On August 8, the Q1 2025 financial report from Square Enix indicated that Final Fantasy 14 had lost money in both gross sales and operational profits. The downward trend in Final Fantasy 14 also correlated to a decline in player retention year-on-year, as the Dawntrail expansion remained a point of contention between current and former players.
The report came amid a tumultuous time for Final Fantasy 14. Between various critiques of Dawntrail‘s story and patch content pacing, Final Fantasy 14‘s monthly subscriber count has steadily decreased. This was further compounded by the notion that Dawntrail followed off the heels of Endwalker, which was the climactic expansion to Final Fantasy 14‘s first major story arc, the Hydaelyn-Zodiark Saga. Additional criticisms of Final Fantasy 14 have recently been aimed at the game’s Online Store selections, with players questioning the quality and pricing of certain cosmetics, including the Crystarium Rebel’s Attire and the Belt-leather Attire.
Final Fantasy 14 Lost Both Subscribers And Money
Following the first anniversary of Dawntrail, Square Enix’s Q1 2025 financial report stated that the expansion’s mixed response hurt the company’s bottom line. According to Square Enix shareholder Yuzu (and translated by Aitaikimochi on Twitter), MMO gross sales for both Final Fantasy 14 and Dragon Quest 10 dropped by 2.9 billion yen ($19.6 million) compared to Q1 2024, and operational profits were down 3 billion yen ($20.2 million) as well. Yuzu stated that the success of Square Enix’s HD game sales hinges on Final Fantasy 14‘s own success, and stated that something must be done for the MMORPG to regain momentum. While Square Enix’s stock prices have trended upward, Yuzu dismissed it as an accurate method of gauging the company’s financial health, stating that activists have inflated prices.
Along with the decrease in year-on-year profits, the drop in interest was felt within Final Fantasy 14 itself. After several months of inactivity, the game’s automatic housing demolition system was turned on in June. Hundreds of virtual homes were deleted in late July on North American data centers like Aether and Crystal, granting active Final Fantasy 14 players a chance to claim a vacant lot. As of this writing, player housing in Final Fantasy 14 continues to be available on a per-server basis.
Despite the gloomy outlook, Final Fantasy 14 recently launched Patch 7.3, which was billed as Dawntrail‘s climactic story update. Although early player sentiment toward Patch 7.3 is leaning in a positive direction, only time will tell what Final Fantasy 14 will do to turn things around heading into its next expansion.
Final Fantasy 14
- Released
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August 27, 2013
- ESRB
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T for Teen – Language, Mild Blood, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Engine
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Originally the Crystal Tools engine, but currently it’s a custom engine using parts of the Luminous Engine.
- Multiplayer
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Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
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