Despite selling only a little over 600,000 copies when the game was released (as simply Final Fantasy XIV) in 2010, it seems as though Square Enix isn't ready to give up on the title yet. A second trailer for the game, now known as Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, has been released.
Final Fantasy XIV was an unfortunate black mark on Square Enix's flagship franchise, now 25 years strong. IGN said of the game, "While Final Fantasy XIV features a flexible class system and interesting crafting mechanics, issues with its presentation, performance, and core questing structure turn what could be an entertaining online adventure into an arduous experience that, in its current state, isn't worth playing." and "If you've never played an MMO before, this is most definitely not the place to start. Even genre veterans are going to need to spend a good deal of time scanning fan sites and databases to understand how everything works, even for basic information on necessary functions like performing item repairs."
Square Enix acknowledged the game's faults, going so far as to issue two apologies to customers. Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada even admitted in a September 2011 press conference that "the Final Fantasy brand has been greatly damaged" as a result of the game's shortcomings.
The upcoming remake is an attempt to right the the wrongs, adding more gameplay variations and content, incorporating a new graphics engine, redesigned maps, new server and data structures, revamped interface, and giving players new playable sexes of certain races (male Miqo'te, and female Highlanders and Roegadyn). The PC relaunch will also coincide with the game's release on PS3.
Square Enix is planning on showing off a full gameplay presentation next week at gamescom. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn releases to PC and PS3 some time next year.
