Why Final Fantasy XIV Isn't Coming to Xbox 360 or Xbox One
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"The policy has not changed on Microsoft's side."
The game director of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn has explained the title won't be coming to Microsoft consoles as Xbox Live policies don't support cross-play with other platforms.
In an interview with RPGsite, Naoki Yoshida explained that while PS3, PS4 and PC players will be able to play with each other when the game launches on August 27, the fact Xbox users would require their own server turned the team off the idea.
"The policy has not changed on Microsoft's side," he revealed. "The main reason from our side is that I don't want the community to be divided; to be split into two or more. For example, one player might be on the PC version, another might be on the PS4 version, and I'm playing the Xbox version - but we're not able to join the same game servers. That is just... I just don't like the idea. I disagree with it."
"To be frankly honest with you, there are now so many mobile devices, smart phones, everything -- why would you ever just stick to one platform from the hardware aspect? Just -- make it open to everyone? That's my opinion.
"I would love for as many players as possible to enjoy the game worldwide, so from a business point of view it could make sense to have it on the Xbox platforms. But as I mentioned earlier, that would bring about the tragedy that somebody might have to give up their existing character. Then players might get frustrated, and then they ask us - 'Square Enix, can't you do something?' and then... yeah. Unless that happens, we can't really do anything."
So it seems unless Microsoft has a rethink about its Xbox Live policies, Xbox gamers will have to make do with single-player Final Fantasy titles for the time being.