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!