Long before the days of free trials up to Heavensward and thousands of fans eagerly waking up before dawn to run through a new patch's dungeons with friends, Final Fantasy 14 was in trouble. A now-renowned complete rework, FF14: A Realm Reborn, was eventually released to critical acclaim. There are many reasons why it succeeded – but among them is the improved English script.
FF14 translation director and localisation editor Michael Christopher Koji Fox tells PLAY magazine that the project's localisation came to life in a crucible of despair and new hope. "The mental approach [to the project] was far different from anything I have experienced in my two decades at Square Enix (before and after ARR)," Koji Fox says. "After 1.0, spirits were low, and there was a lot of doubt about whether or not the ship could be righted. And even if it were righted, would the public give it a second chance?"
