Let me begin by thanking each and every one of you, without whom we would be unable to celebrate sixteen years of FINAL FANTASY XI.
It feels like just a short while ago that we were celebrating the fifteenth anniversary, and yet here we are, already at the sixteenth. I can scarcely believe that the time has passed so quickly!
In the past year, we added new Seekers of Adoulin quests, Dynamis-Divergence, the Escutcheon questline, and a variety of other new content for you to enjoy. There were also fifteenth Vana'versary Records of eminence objectives to remind us of Vana'diel's past.
The next year of FINAL FANTASY XI is shaping up to be even better than the previous.
"Hey, since sixteen is a multiple of two, now's the perfect time to double our fun!"
"Oho, you might be right!"
Whether that conversation is real or fictitious is left as an exercise for the reader, but what I can say is that we've secured the assistance of many people both within and outside SQUARE ENIX, and we hope you will accompany us on this new journey.
Since the release of Seekers of Adoulin, the development team has made it our goal to provide an experience that anyone can enjoy solo regardless of how much time they have to spend on the game, as our players' lifestyles and the times have changed since 2002. Still, XI is an MMORPG, and playing with friends is always going to provide a richer gaming experience. In this, the sixteenth year of service, we are going to return a bit to what makes an MMORPG special under an overarching theme of "reunions with our friends."
Looking back, in 2002, social media hadn't yet taken off, so the only way our adventurers could contact each other was in-game. At the same time, this type of anonymity let people truly roleplay whatever they desired, be it a grizzled Galka warrior or a feisty Mithra thief. As such, many of our players have always valued in-game interactions quite highly, and we know how difficult it is when one of our treasured friends takes a break from the game. The development team is currently considering what we can do to alleviate this issue, and may ask you for your ideas, input, and assistance in the future.
Several campaigns have started up today, including the
Return Home to Vana'diel Campaign, which supports adventurers returning to Vana'diel after a leave of absence. If you are one of our valued returnees, you might want to take a look at Records of Eminence to provide your first step forward into a brand new Vana'diel. Once you've got your bearings, you might want to get your hands on your very own Omega mount!
Let me close these greetings by stating once more my heartfelt appreciation for those of you who have spent time with us here in Vana'diel. Your support and passion for FINAL FANTASY XI are what has brought us to this day, and the development and operations team pledge to work even harder to provide you with fresh experiences that'll make you glad you choose to continue playing. Here's to sixteen years, and sixteen years more!
Akihiko Matsui
Producer, FINAL FANTASY XI
