Final Fantasy 14 will "kick it up a notch" for 10-year anniversary in 2023, says director

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This new level is aimed at content both in and out of the MMO

Final Fantasy 14
(Image credit: Square Enix)

Final Fantasy 14's director hopes to "kick it up a notch" both in and out of the game this coming year.

Yesterday on February 23, Final Fantasy 14 was awarded Online Game of the Year at the DICE 2023 Awards. Game director Naoki Yoshida had a message in store to accept the award, seen just below, in which Yoshida says he hopes to "kick it up a notch" for Final Fantasy 14 this coming year.

Why "kick it up a notch" this year in particular? 2023 happens to be the tenth anniversary of Final Fantasy 14's re-launch with A Realm Reborn, which Yoshida was placed in charge of by Square Enix to basically salvage the MMORPG after a disastrous launch years earlier.

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"In celebration of this milestone," Yoshida says in the message above, referencing Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn's tenth anniversary, "we hope to kick it up a notch and bring plenty of excitement both in and out of the game, starting with hosting our Final Fantasy events, where we're able to meet with you all in person."

The "Final Fantasy events" Yoshida references here are the Final Fantasy 14 Fan Fest events, returning in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic for the first time since 2019. The real-life events will be taking place in both Las Vegas and London later this year, and will be attended by Yoshida himself.

Yoshida and company clearly have big plans for 2023 in Final Fantasy 14. Last year in September, Yoshida said the game's dev team wanted to do something "flashy" for the game's tenth anniversary this year, which indicates Square Enix has probably found the "flashy" something. What this could actually be for Final Fantasy 14, both in and out of the game, we'll have to wait and see to find out. 

Last month in August, Yoshida confirmed Final Fantasy 14 would hit a new level cap of 100 with its next major expansion.

Hirun Cryer
Hirun Cryer
Freelance Writer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.