks or scars. The chosen tribe and patron deity influenced stats and elemental attributes. The opening sequence varied based on the starting location.