New Years message

[Immortal]

Happy New Year, adventurers! I would like to offer you my best wishes as we start the new year.

This is my first New Year's as producer for FFXI, and I feel a slight sense of relief now that it?s behind me and that everything went smoothly.

In May 2023, we finished up The Voracious Resurgence, which was a large part of our product roadmap and the last major update for the game. Even after The Voracious Resurgence ended, we have followed up with various initiatives designed to let players continue enjoying FFXI, which are based on the concepts of "stability" and the creation of an "archive" as their focus.

In order to ensure this sense of "stability," we have been upgrading the development team's equipment and other resources in order to update their work environment. Furthermore, we are making steady progress with replacing the FFXI servers and also ensuring that everything runs smoothly on Windows 11 as well. In terms of the game itself, we have introduced updates designed to improve the game's usability, such as the ability to configure your PadConfig settings without having to shut down the game client first.

Going forward, we shall continue our policy of implementing such changes aimed at maintaining this sense of stability that you have come to rely on.

Our other guiding concept this year has been that of creating an "archive" of the game, which are topics that fall outside of the game itself.

We have decided that one such effort, We Are Vana'diel—which was originally launched as a website to commemorate the game's 20th anniversary—shall live on in order to serve as a repository for various interviews, oral histories, and other assorted topics related to Final Fantasy XI over the years. The site has already been updated with new content, but we plan to include even more interviews with people that have been involved with the game's development. In this ongoing series, we'll ask them their thoughts about the game and some of the behind-the-scenes stories that occurred during the development process. We have even more updates planned for the future, so I hope you are looking forward to them.

On the music side of the game, we released FINAL FANTASY XI Gifts from Vana'diel: Prime Memories, meaning that all of FFXI's music is now available in soundtrack format. In November 2023, the main soundtrack was released on various music streaming services, which made it even easier for people to enjoy the sounds of Vana'diel.

Furthermore, we were able to hold our first IRL event in some time now with the Japan-only Treasures of Vana'diel exhibition! I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to everyone who made it out to the show.

It was nice seeing so many people come to enjoy the previously unseen development materials and all of the various merchandise that was made available for the exhibition. The success of the Tokyo event back in August led to many people requesting us to hold one in the Kansai region as well, so we have announced that the exhibition will be visiting Osaka as well. The content has been updated somewhat since we held it in Tokyo, so please stop by and check it out if you're in the area.




Now I'd like to take a moment to talk about 2024. Like we announced in May of last year, future game updates will contain minimal in-game content and focus primarily on operational maintenance. Compared to the past, when we released new content every year, there will not be as many updates to look forward to, but we will properly maintain the game and ensure that you can continue to enjoy FFXI for a long time to come.

In addition, it is our goal to continue creating content outside of the game itself in order to keep up with the excitement generated by you adventurers the world over. It is my strong belief that as the world of Vana'diel expands, it will continue to live on and thrive, especially within FFXI itself as well as various other related events.

One such upcoming event is a Japan-only dramatic reading based on the world of FFXI scheduled for Saturday, February 17th. This is an entirely new story that takes a completely different look at the world we've all come to know and love. We're also currently working on the Echoes of Vana'diel alliance raid content for FINAL FANTASY XIV.

Once the content is added to the game, we hope you'll enjoy this whole new look at Vana'diel as well!

As we embark on our journey into 2024, rest assured that all of us on the development and operations teams will continue to do our very best to ensure a stable and enjoyable gameplay experience for all of you adventurers. I hope that you continue to enjoy the world of FFXI.

FINAL FANTASY XI Producer/Director
Yoji Fujito

How do people feel about 2024 for FFXI?

[JKap_Goat]

it makes me sad, no more updates for FFXI?? I would love a FFXI remake and we can get new stuff and new areas but it is what it is. I quit FFXIV last expansion, the jobs are so heavily homogenized and the combat is very stale and boring.

FFXI remake please SE

[Gwydion]

I consistently feel like SE doesn't care about FFXI or (non-JP) FFXI players.

• JP Only: Treasure of Vanadiel Exhibit and Memorabilia.
• JP Only: Memorabilia only ships within Japan.
• JP Only: February Book reading...
• US Only: Free Large T-shirts. -_-

I could go on...

