Letter from the Producer, LVI (04/23/2014)

Hello again, to all of you FFXIVers out there! Yoshi-P here, bringing you my fifty-sixth Letter from the Producer.

Hot off the heels of Patch 2.2─Through the Maelstrom, April saw the release of FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn on the PlayStation®4! Unfortunately, an issue has prevented a number of North American and European users from registering their product codes. We apologize for the inconvenience, and ask for your patience as SCE works to resolve the issue. In the meantime, if you are unable to register your code, we encourage you to contact the support center.

Despite this problem, however, the PS4™ version has offered us new insight into how the game is played. Making use of the Share function, we've been watching players stream on the large monitor next to the dev team booths.

<img src="http://img.finalfantasyxiv.com/t/6225bf5e9ad8966f005f90dd6c0b3cbc54c0f64c_0.jpg">

Whether they're fledgling adventurers new to the realm, or seasoned veterans battling the likes of Leviathan and Titan, players are constantly streaming, and the team and I are enthralled with what we've been seeing. In particular, watching new players navigate the world and experience dungeons for the first time is as enjoyable as it is enlightening.

In the past, game developers, curious to see how their games were received, could only go to game stores on release day and watch customers purchase their product. The times have certainly changed, and words cannot express how happy we are to see players enjoying the world we've created firsthand. To those of you who've recently joined us on the PS4™, I hope you enjoy your adventures in Eorzea for months and years to come!

The PS4 version is safely out the door, but this is no time to rest—not with patch 2.25 and the Chinese version release right around the corner.

Patch 2.25 will focus on additions and adjustments to the Wolves' Den, as well as a new system involving materia.

I know some of our players have been looking forward to the continuation of the Zodiac Weapons quests that I mentioned in the recent letter LIVE, but the release of these new quests has been postponed. Our reasoning for this decision is, in brief:

• Many players still have yet to obtain an Animus weapon.
• We would like to incorporate feedback regarding the difficulty of the Zodiac Weapon quests.
• We are working to increase the number of locations where materials for the next upgrade can be obtained.

I apologize for the delay, but those of you looking to obtain the power of "Novus" will be able to do so in patch 2.28, scheduled to release in May.

Where Animus upgrades focused heavily on the accumulation of Allagan tomestones of mythology, Novus upgrades will revolve around the use of sphere scrolls. We are working to ensure that the required materials can be obtained through various means, so we ask that you wait just a little longer until everything is properly balanced.

As I mentioned, we're also working on the Chinese version of FFXIV, and as you'll see below, PR has done a wonderful job of spreading the word.

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This is an internet cafe in Shanghai, and one of the flagship shops for FFXIV. In fact, all of the decorum here is FFXIV themed.

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We were surprised to find that Chinese FF fans had prepared a bouquet of flowers for our arrival.

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Here I am talking with players in the PvP room. If you're looking for a challenge, this is the place to be.

<img src="http://img.finalfantasyxiv.com/t/6225bf5e9ad8966f005f90dd6c0b3cbc54c0f64c_4.jpg">

And here we have representatives from Shanda Games, the company that has helped us to make the Chinese version possible.

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<img src="http://img.finalfantasyxiv.com/t/6225bf5e9ad8966f005f90dd6c0b3cbc54c0f64c_6.jpg">

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The following day, we held a media event using a 4K theater projector. It was impressive, to say the least. Everything is progressing smoothly as we aim to start service in China this summer.

Now as many of you know, Golden Week, a string of national holidays in Japan, is coming up soon. The FFXIV team will be hard at work, however, in preparation for the Niconico Choukaigi 3 being held this upcoming weekend. Niconico Choukaigi brings together internet video and gaming fans from across the country, and this year we plan to leave our mark with a F.A.T.E. in Tokyo event. I'll be attending, along with assistant director Hiroshi Takai and lead UI artist Hiroshi Minagawa─the daring Hiroshi duo─sound director Soken, and other members of the team. We look forward to meeting our fans, and answering more of the questions burning on everyone's lips.

But we’d be remiss to limit our events to Japan when we have so many wonderful and devoted fans across the globe. Two days after Niconico Choukaigi 3, I'll be embarking on our first ever Oceania media tour, taking a trip to meet players in Australia. I'll also be making an appearance at this year's Japan Expo in Paris, France and Gamescom in Cologne, Germany. We have exciting plans for another big fan event in the works as well, so keep an eye out for future updates!

I've reached the end of my letter, but allow me to close with a message of congratulations. Exceeding our expectations by leaps and bounds, we were astounded to find the final turn of the Second Coil of Bahamut has been cleared by an intrepid group of players hailing from the Order of the Blue Garter! Congratulations─your skill and commitment is an inspiration to adventurers everywhere. We look forward to seeing more players rise to the challenge of the Second Coil and triumph against the greatest dangers in the realm.

It's time for me to get back to work, but I'll see you next time, at the F.A.T.E. in Tokyo, and in the next Letter from the Producer Live! :)