Something went wrong. Try again later

Giant Bomb News

112 Comments

Square Enix Producing Another MMO for Some Reason

Because Final Fantasy XIV turned out so well, right guys? Right...? Hello? Is this text box working?

Despite the fact that the publisher hasn't exactly had the best track record with MMO development thus far-- Final Fantasy XI was tepidly received, but managed a decent audience following; Final Fantasy XIV...not so much--Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada seems awfully sure of the company's ability to develop and maintain a bunch of these things.

I don't know what the hell that is, but it seemed like a pretty good visual metaphor for Final Fantasy XIV. Because it's weird, and on fire.
I don't know what the hell that is, but it seemed like a pretty good visual metaphor for Final Fantasy XIV. Because it's weird, and on fire.

In a transcript posted yesterday of the publisher's May 13th earnings call--which was translated by Andriasang--Wada stated that the company has a new MMO title in development that the company hopes to announce in this fiscal year. What that title is, exactly, is unclear at the moment, but it is something separate from the current titles Squeenix already maintains. Wada believes that the company having two-to-three different online subscription-based titles will help maintain the company's cash flow.

That probably doesn't do much to quell the seething hate currently residing within anyone still playing Final Fantasy XIV. Wada did apparently go out of his way to mention the problems currently plaguing that title and to state that fixing it will take a little longer, but that a "target" is in sight. So that's reassuring. Probably. Okay, not really.

Also, no word yet on that PS3 version of Final Fantasy XIV, but I'm guessing there's not very many of you out there still keeping a candle burning for that one.

Alex Navarro on Google+

112 Comments

Avatar image for paulunga
paulunga

3517

Forum Posts

176

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Edited By paulunga

I could've sworn that Final Fantasy XI had the second biggest market share and subscriber base for a good, long while there. I mean, it's still gotta be selling pretty decently, they released the "Ultimate Collection" on Steam less than a year ago and are currently offering the "Ultimate Collection - Abyssea Edition" (only difference - kinda overpowered exclusive item that makes the first 30 levels less of a hassle).
 
Edit: Also, I still want my True Fantasy Live Online, Level-5. :(

Avatar image for splodge
splodge

3309

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By splodge

Square Enix... modern day Zeerust game creators. (?!)

Avatar image for bonbolapti
bonbolapti

1752

Forum Posts

4208

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 11

User Lists: 2

Edited By bonbolapti

A new MMO because they want to do it right this time.
 
seriously...
 
for reals....

Avatar image for hitmanagent47
HitmanAgent47

8553

Forum Posts

25

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By HitmanAgent47

Maybe they need another game to bring in the revenue because XIV isn't bring in the cash.

Avatar image for s-a-n-jr
s-a-n-JR

3256

Forum Posts

2993

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 15

Edited By s-a-n-JR

Heh, as soon as I read the blurb to this article I knew it was written by Alex x)

Avatar image for tadthuggish
TadThuggish

1073

Forum Posts

334

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 41

Edited By TadThuggish

Anybody want to hear a joke?  Okay. 
 
Square Enix.

Avatar image for toxin066
Toxin066

3589

Forum Posts

118

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Edited By Toxin066

Really? Another one? I can't help but view Square Enix as the Titanic. For a long while, I thought it was an unsinkable ship where my hopes for good games could rest easy. Now, my expectations are pushing women and children out of the way to get into one of the longboats. 
 
I mean, fuck. What happened to SE?

Avatar image for sammo21
sammo21

6040

Forum Posts

2237

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 18

User Lists: 45

Edited By sammo21

When you know you're gonna fail, fail big.

Avatar image for president_barackbar
President_Barackbar

3648

Forum Posts

853

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

I never much cared for any of Square-Enix's games, but I can't help but feel kinda sorry for them. They seem to be attempting to take the Nintendo route of "lets make games only for our diehard fans", but the problem there is that Nintendo can do that because they have such a large base. Outside of the diehard FF community, no one really cares about Square. I also think they have some false delusion that owning Eidos is enough to keep them connected to Western gaming, which is completely false.

Avatar image for strikealight
StrikeALight

1275

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By StrikeALight

This is just going to be another train wreck. FFXIV was unbelievably bad...even by MMO standards.
 
So out of touch.