[Dihlyte]

The FFXIV New Years letter basically says the same thing.

Happy New Year to all our FFXIVers!
This is Producer & Director Naoki Yoshida.

How has everyone been enjoying this special time of year? I imagine many of you are relaxing and playing games, or spending time with friends and family at lively holiday gatherings.

As for the FFXIV team here in Japan, well...we've been flat out getting things ready for Fan Festival 2024 in Tokyo. Fast asleep or wide awake, the words "fan festival" and "7.0" have taken up constant residence in our thoughts. (laughs)

Having returned to its world-wide tour format this year, Fan Festival has been bigger and better than ever─it was a huge success in Europe and the U.S., and we'll be making preparations right up until the last moment to ensure that everyone enjoys the conclusion to the tour in Tokyo. Whether you attend in person or watch events via streaming, we hope to put on an exciting show no matter where you'll be viewing from. And even though the venue is the magnificent Tokyo Dome, you can expect the same sort of FFXIV shenanigans we always deliver! (laughs)

With the 10th anniversary of FFXIV's rebirth behind us, we are taking the first determined step towards our next ten years of service. We've been accompanied on this epic journey by Warriors of Light from across the globe, and we intend to maintain that partnership by placing an even greater value on communication as we expand the world of FFXIV. This next step is a big one, full of brand new challenges, and I am personally excited to see everyone experience what we have in store this coming year!

...And what do have we here? Even as I look to escape the pressures of the Fan Festival keynote speech, it seems someone has delivered a most curious note to my office...


The saga of Hydaelyn and Zodiark has reached its conclusion, and the stage is now set for new tales of adventure. As the explorer writes, the journey ahead lies to the west, and only time will tell what the coming months and years will bring!

As stated above, challenges abound as we work towards the release of FINAL FANTASY XIV: Dawntrail. Our current tasks─not the least of which is a major update to overhaul ten years' worth of graphic development─involve making steady improvements to our development and operational processes with an eye towards long-term service. Some of these changes will be felt immediately, while others may only become noticeable after several years. With "haste makes waste" as our mantra, however, we intend to tackle the obstacles before us with a deliberate thoroughness.

FINAL FANTASY XIV is a journey we promise to make alongside all our Warriors of Light. Everything we do is for everyone to enjoy. All of us together.

Again, I wish you a happy New Year, and thank you for your continued support!

Any expansion after Stormblood has been just a copy paste of that expansion.

Like if FFXI released Sortie but "now with a green background" and "Galli is now called Sullimaufry" would be the equivalent.

The reason I'm posting is not to really discuss the future of XI and XIV or the similarities, or differences, but for this:

I honestly think Matsui and Yoshida are working on FF17 and its going to be an MMO.

I am wholly convinced of this.

Not only are FFXI and FFXIV the most profitable Final Fantasy games, but in Matsui's letter about handing off the reigns to Fujito, he even states he planned to retire, but instead is still at SE, just no longer on FFXI.

Parts of the FFXI team has been "sent off to go work on another title to gain more modern game development experience" and the FFXIV development cycle has been extended, among many other similar trends indicating to me, that something is in the works.
(Such as the FFXIV story being "completed" with 6.0, and honestly seems to me, in just "repeat mode," which is to me no different than what people call FFXI's "maintenance mode.")

If you told me this prior to FF16's release, and prior to Shadowbringers release, I would be ecstatic.

Right now, I will be highly skeptical of FF17's release, and I will likely need a free trial, and lots of information before any purchase.

I personally will not even try the game, if there is no traditional Final Fantasy jobs, or a sense of actual RPG elements such as hidden areas, monsters, etc, as I did so with FF16.

If FF17 isn't announced within 1-2 years, and its not a MMO, I will be completely shocked.

The best thing about all of this, is FFXI does not seem to be going anywhere, and that is the only thing that is actually important to me.


So with that,






Here is to another year of FFXI!

