It looks like we're getting another version update to Final Fantasy XI in March. The update's existence was broken by the official site today, promising more information when VanaFest rolls around in only five days. All we know at the moment is that it will feature expanded missions and improvements across the board, which is more or less standard fare for the game's large updates.
Of course, that means the update certainly isn't the big news that's promised at the upcoming fan festival. But there's a rumor flying around that we might want to enjoy this update a lot. Square-Enix, it's hinted, won't have the game slowly bleed out as Final Fantasy XIV comes into its own -- they're going to outright shut the game down. An employee posted and then retracted a statement implying that the venerable game would shut its doors to make way for Final Fantasy XIV.
Confirmed? Not by a long shot. Square has stated they've got more in store for the game, and more than a few players are hoping that a new expansion is the big secret to be revealed at the fan festival. Still, we'll find out soon enough what the future holds for Final Fantasy XI... and perhaps we'd best treasure our time with it now, just in case.
Reader Comments (15)
Posted: Feb 23rd 2010 7:24PM (Unverified) said
This rumor was proven as false last week when it surfaced by the twitter account of SE Global President Yoichi Wada
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Posted: Feb 23rd 2010 7:50PM Dblade said
They aren't going to go out and say "We are going to fold FFXI when FFXIV comes out" for fear of losing the money they make now. But once it does, chances are they'll shut it down quick. I'd have more faith if FFXIV didn't have the exact same races as FFXI, and the ability to transfer your playonline details.
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Posted: Feb 23rd 2010 8:52PM aurickle said
There is a precedent for an MMO's predecessor staying open long after the updated version has released. It's called EverQuest, which is still going very strong with one expansion after another right alongside EQ2.
I would be surprised if Square's big announcement was going to be the shut down of FFXI. I'd expect it to instead be something like: "FFXI will stay open for as long as enough players continue to subscribe. And look! As long time FFXI players, we're also giving you these special items for FFXIV."
This would encourage lots of people to check out the new game while reassuring everyone that their hard work in XI won't go the way of the chocobo.
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I would be surprised if Square's big announcement was going to be the shut down of FFXI. I'd expect it to instead be something like: "FFXI will stay open for as long as enough players continue to subscribe. And look! As long time FFXI players, we're also giving you these special items for FFXIV."
This would encourage lots of people to check out the new game while reassuring everyone that their hard work in XI won't go the way of the chocobo.
Posted: Feb 23rd 2010 9:42PM (Unverified) said
You haven't dealt with Square much have you? lol
They're not exactly SOE when it comes to being Customer Friendly, and YES that IS saying something lol.
I don't think its going to be the "last Patch EvaR!", nor do I think the game will be shut down within a month +/- of the game going live either.
But I consider those JUST ABOUT as likely to happen as for Square to give anyone free items for a Legacy reward lol.
I thought my browser had went back in time, because didn't Massively post this same article abotu the LAST update FFXI had? I didn't read it to close as I don't play FFXI but still.
I think its much like the panic some people felt when EQ2 was coming when we were all playing EQ. Turns out they should have been more worried about abandonment than them turning the servers off lol. They're only about 8-9 expansion packs past EQ2's launch now lol.
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They're not exactly SOE when it comes to being Customer Friendly, and YES that IS saying something lol.
I don't think its going to be the "last Patch EvaR!", nor do I think the game will be shut down within a month +/- of the game going live either.
But I consider those JUST ABOUT as likely to happen as for Square to give anyone free items for a Legacy reward lol.
I thought my browser had went back in time, because didn't Massively post this same article abotu the LAST update FFXI had? I didn't read it to close as I don't play FFXI but still.
I think its much like the panic some people felt when EQ2 was coming when we were all playing EQ. Turns out they should have been more worried about abandonment than them turning the servers off lol. They're only about 8-9 expansion packs past EQ2's launch now lol.
Posted: Feb 24th 2010 10:41AM Cendres said
@ Weez, SE IS Sony. SOE handles FFXI customer service check this out:
I am Sharon Morris, Senior Customer Service Manager here at SOE. I’ve been here just over 5 years, originally on EverQuest, and then moved over to FINAL FANTASY XI. About a year ago I took over Star Wars Galaxies, Matrix Online, and Planetside. I now also have Vanguard:Saga of Heroes to look after! *puff pant*
from here: http://stationsupport.wordpress.com/2007/07/06/hello-world/
SE handles EQ2 in Asia....
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I am Sharon Morris, Senior Customer Service Manager here at SOE. I’ve been here just over 5 years, originally on EverQuest, and then moved over to FINAL FANTASY XI. About a year ago I took over Star Wars Galaxies, Matrix Online, and Planetside. I now also have Vanguard:Saga of Heroes to look after! *puff pant*
from here: http://stationsupport.wordpress.com/2007/07/06/hello-world/
SE handles EQ2 in Asia....