Avatar image for kerikxi
kerikxi

619

Forum Posts

94

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 8

Edited By kerikxi

If Squeenix is seriously putting out another MMO, they need to shop it out to somebody else. Some studio they swallowed up must be able to produce a playable game. I played FFXI for years, but it was never not broken. It looks like 14 is doomed to the same fate.

Avatar image for talideon
talideon

50

Forum Posts

174

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By talideon

I think this amounts to Square saying, "Dude, we're screwed! We need something we can milk subscribers for their sweet nutritious money with."

Avatar image for feigr
feigr

224

Forum Posts

92

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Edited By feigr

I'm always interested in new MMOs, even though I might not be very interested in playing them.

Avatar image for wrathofbanja
WrathOfBanja

370

Forum Posts

67

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 3

Edited By WrathOfBanja

Wada believes that the company having two-to-three different online subscription-based titles will help maintain the company's cash flow.


Because people are going to just play all of them, right? Pretty sure that's what all these MMOers do...

Avatar image for skotina
Skotina

11

Forum Posts

1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Edited By Skotina

Oh c'mon, I understand that they have several guys paying monthly fees but hey, don't they see the the stupidity of their decisions? lol

Avatar image for knightlyknave
knightlyknave

121

Forum Posts

20

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By knightlyknave

God, what is wrong with Squeenix? They are running their company into the ground.

Avatar image for junpei
Junpei

868

Forum Posts

1384

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 3

Edited By Junpei

I stand by my long standing opinion that the downfall began with the merger. You had two companies competing and making each other better. Now you have one company lazily making titles that are lackluster and lacking any innovation. I miss Square Soft.

Avatar image for vexxan
Vexxan

4642

Forum Posts

943

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By Vexxan

Pic caption made me laugh.

Avatar image for romination
Romination

2932

Forum Posts

14226

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 1

Edited By Romination

I guess Squenix just got tired of being a company.

Avatar image for lordandrew
LordAndrew

14609

Forum Posts

98305

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 36

Edited By LordAndrew

Please don't be a numbered a numbered Final Fantasy MMO. Please don't be a Final Fantasy MMO.
 
Please don't be an MMO.

Avatar image for lokilaufey
lokilaufey

306

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By lokilaufey
@Summoboomo: You're acting like XI doesn't exist. That did incredibly well in Japan, and has a cult following in US. They made XIV to try and continue that, but failed utterly. I'm not saying they didn't royally fuck up on XIV, they are just trying yet a second time to try and recapture what they had with XI. Though whether they learned from XIV at all is another matter entirely.
Avatar image for cubical
Cubical

667

Forum Posts

2283

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By Cubical

Unless it is secret of mana or chrono trigger  MMO and they are changeing there name back to square Soft and making good games again that are not endless crap final fantasy games starting with final fanatsy 7.
 
I dont give a fuck..  
 
Hell I would even take secret of evermore MMO  just to see if square can make anything other than crap final fantasy games again.  (Hint Tthey can not thats why they bought Edios to make worse games than they do so they look better next to them because edios has sucked since it;s inception)

Avatar image for manhattan_project
manhattan_project

2336

Forum Posts

53

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

I will never get tired of your headlines, Navarro. Never.

Avatar image for lokilaufey
lokilaufey

306

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By lokilaufey
@Elyhaym: Oh yeah, because ONE game totally means they fail at singleplayer experiences. 
 
Really, though. No, I never got around to playing that. I have played most (though not all) games aimed at the Japanese market they've localised for a very long time though. All of them were single-player Japanese RPGs for the most part, and as long as they keep making those (and I enjoy them) I'm happy.
  
@Kyle
: XIV isn't the only experimentation they've done in the past decade. It's just the one they fucked up the most on, haha. As long as they thing there is a chance they can recapture the success they had with XI they'll probably keep taking a whack at the MMO market.
Avatar image for evilsbane
Evilsbane

5624

Forum Posts

315

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

Edited By Evilsbane

Rofl, Square your so Fucking Retarded. Beat your main franchise into a pulp till even your fans start to drop out, and make lots of shitty MMO's, BRILLIANT!

Avatar image for gla55jaw
gla55jAw

2834

Forum Posts

6584

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 31

Edited By gla55jAw

WHYYYYYYY? They don't seem to get it.