[Teraniku]

Not the New Years greeting we wanted, but hardly unexpected given the age of the game. So Stability and minor content updates (Vana'Bout / Cosmetic items etc.) from now on. The Development hardware is getting upgraded, so that's a plus , and might lead to something next year, since this where all of FFXI's budget is going to this year. Not getting my hopes up though. It's been a great ride, and I still have things to accomplish in game so I'll still be here for a while

[Alhanelem]

Not the New Years greeting we wanted, but hardly unexpected given the age of the game. So Stability and minor content updates (Vana'Bout / Cosmetic items etc.) from now on. The Development hardware is getting upgraded, so that's a plus , and might lead to something next year, since this where all of FFXI's budget is going to this year. Not getting my hopes up though. It's been a great ride, and I still have things to accomplish in game so I'll still be here for a while

whats weird is despite the huge success of FFXIV it seems like they're already planning for the time they start winding it down. It's weird because WoW isn't doing anything of the sort and it's about as old as FFXI is. Hell they announced not just one but the next three expansions. Everquest is still getting expansions too- not on the same kind of scope but still.

You'd think that for as long as these things bring money in they'd keep supporting them...

[Dragoy]

I honestly think Matsui and Yoshida are working on FF17 and its going to be an MMO.

Going by the 67th MogiVana, it seems Matsui is currently working on SaGa: Emerald Beyond [1], though of course he could be working on several projects at the same time (I think he is still be doing some Ambuscade things for example, if I heard and understood things correct-like).

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx4xATEHoTg&t=5747s

Here is to another year of FFXI!

Here's to at least 11 more years!

[Dihlyte]

Going by the 67th MogiVana, it seems Matsui is currently working on SaGa: Emerald Beyond

Here's to at least 11 more years!

Oh, I see!

Well then, perhaps they are not making FF17.

Everything was pointing to that based on all the information I had, but this bit means its less of a possibility.

I was under the impression they were switching gears from making multiple smaller games, to focus more on larger ones.

"the publisher will be shifting focus over the next few years, putting less emphasis on "mid-sized" titles and more on "larger AAA console games."
https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/fi...%40Genki_JPN).



That doesn't mean I believe SaGa is a smaller game. It means if SaGa is a larger game, he likely is not also working on a MMO.

Yoshida could still be, because XIV has very clearly slowed down in multiple ways. At the same time, one could say it has picked up with the "graphics overhaul" but we simply don't know.

My personal speculation is that if they use logic, and follow previous trends, FF17 will be an MMO. As XI, (XII/XIII) and XIV (XV/XVI) creates a pattern, and XI and XIV are the most profitable games. Despite XIV's failure.

They have a clear recipe for sure fire success. Even if 17 is a MMO and it completely fails, they already have a proven method in "fixing" any disaster, to turn a profit.

In my head, it is only logical that they would release an ensured profit title.

Now, one might say with XI and XIV, and then another new MMO title, there would be too much competition. I would state otherwise. FFXIV and FFXI are not holding the entire Final Fantasy fanbase, nor their entire MMO potential base.

Really one could "argue" many aspects, but the topic at hand is not if 17 is a MMO.

My point in saying this, is I feel the current "slow down" in XI, and XIV could potentially mean something. That "something" in my head, logically would point to FF17 being an MMO.

It doesn't have to equate both games are never going to "rev back up again" in the future.

Just I was trying to entertain the thought as to what might be going on at SE. The only people who actually know is SE themselves.

What would be nice, is if SE communicated with their fans more often, especially their more regularly paying fans, such as the XI and XIV fanbases.

Both XI and XIV forums are almost entirely devoid of any developer interaction, and any news that does come from XIV is extremely predictable.

I feel if they put more effort into proper communication, and love into their MMO's they could make significantly more money from each game.

11 more years of FFXI does sound nice!

[Rinuko]

I consistently feel like SE doesn\\'t care about FFXI or (non-JP) FFXI players.

• JP Only: Treasure of Vanadiel Exhibit and Memorabilia.
• JP Only: Memorabilia only ships within Japan.
• JP Only: February Book reading...
• US Only: Free Large T-shirts. -_-

I could go on...

Could be worse, you could be living in Europe…

[BST]

They can't even manage two MMOs well, let alone adding in a third to the list.

I sure wouldn't invest my time in a third, and the second would lose its appeal as it would end up just like the first fairly quickly.