Sad news for Final Fantasy fans

Sad news for Final Fantasy fans as the much-anticipated live-action TV adaptation of Final Fantasy XIV has officially been canceled. Dinesh Shamdasani, an executive producer at Hivemind working on the project, broke the news on his Twitter account, expressing that the project is "dead." This comes as a disappointment to many, especially considering the talent and effort that went into the production.

The cancellation was confirmed in response to inquiries about the show's status. Shamdasani mentioned that they had a fantastic pilot script from Ben Lustig and Jake Thornton, along with a well-thought-out multi-season plan. Despite their efforts, the project was rejected by all parties approached. The sheer size and scale required to do justice to the beloved game proved to be too much of a risk for potential investors. Amazon was reportedly the closest to making it happen.

Back in 2019, Sony Pictures and Hivemind had announced plans for the series, promising an original storyline set in the world of Eorzea. This adaptation was highly anticipated as the first live-action venture for the Final Fantasy game series.

The creative team behind the project included writers Ben Lustig and Jake Thornton, known for their work on Winter’s Knight and The Wells Initiative. They were also set to be executive producers alongside Hivemind’s Jason F. Brown, Sean Daniel, and Dinesh Shamdasani.

It's worth noting that the live-action TV series would have followed the success of the Final Fantasy XIV Dad of Light miniseries, which premiered on Netflix in the United States in September 2017. Additionally, a live-action film remake with a new cast debuted in Japan in June 2019.

Despite this setback, fans of Final Fantasy XIV can still look forward to upcoming content. The game recently released its 6.55 patch, featuring Part 2 of a new main scenario on January 16. An exciting crossover between Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XVI is on the horizon, scheduled for early April.

Furthermore, the "Dawntrail" expansion is set for a summer 2024 release, following the tradition of prior expansions and Final Fantasy titles. Yoshitaka Amano, known for his iconic designs in the series, has crafted the logo for "Dawntrail."

Final Fantasy XIV, originally launched for PCs in September 2010, has come a long way. The game was rebooted as Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn in August 2013, introducing a new world and storyline based on player feedback. Since then, it has expanded to PS3, PS4, and PS5, with four major expansions: "Heavensward" in June 2015, "Stormblood" in June 2017, "Shadowbringers" in July 2019, and "Endwalker" in December 2021. Currently, the game boasts an impressive 30 million registered accounts worldwide.

Exciting news for Xbox players as well! An open beta test for the Xbox Series X|S is scheduled for around February 21, with the full Xbox version set to launch in spring 2024. This version promises faster loading times and 4K support for the Series X.

In February 2022, Square Enix made a commitment to support Final Fantasy XIV Online for the next decade, ensuring that fans will have plenty of adventures to look forward to in the world of Eorzea. While the TV adaptation may not be happening, the game itself continues to thrive and expand, bringing joy to millions of players worldwide.