Avatar image for vaile
Vaile

386

Forum Posts

149

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 1

Edited By Vaile

Square Enix, you so crazy.

Avatar image for simplexity
Simplexity

1430

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Edited By Simplexity

Well, best of luck I guess.

Avatar image for rolyatkcinmai
Rolyatkcinmai

2763

Forum Posts

16308

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Edited By Rolyatkcinmai

FFXI was excellent. XIV was garbage, but anyone who says XI was crap just doesn't like that style of MMO. XI was brilliant in its time.
Avatar image for xeiphyer
Xeiphyer

5962

Forum Posts

1193

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 8

Edited By Xeiphyer

Well, I have to think they learned some kind of lesson with FFXIV, and therefore they won't release whatever this MMO is until its actually ready to be released. All the ideas and concepts of FFXIV were great, so I imagine if they can actually spend some time on this new game before it comes out, it probably will be great.
 
I'll not get my hopes up, but I very much doubt it could be any worse than FFXIV.

Avatar image for geirr
geirr

4166

Forum Posts

717

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 5

Edited By geirr

I'm sure they want to refine the FF14 engine and try to make a better MMO out of it 
and not just let the years of development go to waste. 
I mean the catgirls were cute, right? Yeah, maybe a new game with.. cat girls and CAT MEN! 
Meee-ow!

Avatar image for destrojr
DestroJr

24

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By DestroJr

Played quite a bit of FFXI back in the day, got to the point where you needed a band of 24+ dedicated people to do anything and kinda gave up. Came back late after a bunch of adjustments were made and was fairly satisfied with the changes.

Have not touched FFXIV as it sounds like much of FFXI's original mistakes made their way back in and they are nit fixed yet. Will probably not give this new mmo much thought.

Avatar image for kaosangel-DELETED
KaosAngel

14251

Forum Posts

6507

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 3

Edited By KaosAngel
@Little_Socrates said:
XD This is gonna be what they announce at E3 instead of Kingdom Hearts III? I love you, Square. YOU SO SILLY!
Kingdom Hearts III was already announced earlier this year.  Nomura confirmed it's the next game after Versus XIII is done.
Avatar image for keeng
Keeng

1023

Forum Posts

2513

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 3

Edited By Keeng
@Rolyatkcinmai said:
FFXI was excellent. XIV was garbage, but anyone who says XI was crap just doesn't like that style of MMO. XI was brilliant in its time.  
FFXI is excellent. It's still my favorite MMORPG ever. I haven't played XIV yet, though.
Avatar image for gunharp
gunharp

356

Forum Posts

283

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By gunharp
@Mcfart said: 

About 11 months ago they said they were intending on fixing FF14 cause they knew how bad it was. Guess some guy was just like "fuck it, lets put this behind us and try again".

They are still updating the game a lot. I login every now and then to update and maybe gain a level or two. It also still doesn't require a subscription fee. The producer keeps the community updated every month with a letter on what their timetable is for patches and what is included in those patches. Those dudes are hard at work, to bad everyone reading this news piece doesn't know all that. I appreciate how transparent the dev team has been, it's really interesting.
 
@Sammann31415 said:

I think this isn't what we think it is.    Just because Sqenix is releasing a game doesn't mean it's their FF studio by any means - it could be from a small studio.  It could also be a low-budget, sprite-based thing along the lines of Dungeon Fighter - you know, something that could be run on any machine, browser-based, cheap to play, integrated with Facebook or iOS or both.   Maybe a Kingdom Hearts-based MMO brawler. With the exception of Guild Wars 2, that's pretty much the only kind of MMO I'd be interested in at the moment, and I don't think the more MMO-focused gamers would trust Square with another big-budget thing.

Exactly, the dofu/wakfu stuff is exactly what I was thinking. Everyone thinks Square just does huge budget stuff. For all we know it could be for iOS because they love their mobile platforms! Maybe they are teaming up with Pop Cap again *shrug* -- but yeah given the track record I don't mind the cynicism for the mmo news.
 
