Earlier this week, after months of speculation, Square Enix confirmed the development of a mobile version of Final Fantasy 14, crafted by Tencent-owned Lightspeed Studios, known for their work on PUBG Mobile. Naturally, the announcement left fans buzzing with questions, particularly about where this new mobile journey would begin. With five expansions to its name, starting at the end wouldn’t make much sense for newcomers. Thankfully, producer Naoki “Yoshi-P” Yoshida provided insights during a recently released Q&A video, clarifying this crucial point.
Upon its eventual release, players diving into the mobile version will embark on their journey with A Realm Reborn. Yoshi-P elaborated that veterans of Final Fantasy 14 will get to relive the entire narrative on their mobile devices, while fresh adventurers can explore the epic tale from start to finish. He noted that “a considerable amount of content and narrative” has already been developed, with plans in place to release this gradually. Depending on player reactions, the team might adjust the update speed, ensuring it aligns with player preferences, whether that means accelerating or maintaining the initial pace.
It’s worth mentioning, however, that starting with A Realm Reborn bypasses the game’s original start—the infamous 1.0 release. This version is currently unplayable, despite containing story elements that enrich the main plot of the current game. Some die-hard fans have harbored hopes of experiencing a World of Warcraft Classic-style revival of 1.0, thinking the mobile version might bring such an opportunity. Unfortunately, those nostalgic for 1.0 will have to continue reminiscing through old YouTube clips for the time being.
For those intrigued by details about the mobile iteration, the full video offers more insights, including a peek into its monetization approach. Despite being a free-to-play model, the initial outline doesn’t sound too concerning, though we’ll have to wait and see how it pans out.
