FFXIV is going mobile and now I miss my Astrologian era

Every now and then, a bit of gaming news hits your feed and unlocks a whole era of your life. That’s exactly what happened when I saw that Final Fantasy XIV is finally getting a mobile adaptation.

Yes, that FFXIV. The MMO that has eaten years off people’s lives (in a good way). Including mine.

I was deep into it for a while. My main was an Astrologian. I lived for the tarot card mechanics and that beautiful, floaty, sparkly support playstyle. There was just something so satisfying about timing your buffs right in a chaotic raid, dancing between heals and damage, and knowing your team wiped a little less because you were there. And the raid system? Genuinely one of the most well-designed in MMO history. Don’t fight me on this.

Life happens

I think about getting back into it all the time. But you know how it is. Life gets busy. Schedules pile up. Suddenly it’s been months (okay, years?) since your last dungeon run, and you’re just out here trying to remember your old hotbar setup like it’s ancient history.

So the idea of a mobile version? LFG!

What we know so far

And now we’ve got more than just rumors. Square Enix is working with Tencent’s LightSpeed Studios (the devs behind PUBG Mobile) to bring a fully reimagined FFXIV experience to phones. It’s not just a companion app or a side spinoff. It’s a faithful, touch-optimized adaptation of A Realm Reborn, complete with:

  • Main story quests
  • Crafting and gathering jobs
  • Glamours
  • Housing
  • Chocobo racing
  • Triple Triad
  • Seasonal events

Combat has been redesigned for mobile with smoother UI, auto-pathing, universal dodge access for all classes, and a slightly more chibi art style. It’s launching with nine jobs and full Armoury-style job switching.

Free-to-play, no gacha nonsense (wait, I like gacha though)

The game will follow a free-to-play model with no gacha mechanics (blessing for some). Monetization will center around cosmetics like mounts and glamour items so it’s not pay-to-win, just pay-to-look-cute.

Launch timeline

A closed beta in China launched in May, with the official China release happening June 19, 2025. A global rollout is expected soon after, likely later this year.

A new way to return

If they manage to pull off even a fraction of the magic of the full PC/console experience, and not just water it down into an idle tapfest, it might just be the perfect gateway for lapsed Warriors of Light like me to dip our toes back into Eorzea. Between errands. On the couch. In bed. Wherever life lets us sneak in a little adventure.

Maybe it’s time to dust off the deck again.

Lia
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