Everything we know about FFXI Mobile

[Zenoxio]

I posted this on reddit in /r/ffxi but wanted to post it here too. Visit the reddit post for updated info if any edits are made, in case I don't edit this post as often.

Q: What is FFXI Mobile?
A: FFXI is coming to mobile (Android, iOS) around 2016. To quote SE (Square Enix):

A Native App Project Providing A Full-Fledged FINAL FANTASY XI Experience on the Mobile Platform

Q: What regions will FFXI Mobile be available in?
A: Japan, Korea, North America, Europe and rest of Asia. Quote SE:

We plan to extend service to Japan, Korea, and North America, as well as Europe and the rest of Asia

Q: Who is developing/publishing it?
A: Square Enix (FFXI dev team) and NEXON, Co., Ltd; SE will still be involved, quote SE:

Basically, they [FFXI dev team] will take part in ways that make the game "FFXI-like" such as planning, how the game works, lore, and editorial supervision.

Q: Is this the same thing as Final Fantasy Grandmasters?
A: No. While Final Fantasy Grandmasters takes place in Vana'diel, it is a different game and is not FFXI nor FFXI Mobile. Grandmasters is a spin-off currently available in Japan on smartphones (see /r/ffgm).

Q: Will FFXI Mobile share servers or existing characters with the Windows version?
A: Unknown. A relevant note, according to these quotes from SE:

it will not involve directly transferring your character data over, so it’s best to think that a new, separate account and character will be used to play [...]
...
Currently, I’m unable to say anything definitive, but as a game, it will be something completely new.

Q: Will it be free to play?
A: Unknown. Quotes from SE:

We would like to have as many people play as possible, so we believe it will be a system that will allow players to participate with ease. You could say that it depends on the business environment at the time of launch. For example, when considering that a method of payment is unimaginable at the stage we're currently at might be proposed, it is not possible to make a conclusive decision.
...
Unfortunately, it’s still too early to comment on this matter. But, we will consider methods that would make it easier for players to join and continue to play.

Q: Will this launch with all the FFXI expansions?
A: Not at the start, no. Quote SE:

There will definitely be restrictions on content and jobs at the start, such as only implementing up to Chains of Promathia.

Q: Does this mean the game will launch with CoP era?
A: Unknown. SE says details aren't concrete yet. It's unknown if level cap will be below 99 at launch.

Q: How will such a large game (hard drive storage space) fit on a phone/etc?
A: Unknown. The PS2 version for example is a bit over 5GB in size. Considering Star Wars KOTOR on Android is 2.4GB, it may be feasible for a 5GB+ game to be on the app store. SE is planning for seemingly all expansions after release:

Players will eventually be able to play Rhapsodies of Vana’diel, so we'll be putting in a ton of effort to try and match or even surpass the PC version.

Q: Will it still be the normal interface/client?
A: No. It will be a native mobile app, built from the ground up. The interface will be designed for mobile.

Q: What will it look like?
A: No specifics yet, but SE has stated:

[...] the idea would be more along the lines of a further refined FFXI given the high-perfomance mobile devices available today.

Sources:

• http://gamerescape.com/2015/11/09/in...adiel-project/
• http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/th...ference-Digest
• http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/th...l=1#post546656

[Nashred]

Almost every answer is unknown.. Wonder how they will get it done in less than a year and I wonder how this would play on a mobile.

[Diraco]

I hope they do a better job of optimizing the client compared to the PC version -- It can barely maintain 30fps in some situations with a very fast PC. Even the fastest cell phone is only 1/10th the speed of a stock i7, with most of them being at best 1/30th as fast.

[bungiefanNA]

Yes, but that's 30 FPS being the max for FFXI and it not supporting multiple CPU cores. It's also a side effect of the PC client being a port of the PS2 client. If you have an FPS cap, you often don't keep running right at the cap, the software will fluctuate under the cap.