![MOONWALKING](https://cdn.magzter.com/1384980264/1662447325/articles/7zbE_9dJP1663134425352/MOONWALKING.jpg)
It's bizarre to look at Final Fantasy XIV's last 12 months and witness a game that has been suffering from success. It's a stark change for a game that, for a large part of its early life, was simply suffering.
"Final Fantasy XIV is a project that got off to a very problematic start," director and producer Naoki Yoshida admits. It's a well-known tale in games: a messy, unfun MMO crippled by conflicting ambitions across its team. "There were issues not only within the project itself, but also in terms of the company structure. All these issues erupted with Final Fantasy XIV. The consequences were that we lost the trust of our fans, our gamers, and the media."
When Yoshida (lovingly nicknamed Yoshi-P by the community) puts it like that, it's a wonder that I can now sit here in 2022 and say what a fantastic game FFXIV really is. But it's true-one hard reboot and ur expansions later, and the MMO has become a juggernaut in the genre. It's sitting pretty up there with the likes of World of Warcraft, and even managed to entice a good number of players away from Azeroth and into the catgirl-thronged world of Eorzea last year. The so-called 'WoW exodus' rocketed the game to its highest concurrent player count to date, helped by large WoW-heads like Asmongold and Preach giving it a try.
It's definitely hard to deny the effect they and other streamers had on the player boost. "Their impact on new players and the existing community has been tremendous, while current players have provided them a warm welcome," says Yoshi-P. Above all though, he's just glad more people are playing. "Whether they may be streamers or not, it just makes us happy to hear about more gamers coming into contact with FFXIV and playing the game!"
TO THE MOON
This story is from the November 2022 edition of PC Gamer US Edition.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2022 edition of PC Gamer US Edition.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![SCREENBOUND](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4965/1759013/QN8JJqtJN1721219508995/SCREENBOUND.jpg)
SCREENBOUND
How a 5D platformer went viral two months into development
![OLED GAMING MONITORS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4965/1759013/oAnANJPH91721218946354/OLED-GAMING-MONITORS.jpg)
OLED GAMING MONITORS
A fresh wave of OLED panels brings fresh options, greater resolutions and makes for even more impressive gaming monitors
![CRYSIS 2](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4965/1759013/DSs6Ubs4Z1721218724636/CRYSIS-2.jpg)
CRYSIS 2
A cinematic FPS with tour de force visuals.
![PLOD OF WAR](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4965/1759013/-xgm3O8TK1721218521118/PLOD-OF-WAR.jpg)
PLOD OF WAR
SENUA’S SAGA: HELLBLADE 2 fails to find a new path for its hero
![GALAXY QUEST](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4965/1759013/yxlwSRTr31721218295385/GALAXY-QUEST.jpg)
GALAXY QUEST
HOMEWORLD 3 is a flashy, ambitious RTS, but some of the original magic is missing
![FAR REACHING](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4965/1759013/FPXsPdaEu1721217787998/FAR-REACHING.jpg)
FAR REACHING
Twenty years ago, FAR CRY changed the landscape of PC gaming forever.
![THY KINGDOM COME](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4965/1759013/OKbGnOfg-1721217410003/THY-KINGDOM-COME.jpg)
THY KINGDOM COME
SHADOW OF THE ERDTREE is the culmination of decades of FromSoftware RPGs, and a gargantuan finale for ELDEN RING
![KILLING FLOOR 3](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4965/1759013/7jspclXJt1721217247133/KILLING-FLOOR-3.jpg)
KILLING FLOOR 3
Tripwire Interactive's creature feature is back
![STACKED DECK](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4965/1759013/ZfWpapByk1721217097950/STACKED-DECK.jpg)
STACKED DECK
MONSTER TRAIN was a hit, but did that make releasing a new game any easier?
![IMPERFECTLY BALANCED](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/4965/1759013/j2XNlJdrw1721216998343/IMPERFECTLY-BALANCED.jpg)
IMPERFECTLY BALANCED
Arrowhead says HELLDIVERS 2 balancing patches have 'gone too far'