Interview: Final Fantasy 14’s Yoshi-P Reflects on Dawntrail, Teases Upcoming Content

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Interview: Final Fantasy 14's Yoshi-P Reflects on Dawntrail, Teases Upcoming Content

As someone who has witnessed the power of dialogue in bridging divides and fostering understanding, I am truly heartened to see the positive impact of the two-dye channel system in Final Fantasy 14. The team’s commitment to expanding this feature is not only a testament to their dedication to the game’s fashion enthusiasts but also a symbol of inclusivity and diversity within the gaming community.

Some game developers are like rock stars to their community, like Todd Howard of Bethesda or Hideo Kojima of Kojima Productions. Any list of these industry icons has to include the lead of Final Fantasy 14, Naoki Yoshida, who helms Square-Enix’s Creative Studio 3.

At Gamescom, Game Rant had a comprehensive chat (through a translator) with Yoshi-P about Final Fantasy 14 and its latest expansion, Dawntrail. The discussion covered the sources of inspiration for Dawntrail, the creation of its narrative and features, as well as future plans for the upcoming patch series. This interview has been shortened and clarified for your convenience.

Trailing the Dawn with Yoshi-P

Have you observed any significant shifts in your outlook as a result of the launch of Dawntrail, moving us into what could be considered the post-Endwalker era? If so, I’m interested to hear about any changes in your perspective.

Yoshida: Actually, our response is negative. Following the launch of Endwalker, we had already rolled out five significant updates prior to the expansion release, which means our perspective hadn’t shifted significantly. In fact, our mindset had been altered quite some time ago.

At the moment, we’re diligently developing material for versions 7.1, 7.2, and also setting sights on future updates like 7.3. Our main goal is to consistently provide a wide range of content for Final Fantasy 14, as we envision the next decade of this exciting journey. To put it simply, we’re committed to staying on course in our progress.

Question: Can you discuss the Latin American elements in Dawntrail, and explain how these contributions enrich the universe of Final Fantasy 14?

Yoshida: It’s common knowledge that Final Fantasy 14 boasts a vast global playerbase. When considering the game’s existing locales, such as the three city-states in Eorzea and spots like Gridania, they take inspiration from real-world locations. Given this, we noticed a significant number of players eager for us to acknowledge Central and South America with some form of tribute. This was particularly true for those who were anticipating a nod to this region.

Indeed, when contemplating the expansion of the world within Final Fantasy 14, we not only pondered our own ideas but also reflected on the Source’s influence. However, as we sought to grow further, we took into account various suggestions from the gaming community. Interestingly, many players were inquiring about tacos! You might wonder when these delicious Mexican treats will be introduced. In a stroke of genius, we decided to fulfill both requests simultaneously. We chose to create an entire new continent, which serves as our tribute to Latin America.

It’s crucial not to oversimplify Latin America as a homogeneous region, given its rich history that stretches back thousands of years. Its culture is complex and multifaceted, which is why we took a comprehensive approach when developing the content for Final Fantasy 14. We delved into historical references, visited museums, read numerous books, and studied ancient civilizations in the region. The goal was to adapt this knowledge to suit our game while maintaining its authenticity. This process was challenging but rewarding, as we received positive feedback from players in Central and South America. In light of this, I believe our efforts were successful.

Question: I was wondering if the team could share what they’ve discovered about handling login queues for this year’s launch, as they seemed significantly improved compared to previous ones?

Yoshida: Reflecting on Endwalker, we faced a scenario where our player count skyrocketed, leading to more players attempting to log in than our servers could handle. This massive surge significantly influenced our strategy for Dawntrail. However, it wasn’t just about technical matters; rather, our main goal was to expand Final Fantasy 14, and we wanted to express our gratitude to the player community.

Our aim was to enhance our service by expanding its infrastructure, which would ultimately lead to an improved login process for users. In essence, we aimed to broaden the scope of our service. It’s not often you see an MMO launch smoothly like this in the gaming industry. I believe it’s largely due to the dedication of the Final Fantasy 14 team that we were able to pull this off.

As a game developer, I have to admit, I was really excited about how well Honey B. Lovely would be received by gamers everywhere. When I first saw the positive response from players, I felt a mix of relief and joy – it’s always great to see characters you’ve worked on resonating with people!

Yoshida: [Laughs]

As a gamer, let me tell you honestly, Honey B. Lovely is quite the adorable character. I figured there’d be some folks who dig her and others who wouldn’t. Frankly, I was curious about which side would win over more players since this sort of character hasn’t been around in 14 before. However, it seems that a lot of people are really fond of her, which is quite reassuring. In fact, it feels like she’s become a game-changer in the game, and I’m glad to see that she’s resonating with so many players.

Please Look Forward To It

What can players generally anticipate as we progress through the 7.x updates?

