MMOs can be surprisingly lonely experiences. Many players spend their time attempting to solo as much content as possible, whether they are casually clearing the story or going "sicko mode" on raid bosses intended for full groups. This has led many to wonder what a Final Fantasy XIV single-player spinoff would actually look like.
Yoshi-P is Open to Pitches
During this weekend's Fan Festival, Director Naoki Yoshida—famously known as Yoshi-P—addressed this exact concept. Speaking via GameSpot, he noted that some players feel an online title "isn't a real Final Fantasy." Because of this, he expressed interest in hearing ideas for a standalone version of the game.
While the idea is intriguing, Yoshi-P clarified his stance with a caveat: he is "half-joking but half-serious." He noted that if any passionate individuals or companies are interested in taking on the challenge of creating a standalone experience, the team would love to hear from them.
The Challenges of a Final Fantasy XIV single-player spinoff
Developing a new project is no small feat, and Yoshi-P highlighted several significant hurdles for such a project:
- Team Availability: He noted that the current development team is the only group capable of making the "best" version of the game.
- Focus on Expansions: He acknowledged that fans might be annoyed if he becomes distracted from cooking up new expansions.
- Future Plans: He mentioned that a standalone project might be something to consider after retiring from the current MMO.
If you are a developer with immense resources and a great idea for a 14-themed solo RPG, Square Enix might just be listening. Personally, I think they should try turning their single-player entries into MMOs instead—let's see how they like that!
