In a recent interview with Famitsu, Final Fantasy 14 director Naoki Yoshida revealed his plans to shake things up for the massively multiplayer online game. According to Yoshida, Final Fantasy 14 has become too relaxed in the past few years, losing some of the challenge and fun that players crave.

Yoshida compared the current state of the game to a side-scrolling action game with no gaps to fall through, resulting in a stress-free experience. However, he acknowledges that an element of stress is essential for a truly engaging gaming experience. He explained that while Final Fantasy 14 has been made more approachable to cater to a wider audience, they may have gone too far in their efforts.

"We'll keep working to surprise players and surpass their expectations," Yoshida stated. "But there is one thing I've been reflecting on... we may have overdone it a bit in making Final Fantasy 14 stress-free."

Yoshida highlighted the difficulty of striking the perfect balance between challenge and accessibility, using the analogy of a side-scrolling action game without any gaps that could potentially derail the player. He emphasized that achieving the right level of challenge is crucial for keeping players engaged and entertained.

Final Fantasy 14, which initially launched in 2010, faced its fair share of challenges but was successfully relaunched as A Realm Reborn in 2013. With over a decade of active service, the game is now gearing up for its next major expansion, Dawntrail, set to launch in the summer of 2024. Yoshida hinted that the increased difficulty might be implemented alongside the expansion, but stressed that this would be a long-term change that he plans to consider over the next decade.

"In terms of Final Fantasy 14, I would like to restore that [stress] somewhat," Yoshida revealed. "By doing that, we could offer players the right kind of challenge, and do it better than ever... This is a development challenge for the next 10 years."

In addition to the increased difficulty, Final Fantasy 14 is also undergoing other changes. The upcoming Dawntrail expansion will see a major graphical overhaul along with a wealth of new story content. Set to introduce a higher level cap, Dawntrail is highly anticipated by fans.

IGN praised the game's most recent major expansion, Endwalker, giving it a stellar 9/10 rating and stating that it brings a satisfying conclusion to its longest story arc while solidifying its place as one of the best Final Fantasy stories ever told.

As Final Fantasy 14 prepares to enter a new era of increased difficulty and excitement, players can look forward to a revitalized gaming experience that aims to challenge and captivate both new and seasoned adventurers.