Final Fantasy has been an arguably beleaguered brand for awhile now, and when the original incarnation of FFXIV hit in 2010 it did little to combat any of the long-standing problems or bugs FFXI had experienced for the past six years. Director and producer Naoki Yoshida is determined to change that with the upcoming re-release of FFXIV: A Realm Reborn.
““I want to make a game that will appeal to both markets,” Yoshida said in a recent interview with Famitsu Weekly, as reported by Edge. “I’m taking the classic FF aesthetic and making it darker; that appeals to me, and it will appeal to certain fans in Japan and in the West.”
What that entails, according to Yoshida, is striking a good balance between Western and Japanese design tastes.
““The old FFXIV had an especially negative impact in Japan,” Yoshida said. “So if a Western audience says the new game is great, I can take that as a straight response.”
The game hits PS3 and PC later this year with a PS4 version coming in 2014, although you can sign up for Square-Enix’s closed beta right now. But when will it go free-to-play? (Yes, we know the fundamental design differences).
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Via Edge
