Final Fantasy XIV Won’t Let You Give Your Character A Fat Ass…’Yet’

Why It Matters

Enhanced avatar customization can boost player engagement and subscription longevity, while addressing community demand for broader body‑type options positions Final Fantasy XIV competitively in the MMO market.

Key Takeaways

• Square Enix adds new hair, eye, and skin tone selectors.
• Evercold expansion slated for January 2027 release.
• Neon Genesis Evangelion raid announced for upcoming content.
• Butt-size sliders remain absent, though developers hinted future possibility.

Pulse Analysis

The annual Square Enix Fan Festival in Anaheim served as a showcase for Final Fantasy XIV’s next phase. Alongside the reveal of the Evercold expansion, slated for a January 2027 launch, the company unveiled a crossover raid inspired by the cult classic anime Neon Genesis Evangelion. Perhaps more consequential for the player base was the modest overhaul of the character‑creation suite: new color palettes for hair, eyes, and skin, plus layered face‑paint options and refined eye and lip controls. These tweaks signal Square Enix’s recognition that visual personalization drives engagement in modern MMORPGs.

Customization has become a competitive battleground across the MMO market, with titles like Black Desert Online and New World offering granular body‑type sliders that cater to diverse aesthetic preferences. Fans of Final Fantasy XIV have long voiced frustration over the limited silhouette options, especially the inability to adjust posterior size—a feature that, while seemingly trivial, reflects broader calls for body‑type inclusivity. Director Naoki Yoshida’s candid admission that “no butt sliders… yet” acknowledges the demand while hinting at a measured development roadmap, balancing artistic vision with technical constraints.

Looking forward, the Evercold expansion could provide a natural window for deeper avatar enhancements. Introducing additional body‑type sliders would not only broaden the game’s appeal to new entrants but also reinforce Square Enix’s commitment to player‑driven evolution, a factor that can boost subscription retention and in‑game spending on cosmetics. As the industry leans toward more expressive avatars, Final Fantasy XIV’s incremental approach may set a precedent for legacy MMOs seeking to modernize without alienating their established aesthetic identity.