Twelve years have passed since A Realm Reborn came and changed one of the most underwhelming MMORPGs into a success story for the ages, and Final Fantasy 14 is still looking to extend its reach. A mobile version is currently in development, aiming to bring the story of the base game to an audience on the go. With large, expansive experiences like Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves testing the limits of what can be done on smartphones, it makes sense that Final Fantasy 14 Mobile would come out to try and share such a critically acclaimed story with those who don't exactly play games any other way.
The idea of putting such a large title that truly encompasses the size of the worlds within it on a mobile device may seem like one full of sacrifices and cutting corners. However, what's known about Final Fantasy 14 Mobile so far makes it look like it isn't as tall of a task as it might seem at first glance. Leaked FF14 Mobile screenshots do a great job of capturing what so many people love about traversing and being part of Eorzea. Of course, there are some caveats to the game already that have popped up, namely in the form of some features that are exclusive to the mobile version. Some players are excited as to what they might bring, while others see them as a warning red flag.
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Potential Final Fantasy 14 Mobile Players Are Split Over the Game's Microtransactions
Final Fantasy 14 Mobile Will Have Small Fees For a Few Extras
Like any big-name mobile game in this day and age, as Final Fantasy 14 Mobile shaped up to be more of a reality, more players became concerned with how it would manage microtransactions. Many mobile games lean on microtransactions rather heavily, and players now have an understanding of how this structure will work on FF14 Mobile. Supposedly, according to leaks, gear will have 16 dye channels, and dye can be purchased for $0.40 to $1.40. Job quests can also be skipped for a price, and Extreme raid loot weapons won't glow unless players pay for them.
While there could be worse price ranges, how this affects players will dramatically shift depending on how they plan to play Final Fantasy 14 Mobile. Dyeing gear is merely a cosmetic choice, but many players adore collecting glamour sets and expressing themselves through their character. These people may find themselves racking up a large sum for FF14 Mobile's rarer dyes, and the same applies to hardcore Extreme raiders who want the full set in all their glowing glory. There's a line to be drawn somewhere, but it isn't as if the original FF14 hasn't done so already.
What Makes Final Fantasy 14 Mobile's Transactions Different From the Original's
Final Fantasy 14, in truth, already deals with its own price tags for optional items. Square Enix already offers the chance for players to get dyes, gear, and emotes through FF14's Mog Station account management site. Despite this, dye is freely available for purchase in the game itself with gil, and gear is plentiful without needing to pay for the cosmetic sets available on the site. Even story quest skips are available on the Mog Station, just like how FF14 Mobile might make a job quest skip available for a small fee.
The difference lies in how the mobile version likely won't have Mog Station integration, or even a site of its own to manage purchases. This leaves the microtransactions to be in players' faces, enticing them to pay one small fee out of what might be many in the end if they're not careful. These purchases may range from exciting to expected for FF14, but how they're implemented will affect how the mobile version sits with many loyal fans for a lot of reasons. Only time will tell how Final Fantasy 14 Mobile fares once it's in players' hands as a result.
- Developer(s)
- Lightspeed Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- Number of Players
- 1+
