Final Fantasy XIV is set to undergo a significant change in difficulty, according to director Naoki Yoshida. In an interview with Famitsu, Yoshida expressed his concerns about the game becoming too relaxed and less challenging in recent years. He compared Final Fantasy XIV to a side-scrolling action game without any gaps to fall through, which has affected the overall fun factor of the game.
"Video games should, of course, include an element of stress, but finding that balance is extremely difficult."
Yoshida acknowledged that while making the game more approachable and less stressful was a goal, they may have gone too far in that direction. He emphasized the importance of finding the right balance between stress and enjoyment in video games, stating that a game without any stress would also lack fun. As a result, Yoshida wants to restore a level of stress to Final Fantasy XIV to provide players with the right kind of challenge.
The upcoming major expansion, Dawntrail, launching in summer 2024, may introduce the increased difficulty. This expansion will not only bring new story content but also a graphical overhaul to enhance the gaming experience. However, Yoshida made it clear that the difficulty increase is not a short-term adjustment but rather a long-term development challenge that will be considered over the next decade.
"By doing that, we could offer players the right kind of challenge, and do it better than ever."
Yoshida is currently working on various game design elements to achieve the desired balance between challenge and enjoyment. He expressed his excitement about this development challenge, although he acknowledged that some people may question the decision to increase the game's difficulty.
Source: famitsu.com
Translation: ign.com