Yoshida: From the start, our aim has been not just for the 7.x series, but also for Final Fantasy 14 in the future, to heighten its allure as a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). To put it simply, we want everyone to enjoy playing together. For this, we’re preparing large-scale content starting from 7.1 and beyond, with patch 7.2 bringing vast areas for players to explore cooperatively. These areas will feature distinct systems that allow players to progress their characters in a unique way. To sum up, we’re creating diverse content with the goal of enhancing the gameplay experience, so I hope fans are excited about what’s coming!

Q: What can you share about the development of the dynamic between Wuk Lamat and Sphene?

Yoshida: The idea of conflicting values is not exclusive to Wuk Lamat and Sphene; it’s a common thread in many stories. For instance, in Shadowbringers, both parties aim for the restoration of their familiar worlds. Emet-Selch, being an Ancient, yearns to return the world to its past state, as he wishes to reunite with the people he knew. He envisions a life filled with joy alongside them. However, the Warrior of Light, Alphinaud, and their allies strive to preserve the tranquility of their own world and secure the liberty of their people. In essence, they both share the same objective: hope and peace.

But in terms of the end result, it’s not possible to achieve both of those goals simultaneously. For Emet-Selch, if he wants to bring back the world that he knew, he would have to destroy the current world as it is. For the Warriors of Light, although we understand Emet-Selch’s goal, we are not prepared to sacrifice our own world. This is what leads to that conflict, and this is a key element in Final Fantasy 14, which always recurs throughout the main scenario at some point.

In the story we’ve created, Wuk Lamat and Sphene are two influential figures, each leading their unique groups. Both share a common goal: to safeguard their people. Yet, they differ in their approaches and values, which unfortunately leads them into conflict. This forms the basis of our narrative.

Our approach is to establish the main topic for the expansion at the outset, followed by developing the plot based on it. This is essentially the journey our characters embark upon. However, rephrasing it this way might make it seem as though the story loses its appeal, but rest assured, there’s a deliberate process behind it. Each time we craft a plot, it’s part of a well-thought-out plan, and that is our general approach.

Regrettably, post the coronavirus pandemic, global conditions have turned chaotic, leading to divisions among various regions. These differences stem from historical events and contrasting values, causing conflicts in certain zones. As a consequence, some areas may harbor two distinct ideologies, existing side by side within their boundaries. I believe this trend is shaping our world today, but if people could communicate openly, invest time in understanding one another, and learn more about each other, it would result in a more harmonious and enriched world. Given these thoughts, they were also reflected in the narrative of the story.

A: Have the two dye channels been positively accepted? Is there any strategy within the team for potentially growing or enhancing this particular feature?

As a fashion enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that our team is committed to enhancing the experience for fellow fashion lovers. Regarding the two-dye channel system, while some of our assets are yet to be updated, we’re diligently working on them and anticipate wrapping up all existing assets by patch 7.3. For now, this is our primary focus. Once we’ve completed that task, we’ll start brainstorming about the next exciting steps!

A: What I really love about Final Fantasy 14 is its vibrant community. From live performances of Shakespeare to in-game events reminiscent of Woodstock, all organized by roleplayers, it’s clear that this community has been nurtured by the developers for a long time. How do you go about catering to such a diverse player base?

Yoshida: It seems to me that this observation isn’t limited to gamers, but extends to social media as a whole. Over time, social media has evolved into something more complex, with many distinct smaller groups emerging based on shared interests. Today, it’s no longer about a large, homogeneous community; instead, people with specific passions tend to cluster together and create their own niche communities. This is a marked departure from the past when diverse groups of people would converge around common trends.

In the world of Final Fantasy 14, you’ll find numerous unique player communities. We make an effort to avoid favoring one community over another, as each has its own distinct appeal. For instance, there could be a group of players who enjoy combat intensely, but we strive not to elevate them above others since we recognize that other communities exist too. There might also be individuals who are deeply passionate about housing and have specific preferences regarding it.

As we work on upgrading Final Fantasy 14, we strive to maintain an open-minded attitude, acknowledging and valuing the diverse preferences of our players. This acceptance fosters a multitude of unique communities within the game. From a broader perspective, these individual groups coalesce into one large, vibrant community. Therefore, it’s crucial for us to be meticulous in maintaining balance and unity, which I always aim to do in Final Fantasy 14.

Q: As a whole, what are you most proud of when it comes to this expansion?

Yoshida: It’s fantastic that we’ve managed to launch such a large-scale MMO and maintain a smooth gaming experience, which demonstrates the strength of our operations. I’m incredibly pleased about this achievement. Moreover, we’ve been refining the game’s graphics, and although there are still minor tweaks to be made, I’m impressed by how we’ve managed to implement the initial graphical update in such a short timeframe. This is a testament to the dedication of our team, and I’m extremely proud of their efforts. I want to take this opportunity to commend them for their hard work. In my opinion, these two aspects – the stable gameplay and the successful graphics update – are the highlights that make me particularly proud of Dawntrail.

[END]

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2024-08-30 14:24