Title: FINAL FANTASY XIV

Platforms: PLAYSTATION 3, Windows

Genre: Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game

Release Date: 2010

Unit Price: To Be Announced

Subscription Fees: To Be Announced

ESRB Rating: Pending.

Introduction

Even though Final Fantasy XIII is still under development (and a year off of it's scheduled release date), Square Enix announced on the 2nd June, 2009, that Final Fantasy XIV, the next in their phenominal Final Fantasy series, is under development. With Final Fantasy XIII still in development and scheduled for a 2010 release, it came as a surprise to learn that not only had Final Fantasy XIV been announced, but it was already under development.

Official sources citate that Final Fantasy XIV has been under development for several years now; throughout five years of Vana'diel's existence.

"This has been going on at the same time as Final Fantasy XI.", said Hiromichi Tanaka at the E3 2009 Press Conference.

The original imagery published on the official website lead to many speculative fans suspecting what was in store for the future of Final Fantasy XI. In the Final Fantasy XIV Collage you can clearly make out what appears to be the various races from Final Fantasy XI; there's definitely some Mithra, Elvaan, Hume and Tarutarus. There's one Galka looking figure as well, though no tail is pictured. It could simply be behind the chair.

However, the hopes that Final Fantasy XIV would sequel on from Final Fantasy XI were also nullified during the press conference.

"These are different races," the Producer said, "a different world than FFXI, the name of the world is Eorzea.

"The reason we made them similar in Final Fantasy XI was so that players who have been playing it and liked the character can choose a similar type of race."

What does the future have in store for Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XI? It was made clear that Final Fantasy XI players won't be able to transfer their existing characters to Final Fantasy XIV. This means that Final Fantasy XI stands to lose a large percentage of its current playerbase.

The development team assures us they have plenty more in store for Final Fantasy XI players, though.

"We have a year's work planned for Final Fantasy XI still in the works," Tanaka said, "there are no times in the near future to stop development."

We'll update this summary as more information becomes available. You can browse the existing Final Fantasy XIV coverage using the menu on the right or join in the discussions on our Final Fantasy XIV Forums.