But why is it that every time Square Enix gets brought up you commentators beat your chest and echo the same shit I have been hearing about PC gaming for over five years plus. Ship maybe taking on water at the moment (earthquake, FFXIV, MindJack, Gun Loco) but she hasn't sunk yet. I've yet to read anything completely compelling that this company is going to be dead soon. Divisive opinion over FF titles doesn't really do it for me. Few years from now probably have a better picture on that.
Avatar image for thepilgrums
ThePilgrums

529

Forum Posts

20

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 1

Edited By ThePilgrums
@Little_Socrates said:
XD This is gonna be what they announce at E3 instead of Kingdom Hearts III?
Fucking seriously. I don't think THEY know what they're doing anymore. 
 
...Unless it's Crystal Chronicles for the Nintendo "Cafe". Then I might be excited.
Avatar image for mrklorox
MrKlorox

11220

Forum Posts

1071

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By MrKlorox

Remember waaay back when Squaresoft and Enix made awesome, unique games with depth that you just couldn't put down? Those companies are dead.

Avatar image for philosoma
Philosoma

167

Forum Posts

5353

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 30

User Lists: 3

Edited By Philosoma

Dragon Quest MMO possibly?

Avatar image for solh0und
Solh0und

2189

Forum Posts

10

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Solh0und

You know it'll be FFXIV-2..... 
 
Because Squenix is cool like that!

Avatar image for enns
Enns

401

Forum Posts

2919

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 1

Edited By Enns

I'm betting it'll be casual. It has to be at this point.

Avatar image for alavapenguin
ALavaPenguin

948

Forum Posts

5

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By ALavaPenguin

FFXI was pretty awesome and worthy of a sequel.  It wasn't for everyone but it was something truly unique and special.  FFXIV though... man that game was one of the worst I have ever played.  Honestly they need to make a more modern FFXI.  FFXIV was something completely different and total garbage.

Avatar image for korolev
korolev

1800

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 17

User Lists: 8

Edited By korolev

Well, maybe they've learned the lesson that FFXIV taught them. Maybe this one will be half-decent. Seems a bit of a kick in the pants to those who bought FFXIV, hoping that with repeated patches it would get better, but now have to accept the fact that XIV will wither and die and be replaced with something else. 

Avatar image for pandashake
pandashake

762

Forum Posts

14

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By pandashake

FFXIV had beautiful visuals, but had terrible game design. In the beta, not sure now, you could only do along the lines of three quests and two crafting quest. They were simple kill x monsters get a reward quest. The problem was there was a two real day waiting period before you can do quests again! Apparently, it's a balancing design so people who play less won't be left behind. The reality of their design decision was penalizing people wanted to play their game.
 
If this new mmo is another final fantasy mmo as a ditch and run effort from their last one, I hope they get it better this time and I can't wait to try it.

Avatar image for demyx
Demyx

3251

Forum Posts

200

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 1

Edited By Demyx

you'd think an MMO from Square Enix would be awesome. And then FFXIV came out. 
 
so don't screw this up please.

Avatar image for emonk
emonk

34

Forum Posts

31

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By emonk

I completely forgot there was even supposed to be a PS3 version of FF XIV. Wow.

Avatar image for freakache
FreakAche

3102

Forum Posts

114

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 8

Edited By FreakAche

That image caption is amazing.

Avatar image for kerse
kerse

2496

Forum Posts

42

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 8

Edited By kerse
@MrKlorox said:
Remember waaay back when Squaresoft and Enix made awesome, unique games with depth that you just couldn't put down? Those companies are dead.
I remember that, it was before they merged.
Avatar image for faint
Faint

837

Forum Posts

46

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 7

Edited By Faint

It's been apparent for some period of time now that my (formerly) favourite game company has absolutely no clue what they are doing.

Avatar image for little_socrates
Little_Socrates

5847

Forum Posts

1570

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 16

User Lists: 23

Edited By Little_Socrates
@KaosAngel said:
@Little_Socrates said:
XD This is gonna be what they announce at E3 instead of Kingdom Hearts III? I love you, Square. YOU SO SILLY!
Kingdom Hearts III was already announced earlier this year.  Nomura confirmed it's the next game after Versus XIII is done.
I can't seem to find this. Can anyone give me a link confirming this statement?
Avatar image for k4el
k4el

132

Forum Posts

105

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By k4el
@Faint said:
It's been apparent for some period of time now that my (formerly) favourite game company has absolutely no clue what they are doing.
That can be said for many of the major Japanese game companies lately. They've seemingly lost touch with western audience sand are perplexed as to why.