Game director Naoki Yoshida confirmed that Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn won’t be released for the Xbox 360 or Xbox One, due to Microsoft’s restrictive policies that prohibit cross-platform gaming. The game will be coming to PC, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. All versions will be linked to the same servers.
“The main reason from our side is that I don’t want the community to be divided; to be split into two or more. For example, one player might be on the PC version, another might be on the PS4 version, and I’m playing the Xbox version – but we’re not able to join the same game servers. That is just… I just don’t like the idea. I disagree with it,” Yoshida told RPGSite.
If an exclusive version of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn was released for the Xbox platforms it would alienate those players from the PlayStation and PC servers, which is contradictory to what Yoshida wants for his game. Not only would the Xbox players be separate from the others, but it would be impossible to transfer characters to the PlayStation or PC servers; they would essentially be trapped on the Microsoft console and be a completely different entity than the rest of the game.
From the interview it sounds like Square Enix is willing to work with Microsoft, but Microsoft is currently unwilling to change their restrictive Xbox Live policies. From a profit perspective it would make sense for the two companies to work together; Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn could potentially corner the MMORPG market on the Xbox systems.
“I would love for as many players as possible to enjoy the game worldwide, so from a business point of view it could make sense to have it on the Xbox platforms. But as I mentioned earlier, that would bring about the tragedy that somebody might have to give up their existing character. Then players might get frustrated, and then they ask us – ‘Square Enix, can’t you do something?’ and then… yeah. Unless that happens, we can’t really do anything.”
Unfortunately, as of right now, it looks like there’s no chance for an Xbox release of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. Those who are looking forward to playing it will have to stick with either the PlayStation or PC version.