Challenges of Supporting Older Hardware
Launched over a decade ago, Final Fantasy 14 has been a staple on the PlayStation 4 since its early days. However, Square Enix director Naoki “Yoshi-P” Yoshida recently revealed that the capabilities of Sony’s last-gen hardware may not be sustainable for much longer.
Concerns About Hardware Limitations
In an interview with Feed4Gamers (via TweakTown), Yoshida stated, “My basic stance is that I do want to continue supporting hardware which has grown old.” He expressed his concern regarding the operating system regulations imposed by Sony. These regulations set a data limit that affects the game’s ongoing updates. “We are now approaching that limit,” he added.
Yoshida mentioned that the company has been in discussions with Sony Interactive Entertainment to request increases to these data limits for Final Fantasy 14. “They have kindly been doing that so far,” he said, but acknowledged that Sony has indicated they are reaching their own constraints. He emphasized that while he aims to support the current platforms for as long as possible, there may come a time when hardware limitations necessitate discontinuing service on the PS4. “I will be sure to provide clear reasoning for that decision when I communicate it to the players,” he assured.
Updates and Future Content
According to Yoshida, Sony has already made exceptions to its typical developer policies to accommodate new content for Final Fantasy 14. The game has seen several major updates following the release of last year’s Dawntrail expansion, including the recent patch 7.3, titled The Promise of Tomorrow. However, it remains uncertain how much additional capacity is available for future updates and content releases.
Speculations on the Next Expansion
Square Enix has remained tight-lipped about the timing of the next expansion, leading to speculation among fans that it may not launch until as late as spring 2027. Yoshida hinted that updates regarding this will be shared during FF14 Fan Fest 2026, coinciding with the 10-year anniversary of A Realm Reborn.
Industry Trends with Last-Gen Consoles
As other popular multiplayer games like PUBG and Genshin Impact announce the cessation of support for last-generation consoles in the coming months, it highlights a broader industry trend. While upcoming titles such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will still be available on PS4 and Xbox One, franchises like MLB: The Show and Madden NFL have already transitioned away from older hardware. With nearly five years into the lifecycles of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, these shifts may have occurred sooner than anticipated.
Final Fantasy 14 initially debuted on the PS3 back in 2013 and ceased its support for that console during the Stormblood expansion in 2017, providing eight months of advance notice. It is plausible that update 8.0 could signify a similar farewell to the PS4, potentially coinciding with the arrival of the next-generation console.
