Final Fantasy 14 will cease its support for Windows 10 starting October 14, coinciding with Microsoft’s termination of mainstream updates for the operating system. While users can still play on Windows 10 after this date, Square Enix has indicated that they will not provide complete support for any potential issues. However, informal technical assistance will be available on a case-by-case basis. To receive full technical support while continuing to play Final Fantasy 14, players will need to upgrade to Windows 11.
The decision to discontinue support for Windows 10 impacts a substantial number of players, as it remains the second-most-used operating system in Microsoft’s lineup, holding a market share of 45.57%. In contrast, Windows 11 currently dominates the market with 51.36%. Although mainstream feature updates for Windows 10 will end this fall, users can participate in a free extended security update program by signing in with a Microsoft account and syncing their settings. In addition to the operating system changes, Final Fantasy 14 is also adjusting its minimum CPU specifications.
The requirements will shift from needing an Intel Core i7-7700 or higher to requiring at least an Intel Core i5-8400 or newer. This means that players must have a six-core CPU from 2017 or later to continue playing the game on Windows 11. Other specifications for running Final Fantasy 14 will remain unchanged. Lastly, Square Enix has hinted that the adjustments in housing space on certain servers may soon become a reality, further enhancing the gaming experience.
For players reluctant to shift to Windows 11, the game remains available on macOS, as well as on PlayStation and Xbox consoles, complete with cross-play and cross-progression features.