Games That Did Even Better After Their Initial Release
Final Fantasy XIV
Anticipation puts a lot of pressure on a game, especially when it is living up to the reputation of a storied franchise. So, when Final Fantasy XIV finally released after over five years of development in 2010, critics and fans alike were baffled with the end product.
The Square Enix MMORPG was a broken mess at launch, as interface and performance issues made the title extremely unattractive to most player. As a result of this, Naoki Yoshida, Hiroshi Takai, and Akihiko Matsui were brought on to try and help put out the fire.
While it may have taken a few patches to implement, Yoshida, Takai, and Matsui did a masterful job righting the ship, as various graphical and gameplay improvements were made. Some of the biggest changes came in the form of a new battle system, significant customization options, and a handful more dungeons and bosses for good measure.
The most important addition to the game didn’t even take place inside of it though, as Yoshida opened up communication by creating the Final Fantasy XIV forums. Not only were players able to give feedback and suggestions, but these message boards also served to build a community around the game.
In 2013, out of the ashes of the original, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn rose to the top of the MMORPG ranks, giving fans exactly what they wanted from the get go. Alongside rave reviews and a spot in many “Game of the Year” lists, the soft relaunch saw a significant improvement in its player base.
Now it’s one of the most popular MMORPGs around, and will be enjoying the launch of its third major expansion this summer.
