In a short letter to Final Fantasy XI players, producer Akihiko Matsui shared that May Update will be limited to "limited to Login Campaign updates and other minimal changes, while Records of Eminence monthly objectives and Ambuscade will be the same as April." This is due to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on development, where disruptions arise as developers, operations team, and support staff transition to a work-from-home environment, Matsui explained. He also thanked the company's IT staff for their efforts to set up remote work. Despite the disruption, certain events will continue: "With that said, we’ve prepared several in-game events such as the Relaxing in Vana’diel Campaign, so you can continue to enjoy your adventures in Vana’diel. Also, be sure to take advantage of this month’s Login Campaign if you have yet to obtain Cipher: Shantotto II! ... Please also look forward to our 18th anniversary event, which we’re doing our best to release as soon as possible." Final Fantasy XIV's producer recently shared that the pandemic will be disrupting development, that the next content update could see a delay of up to a month. Final Fantasy XI is available for Windows PC.

Final Fantasy XI's May Update is available today, ahead of the game's 17th anniversary, and features updates to the Ambuscade content, changes to White Mage, and more. This time around, director Yoji Fujito and producer Akihiko Matsui took to YouTube to share a short video to highlight what's new. For further details, you can check out the official forum's written digest here. https://youtu.be/pcn5X3vOiy4 Furthermore, to celebrate the game's anniversary, Square Enix is also renewing its Return Home to Vana'diel free login campaign (May 16 to May 27) and is discounting the price of the game from May 16 to May 31st. Final Fantasy XI is available on Windows PC.

Back in 2015, Square Enix held a special event for Final Fantasy XI to announce future plans for the title. Alongside the final expansion called Rhapsodies of Vana'diel, it was revealed that Nexon was teaming up with the company to produce an updated, mobile version of the game for a worldwide audience. In the three years that haven elapsed we haven't seen much, but new screenshots have surfaced from development via a job listing for a character modeler on Nexon's careers page. The position requires experience with 3DSMax and Zbrush. Via: RPGSite

It's hard to believe but Final Fantasy XI is primed to celebrate its 15th anniversary this year. Final Fantasy's first online game started service way back in May 2002 and still lives with more updates planned for the foreseeable future. In a new message posted on PlayOnline, producer Akihiko Matsui shared his message for the New Year, resolving to work even harder for those still playing and those who wish to return to the world of Vana'diel: Greeting, adventurers, and Happy New Year! In 2016, the development and operations teams set the goal of providing you with meaty minor version updates that provide Vana'diel's finest with fresh new experiences. We've heard all the feedback you've sent to us, which was often pleased, surprised, and at times critical, and your passion for adventuring to Vana'diel has brought us much joy over the past year. We pledge to continue to create a satisfying Final Fantasy XI experience in 2017 as well, and we look forward to spending even more time with you. One of the best things about 2016 is hearing from them any people who said that they've decided to come back to Vana'diel

Final Fantasy XV's car radio continues to surprise with its storied library of fan favorites. Our friends at Gamer Escape gave it a spin this weekend and discovered the Final Fantasy MMOs are represented in full force. Here's the tracks they managed to spot: Final Fantasy XI Shinryu Melodies Errant Ragnarok Iron Collosus Tavnazian Archipelago Fighters of the Crystal Sanctuary of Zi’tah Tough Battle #2 Awakening Selbina Voyager Ronfaure Gustaberg Final Fantasy XIV Engage Under the Weight Serenity Westerly Winds To the Sun Hard to Miss Fallen Angel Of course, music from other Final Fantasy series titles will be available as well. What sort of songs would you like to see make their way into the game? Sound off in our comments section below.

Hearken back to the Future of Final Fantasy XI broadcast Square Enix held just over a year ago and you'll recall the company's debut of the Vana'diel Project. This included several major announcements: a new scenario called Rhapsodies of Vana'diel concluding the main scenario Final Fantasy XI, a new mobile title called Final Fantasy Grandmasters set in the world of Vana'diel, and a future mobile project developed in partnership with Nexon Korea. The last of which is dubbed a "Massively Multiplayer Mobile Role Playing Game" or MMMRPG, and we got an update on the title's development at the Nexon Developers Conference in Pangyo, South Korea. Using the tentative title "Final Fantasy XI Reboot", the game will be developed using Unreal Engine 4, and will eschew the typical HTTP (semi-browser-based) environment many mobile titles use due to the need to display characters' movements in a field environment. What they plan to do is use a combination of web servers and TCP servers to be able to recreate the game's environments on a mobile platform. While it's still early on in the development process, and a lot of work is still undone with regard to field and battle gameplay, the team was able to show

While support for console version of Final Fantasy XI have recently shut down, Square Enix plans to continue to support the PC version of the game through its fourteen-year anniversary of service. In a special announcement today, Yoji Fujito will take the place of Mizuki Ito as director of Final Fantasy XI. Fujito has served the team by producing system and non-battle content; he shared this message below via the game's official site. Hello, everyone! Up until this point I have been involved in system and non-battle content, as well as team operational support, and now have been chosen to be director of the project. I feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders as I take the reins of one of FINAL FANTASY's numbered titles as its fourteenth anniversary is nigh. Although part of me wonders if I can handle it, I vow to give my all to meet the expectations that you have for the world of Vana'diel. I hope you will be by my side during this exciting journey! Producer Akihiko Matsui shares that minor updates will be coming monthly, so that Final Fantasy XI "will continue

Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XI are teaming up once again with a new crossover event celebrating the release of the final chapter to the Rhapsodies of Vana’diel storyline. Iroha - the main character in the FFXI-based scenario - has come to visit the land of Eorzea from today (November 11th) through December 31st. Fans can take part in a series of quests and snag some cool in-game items - including Iroha's armor. The full details and rewards can be found over on the official Maiden's Rhapsody website.

Square Enix has new plans for Final Fantasy XI, as the company revealed a new initiative today with the "Vana'diel Project - a series of programs set to coincide with the game's 14 years of service. The first of these initiatives is the final scenario of Vana'diel. The first chapter of this content, known as “Rhapsodies of Vana’diel,” will be released starting May 2015 as part of a series of patch updates. It's meant to serve as the crowning achievement of the FFXI story, bringing together major characters and elements from more than 13 years of history. The 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. Following this release, major updates will come to an end with operation of the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 versions seeing their conclusion in March 2016. Players on PC, however, will be able to continue enjoying the game 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

Square Enix is set to share some information on the future of Final Fantasy XI on Thursday, March 19th. The conference will be broadcast online and it's there the company will be detailing their plans on the storied MMO going forward. The event will be available on YouTube from 16:00 JST (3AM EDT). The stream will be in Japanese only and will be made public when the event begins. An English language digest will be made available on the official forums. Note that the broadcast may not be available in all regions.