Final Fantasy XIV Gets Balance Tweaks, Combat Changes

The flagging MMORPG from Square Enix may be getting a new lease on life with a whole slew of changes if its developer manages to step up its game in response to player feedback. 

Final Fantasy XIV producer Naoki Yoshida published a letter on the game's official forum in response to player feedback about the 1.18 patch released last week.

The patch, which made large changes to the game's core gameplay, has not been well received by the players who found themselves suddenly facing a game they didn't know how to play. 

"I realize some of you may be confused or upset at some of the sudden changes, but that's why the forums are there for you to have your voice heard," he wrote. "So please leave us your feedback!"

Perhaps in response to the cataclysmic reaction from players to the big patch, Square Enix plans to release future updates in smaller patches to acclimatize players to the changes.

"The topics we've gotten the most feedback on are class balance, UI visibility (which will be addressed in 1.18a), and skill points for levequests between ranks 20-30. We'll be using this last week's worth of feedback to decide where more adjustments are needed, and will be working on them and any further balancing that is necessary together with our 1.19 tasks and releasing them in smaller patches."

Yoshida expressed his joy in the positive responses he received about the game's new combat system, which "now requires strategy." 

He concluded his letter by promising players a Summer-themed update planned for early August, which apparently includes swimsuits for the players to don and frolic around in.