Posted: Feb 24th 2010 8:13AM Pewpdaddy said
In the past I have friends who where abused by Sony's so called "customer service". A friend of mine had a 60+ whm acct that was hacked/stolen. He called Sony and they told him to call his local authorities. What a friggin joke, I wouldn't be suprised at all if Sony said, "Oo look our new game(FFXIV) has been out 4 months and we have 500k subs. We will be closing down FFXI to usher in the new era. Here is your door prize."
Not to say I'm assuming that will be the case, I'm just saying this branch of Sony has 0 remaining brain cells.
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Not to say I'm assuming that will be the case, I'm just saying this branch of Sony has 0 remaining brain cells.
Posted: Feb 24th 2010 10:25AM Arkanaloth said
No doubt as long as it's turning profit enough to support the server infrastructure, FFXI will be around, but don't be surprised if major content patches become few and far between.
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Posted: Feb 24th 2010 11:42AM Mystal said
It's possible they will stop updating FFXI, or limit the scope and resources used for updates (some would say they've already started going this way with the mini expansions).
It's extremely unlikely that they will ever shut down FFXI as long as there are even tens of thousands who are willing to pay every month to play.
The profit margin in running a game with zero development costs on servers that are already deployed, is extremely high, so there's no reason to ever kill FFXI as long as a significant number of people still want to play it. If it really shrinks that much, they could even offer FFXI as part of the service for FFXIV, say "If you subscrive to FFXIV, you also get access to your old FFXI account for 3 dollars a month" or something.
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It's extremely unlikely that they will ever shut down FFXI as long as there are even tens of thousands who are willing to pay every month to play.
The profit margin in running a game with zero development costs on servers that are already deployed, is extremely high, so there's no reason to ever kill FFXI as long as a significant number of people still want to play it. If it really shrinks that much, they could even offer FFXI as part of the service for FFXIV, say "If you subscrive to FFXIV, you also get access to your old FFXI account for 3 dollars a month" or something.
Posted: Feb 24th 2010 12:11PM breezer said
Hmmm...
There is absolutely no evidence at all whatsoever that this will be the last patch.
The comment, which was a mistranslation/miscommunication, said nothing about any patch and was already confirmed to be a mistake/mis-speak by SE.
There is lots of evidence that SE WILL CONTINUE SUPPORT. Aside from the fact that they have said (numerous times) that they will continue to support FFXI as long as it has players. There is almost lots of unreleased content (like the dynamis-like zone in the past that's already in the dats, the new summon, the fabled BLM update (lol), new missions, etc...)
Granted, if any dev company would do a "We have a surprise for you! :D FFXI will be shutting down next month! ^^ Purchase a limited edition Sahagin cap for just $100 USD to access the complete details :D :D :D!
That would be SE. I wouldn't exactly put it past them, but there is really almost no reason to believe it's closing.
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There is absolutely no evidence at all whatsoever that this will be the last patch.
The comment, which was a mistranslation/miscommunication, said nothing about any patch and was already confirmed to be a mistake/mis-speak by SE.
There is lots of evidence that SE WILL CONTINUE SUPPORT. Aside from the fact that they have said (numerous times) that they will continue to support FFXI as long as it has players. There is almost lots of unreleased content (like the dynamis-like zone in the past that's already in the dats, the new summon, the fabled BLM update (lol), new missions, etc...)
Granted, if any dev company would do a "We have a surprise for you! :D FFXI will be shutting down next month! ^^ Purchase a limited edition Sahagin cap for just $100 USD to access the complete details :D :D :D!
That would be SE. I wouldn't exactly put it past them, but there is really almost no reason to believe it's closing.
Posted: Feb 28th 2010 1:51AM (Unverified) said
What I think would happen is..The content patches will start molding into each other and become expansions on their own. instead of having a content patch every 2-3 months, it'll become, every 6 months, a crazy expansion with all new features and all new missions and everything to revive the old and bring in the new. While FF14 will have a massive new agenda with content patches every 2-3 months.
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Posted: Mar 2nd 2010 10:01AM (Unverified) said
A guy on a linkshell I'm on in FF11 said that eight servers are being closed. The Playonline website says that three add-on battle-based scenarios will be added, with the Abyssea theme. He also said that the level cap is being raised from 75 to 99. I can see that, but I don't see them making that big of a jump all at one time. Plus, the next update adds to the existing 9 avatars, another two avatars for summoner: Alexander and Odin.
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