Unveiling the Ultimate Celebration: Final Fantasy 14's Epic 10th Anniversary Seasonal Quest Exceeds Expectations for Fans, Both Old and New

Warning: The article ahead contains spoilers for The Rising Seasonal Quests, commemorating the 10th anniversary of Final Fantasy 14. Despite its current popularity in the world of online gaming, it may be difficult for fans to imagine a time when the game was vastly different. In 2010, the initial iteration of Final Fantasy 14 was a commercial failure and underwent significant challenges during its development. While it achieved strong sales upon its PC launch, critics were less than impressed. As the game approached the brink of closure, Square Enix entrusted Naoki Yoshida with the role of producer and director. Under his guidance, the immersive storyline of Bahamut's destruction of Eorzea unfolded in real-time, culminating in the sacrifice of Louisoix to save adventurers by transporting them to the future.

This epic narrative served as an in-game explanation for the shutdown of the original Final Fantasy 14 and marked the beginning of Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn. This reinvention, led by Naoki, aimed to rectify the shortcomings of its predecessor, resulting in an entirely new and improved MMORPG. In celebration of its 10th anniversary this year, Final Fantasy 14 introduces a special The Rising questline, starting with "Siblings Rising."

How the 10th Anniversary Seasonal Quests Show What Final Fantasy 14 is All About

The series of Seasonal Quests, designed to celebrate FF14's incredible milestone, may initially appear unassuming. The quests commence in Ul'dah, just outside the Ruby Road Exchange, where a Miqo'te named Kipih Jakkya finds herself in a streak of bad luck. She reaches out to the player, an adventurer, seeking assistance in locating her recently embarked 16-year-old brother. This leads fans on a straightforward and easily achievable quest duo, accessible even to players as low as level 15.

However, as the questline progresses with Nhagi'a's perspective, a more intimate journey unfolds for both the Warrior of Light and the player controlling them. As Nhagi'a seeks to understand his personal motivation for becoming an adventurer, rather than solely seeking his sister's approval, he turns to the player for guidance. They are asked to reflect upon the essence of being an adventurer and the reasons behind their own journey's inception. The game's direct questioning of the Warrior of Light serves as a deliberate method to explore the specific inspirations that drew fans to engage with Final Fantasy 14.

Prominent characters like Kipih, Nhagi'a, and even Momodi delve into the qualities of an adventurer and emphasize its significance. This immerses players in the true spirit of embarking on an adventure through their gameplay in FF14. However, Nhagi'a's realization that he desires to help those in need rather than impress his sister marks a turning point. Serenaded by a minstrel who had supported their questline on the sidelines, the Warrior of Light's Echo is awakened, granting them a vision of being on an airship with an incredibly important individual. Within the game, Naoki Yoshida himself appears before the player, delivering a profoundly personal message about Final Fantasy 14.

Yoshida's message delves into the challenges he and his team encountered during the game's development. Nevertheless, it concludes with an optimistic note, underscoring how the unwavering support of the numerous Final Fantasy 14 players keeps the team going. He expresses his delight in hearing the myriad of stories that fans have created with FF14, acknowledging the highs and lows of its storyline. The Rising questline serves as a reminder to fans about why they have remained devoted to the game, whether they are newcomers or long-time players. Furthermore, it serves as a celebration of the development team's hard work, with Yoshida affirming that as long as fans continue to play, creating the game will always bring gratification.

Final Fantasy 14 is available now for PC, PS4, and PS5, with an Xbox Series X/S version launching in Spring 2024.