Final Fantasy 14 today is one of the most influential MMORPGs in the world, a cornerstone of Square Enix’s financial and cultural output, and arguably one of the greatest comeback stories in gaming. But back in 2010, few would have predicted that future. The original launch of Final Fantasy 14 was a disaster, burdened with technical failures, limited content, and baffling design decisions that alienated both casual and hardcore players. The game's failure was so pronounced that it threatened the very brand of Final Fantasy itself.
What followed was extraordinary: the appointment of Naoki Yoshida, the closure of the original servers, and the release of Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn, a ground-up reboot that not only saved the game but transformed it into an industry leader. But what if A Realm Reborn had never happened? What if Square Enix had abandoned the project entirely, cutting its losses and leaving Final Fantasy 14 to rot in infamy? This alternate timeline reveals how differently things could have turned out—for the studio, the fans, and the genre.
Final Fantasy 14 Addresses Players' Cosmic Exploration Concerns
Square Enix posts an update on the state of Final Fantasy 14's new Cosmic Exploration feature and answers a few player inquiries.
Without A Realm Reborn, Final Fantasy 14 Would Have Been a Graveyard
The original Final Fantasy 14 was more than a misfire; it was a cautionary tale. Critics and fans alike decried its poor optimization, lack of an auction house, and absurd interface choices like needing to click through multiple menus just to equip gear. If A Realm Reborn had never been greenlit, it's likely that Final Fantasy 14 would have been quietly buried within two years. Square Enix would have written it off as an experiment gone wrong, with no meaningful attempt to salvage its reputation.
In that case, the MMO market would have looked very different. On consoles, Final Fantasy 14 became the dominant subscription-based MMORPG, a space that would’ve otherwise remained relatively vacant. Without it, players might have clung to titles like The Elder Scrolls Online or migrated entirely to PC-focused MMOs like Guild Wars 2. There’s also the possibility that Square Enix might have pivoted its attention toward creating a brand-new online title in its absence, such as a multiplayer take on Final Fantasy 16.
At one point, the creative leads on Final Fantasy 14 considered introducing major story events in real-time during server shutdowns. This concept was actually implemented in the "End of an Era" event, which became a narrative bridge into A Realm Reborn—a rare instance where a failed game ended with a cinematic bang rather than a whimper.
Could Final Fantasy 16 Have Been the Replacement?
In the absence of A Realm Reborn, Square Enix may have turned to its next numbered title to pick up the MMO mantle. Final Fantasy 16 was already being discussed internally long before its reveal, and in this alternate history, it’s not hard to imagine a world where it became an online game instead of the single-player action RPG it is today.
After all, Square Enix would have faced massive pressure to recoup its losses from Final Fantasy 14. Turning Final Fantasy 16 into an MMO could have provided a fresh start under a new name, and the company has precedent: Final Fantasy 11 was an MMO long before it was fashionable. Had Final Fantasy 16 gone this route, it would have likely taken a darker, more grounded tone from the start: something closer to Final Fantasy 14's Endwalker or Heavensward expansions, both of which tackled themes of death, politics, and redemption.
That said, this pivot could have come with significant risks. Square Enix's relationship with its fans was already strained after Final Fantasy 13’s linear design and Final Fantasy 14’s failure. Launching another online game too soon might have cratered fan trust further.
Final Fantasy 14 Composer Comments on Whether a Rhythm Minigame Could Work in the Game
Final Fantasy 14's renowned composer Masayoshi Soken comments on whether adding a rhythm-style minigame could be possible in the MMORPG.
Naoki Yoshida confirmed in interviews that the Final Fantasy 16 team used lessons from Final Fantasy 14, especially its global storytelling structure and battle system tuning. Without A Realm Reborn, those lessons may never have existed.
Without A Realm Reborn, Yoshi-P Might Be Unknown
Perhaps the most intriguing "what if" centers on Naoki Yoshida himself. Before taking over Final Fantasy 14, Yoshi-P had no household recognition outside Japan. His work on the Dragon Quest: Monster Battle Road arcade games was competent but obscure. Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn became his magnum opus, a project that not only saved a franchise but launched him into a rarefied echelon of developers who are as much a brand as the games they create.
Without A Realm Reborn, it's possible Yoshida never would have been promoted to head of Creative Business Unit III or chosen to direct Final Fantasy 16. His commitment to transparency, community feedback, and live service integrity became defining features of modern Square Enix, but all of that hinged on his success with Final Fantasy 14.
His influence extends far beyond game mechanics. The “Letter from the Producer Live” broadcasts reshaped how Square Enix communicated with players. Prior to that, the company was notoriously secretive, often waiting years between announcements and rarely giving updates until marketing campaigns began. Yoshi-P flipped that model by talking directly to fans, showing off spreadsheets, discussing patch plans, and adjusting development based on feedback. It was transformative for the company and set a standard that other departments began to emulate.
Square Enix’s Financial Future Would Be Very Different
It’s no exaggeration to say that Final Fantasy 14 helped carry Square Enix through uncertain times. As other live-service games faltered or flamed out, Final Fantasy 14 consistently brought in revenue, even during its quietest content lulls. The game’s subscription base continues to grow over a decade after its reboot, and its expansion packs routinely outperform expectations. Without this financial pillar, Square Enix might have been far more risk-averse.
The company could have doubled down on mobile monetization or shifted more of its development focus away from console gaming. Fans may never have gotten Octopath Traveler, Triangle Strategy, or the HD-2D engine that revitalized Square Enix's classic catalog. And in the absence of Final Fantasy 14’s global community, Square Enix's western outreach could have shrunk, leading to fewer simultaneous worldwide releases and more localization delays.
More importantly, the live-service model that Square Enix now chases in games like Foamstars and Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis may never have had a working prototype. Final Fantasy 14 proved that regular updates, responsive devs, and long-term storytelling could turn a live game into a cultural mainstay.
Popular Final Fantasy 14 Treat is Making a Comeback
A popular Final Fantasy 14 treat that hasn't been seen in years is finally making a comeback at retailers, and fans can pre-order it now.
Final Fantasy 14 Players Would Have Scattered, Not Settled
MMO fans aren’t new to disappointment, but Final Fantasy 14 gave them a new kind of stability. After years of hopping from game to game, many players found a long-term home in Eorzea. Without A Realm Reborn, that sense of belonging would be missing. World of Warcraft might have retained more of its player base, or games like Black Desert Online and Lost Ark might have become the default choices for console-based players.
And then there’s the cultural aspect. Final Fantasy 14 has become a shared experience in gaming: weddings held in-game, memorials for fallen players, pride parades in Limsa Lominsa, and raid completions livestreamed by thousands. It created a sense of permanence that few games achieve. That community may never have formed at all.
The gaming world without Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn is one that loses a visionary director, a company-wide shift in transparency, a reliable financial anchor, and an enduring online sanctuary. While it's tempting to imagine other timelines, this is one universe where the disaster needed to happen: for rebirth, for reform, and for one of the best stories gaming has ever told.
- Released
- August 27, 2013
- ESRB
- T for Teen - Language, Mild Blood, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- Originally the Crystal Tools engine, but currently it's a custom engine using parts of the Luminous Engine.
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Playable
- PC Release Date
- August 27, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- MMORPG
