Make it Epic.

Bringing game play
to life.

After a 3-year hiatus imposed by the pandemic, we knew the return of FINAL FANTASY XIV Fan Festival had to set a new standard in fan engagement. This event was a pivotal moment for Square Enix to show their appreciation for the FFXIV community. Our objective was clear: to craft an unparalleled experience that immersed fans in the captivating worlds of FINAL FANTASY XIV, celebrate the 10th anniversary of the game’s release and highlight the most recent expansion.

Throughout the two-day event, we placed thousands of fans at the heart of our strategy. We helped our partners at Square Enix bring the game to life through a rich tapestry of community-building opportunities, interactive activations, competitions, immersive environments, and enlightening panels, all to bolster player retention.

Services

Solution

InVision plunged headfirst into the enchanting realm of FINAL FANTASY XIV, transforming it into a vibrant reality packed with endless entertainment, immersive vignettes and interactive experiences. The massive-scale festival was designed as an expansive playground, offering fans a captivating blend of gameplay, connections, and the creation of dynamic, shareable content.

The main stage stood as a beacon, an ever-changing epicenter for diverse sessions ranging from developer panels to a heart-pounding eSports tournament. The stage also served as a runway for the Glamoured to Life Cosplay Walk, showcasing remarkable costumes inspired by beloved in-game characters. At night, the experience transitioned from content to concert, celebrating the game’s beloved music. The first night featured a serene piano performance, while on night two attendees raged and rocked out to the heavy metal band, THE PRIMALS.

At the heart of FFXIV Fan Festival was the show floor, where we brought five in-game worlds to life through meticulously crafted experiences. Here, fans could interact with the game in new ways through the blend of both analog and digital activations. These larger-than-life environments resembled movie sets, featuring custom-crafted set pieces alongside designed graphics that transported onlookers into the breathtaking landscapes of FFXIV.

As fans roamed these realms, they had the chance to engage in a variety of custom designed FFXIV activities. In Scholar’s Harbor, they cast their fishing lines and posed below the swirling pages of the Tomenado in Noumenon, the library of Old Sharlayan. The festivities also included dance parties in Hoper’s Hold Musicking Station, deejayed by a Loporrits (an in-game race resembling rabbits). There was even a special appearance by FFXIV’s lead composer and sound director, Masayoshi Soken, both in the DJ booth and on the dance floor.

Adventurers honed their skills for battle with light-up reactionary touch pods on the Gates of Pandæmonium before confronting the formidable boss, Proto-Carbuncle. For those seeking a more relaxed experience, a leisurely stroll through the bustling marketplace in Radz-at-Han awaited, complete with a lounge area beneath a cityscape graphic overhead.

Fans gazed into the Magic Mirrors and could see elements of FFXIV reflected around them in Augmented Reality. They tried on iconic fashion accessories from the game and interacted with animated minions for shareable 5-second videos. A visit to the 360-degree Realm Cam photobooth allowed attendees to capture captivating slow-motion videos.

Island Sanctuary enticed fans to participate in a lively 4-person Pick N’ Ship relay race, to be the fastest team with the most orders. Nearby, the Bumper Crop digital experience invited pairs to engage in an air hockey-style showdown. Controlled through gesture technology projected onto the floor, each player moved about the court to deflect hungry Paissas (critters) toward their opponent’s digital pumpkin patch.

Nine costumed and scripted Gleaner NPCs (non-player characters who are researchers and scholars in game) sent festivalgoers on a series of side quests through a dynamic photo scavenger hunt. Stationed in key areas adjacent to the activations, these characters beckoned fans in and sent them exploring the entire show floor in search of 6 distinct photo moments. The quests created enjoyable photo opportunities, spawning valuable fan-generated content. Each completed quest was rewarded with a digital badge, unlocked by showing a picture of their achievement at the Redemption Table.

InVision’s expertise up leveled the audience engagement across the festival, encompassing a comprehensive signage plan and a custom mobile app designed to enhance the attendee experience. To maintain an element of anticipation and excitement, we geo-gated content, releasing it on a rolling schedule leading up to the event. Attendees accessed logistical details beforehand, but the full scope of activations unfolded upon arrival. Notably, fans could unlock 20 custom-designed digital badges by scanning QR codes, some simply by visiting show floor locations, while others were earned by participating in activations and games. Further, the event’s reach extended beyond the physical space, with a live stream covering the two-day festival.