Final Fantasy XI At 20: Devs On Coexisting With XIV, Classic Servers, And Its Lasting Influence

gamespot.com:

Few MMORPGs last as long as Final Fantasy XI, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in May. 20 years of active service is a monumental achievement for any online game, but especially one built upon the hardcore design of pre-World of Warcraft MMOs that remains strictly subscription-based.

And yet, Final Fantasy XI shows no signs of stopping any time soon, even as Square Enix's other MMO, the award-winning Final Fantasy XIV, continues to rise in popularity.

In fact, Final Fantasy XI's player base has grown in the last few years, and until recently it was Square Enix's most-profitable Final Fantasy game (a title Final Fantasy XIV now holds as of 2021). In the months leading up to the 20th anniversary celebration, Final Fantasy XI even received all-new gameplay systems like the new Master Levels for post-game players, and the ongoing «Voracious Resurgence» questline, which is the first new story content the game has seen in years.

To get more insight into Final Fantasy XI's continued success, GameSpot interviewed Final Fantasy XI producer Akihiko Matsui and director Yoji Fujito about the game's 20th anniversary, its enduring legacy, and the possibilities for the future of this beloved MMORPG. Translations were provided by Square Enix.

GameSpot: I've heard that the initial expectations were that Final Fantasy XI may only be active for a few years. Now, 20 years later, the game still has a passionate playerbase. Are you surprised the game has lasted this long? Why do you think FFXI remains so popular?

Akihiko Matsui, Producer: Thanks to our players, we were able to celebrate our 20th anniversary. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone at GameSpot, as well as their readers. Our game may seem rather