From the Press Release
Today, Square Enix, Inc. announced the “Vana’diel® Project” for the massive multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) FINAL FANTASY® XI, which includes three major initiatives to coincide with the game entering its 14th year of service this May. FINAL FANTASY XI and Vana’diel, the fictional world that forms its setting, have continued to evolve alongside the many players that have adventured there in the years since the official launch in 2002, and this project aims to further expand FFXI and continue to satisfy its players for years to come.
The Final Scenario
The first chapter in the final scenario of the FINAL FANTASY XI story, “Rhapsodies of Vana’diel,” will be released alongside game updates taking place in May 2015.
It will serve as the pinnacle of the FINAL FANTASY XI story, bringing together major characters and elements from more than 13 years of history. The epic tale will come to a close in three parts that are scheduled to release in May, August and November this year. These updates will also see the introduction of new content, such as exciting battles and never-before-seen reward items.
After the final chapter of “Rhapsodies of Vana’diel,” the major updates to the game will cease, but maintenance to fine-tune content will continue. Operation of game services for the Playstation® 2 and Xbox 360 platforms will cease in March 2016, but players can continue to enjoy the Windows PC version of FINAL FANTASY XI beyond that date.
Further, “The Goddess’s Gala” in-game event will also be held - a festival to thank all players who have stepped into Vana’diel over its storied lifetime. This festival will consist of numerous campaigns to be enjoyed by all - from those who still play regularly, to those who have taken a break from adventuring.
* “Rhapsodies of Vana’diel” is not a disc based expansion or premium downloadable content.
FINAL FANTASY XI Mobile Project
The FINAL FANTASY XI Mobile project, in collaboration with Nexon Co., Ltd, brings a brand-new generation of FINAL FANTASY XI to smartphone and mobile devices. This new adaptation will optimize features for mobile devices to create an immersive, responsive and dynamic experience. Battles optimized for a touch control interface, along with improvements to core FINAL FANTASY XI systems, will provide players smoother gameplay.
FINAL FANTASY XI Mobile is scheduled for release in Japan, Korea, North America, as well as the European and Asian regions.
FINAL FANTASY GRANDMASTERS™ – A New Online Game for Smartphones
FINAL FANTASY GRANDMASTERS is a full-scale online RPG for smartphones, available in Japan only in 2015, which shares the world and characters of FINAL FANTASY XI, developed in collaboration with Crooz Inc., (Knights of Avalon). In FINAL FANTASY GRANDMASTERS, players can pick from familiar jobs and a dazzling variety of equipment to customize, train, and develop their own original characters. The game will feature real-time cooperative battles where players can communicate with comrades while defeating foes and assisting allies.