For the fantasy MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV, something very special has been conceived for the birthday celebration.
The birthday of Final Fantasy XIV is also a kind of rebirth. The MMORPG was launched back in 2010 almost as a stillbirth, being in a disastrous state and threatening to irreparably damage the reputation of the entire “Final Fantasy” franchise.
A relaunch as “A Realm Reborn” saved the MMORPG and now, instead of just celebrating a birthday, they celebrate “The Festival of Rebirth” in Eorzea. Final Fantasy XIV re-released in August 2013, and since then it has been writing a success story. This is largely due to the close and warm relationship the developers maintain with their player base.
For the players, something special has been thought of for the two-year anniversary. Players can enter the “18th Floor” after an NPC plays the correct chord.
On the 18th floor of the Square Enix headquarters sits the FF14 team. Players can talk to NPCs modeled after the team members of Final Fantasy XIV. On reddit, many have already been given names and faces. Many phrases, characters, dialogues, and little easter eggs on the 18th floor reference things that had to be left behind with the “old world.” It’s all a homage.
Of course, the head behind Final Fantasy XIV, Naoki Yoshida, has not missed the opportunity to appear as one of the main characters on the 18th floor. He waits as a boss behind a room with a “Boss Mark” for the players. Kotaku captured this in a video:
The reactions to the event are overwhelming, especially among veterans. Many have reported that they cried, while others understood it as an incredibly sweet and beautiful gesture.
The event runs until September 7.
