Final Fantasy 14's latest unofficial census is a surprising uptick, and shows I'm not the only one getting sucked back into the MMO again
PC Gamer
by Mollie Taylor February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Final Fantasy 14 has seen a significant uptick in active players, with an estimated 110,000 new characters joining the game since November. This surge is attributed to Patch 7.41, which introduced compelling content like the Arcadion Heavyweight raid tier and a free login campaign. The patch also removed class restrictions on glamour, allowing players more freedom in character customization—a feature that has clearly resonated with the community.
The latest census by LuckyBancho reveals that active characters have grown to 930,000, marking an impressive increase from the previous count of 820,000. Among these, approximately 60,000 are new players, while 210,000 returning players have reactivated their accounts since last year. This revival is partly due to Patch 7.4, which delivered a compelling narrative and high-quality raid content, such as the Savage difficulty of the Arcadion raids and a new step in the relic weapon progression.
Final Fantasy 14’s recent success is notable given its position late in the expansion cycle. Earlier data shows that the game had been hovering around 820,000 to 950,000 active characters for much of 2025, with a slight dip in November. The release of Patch 7.41 seems to have reignited interest, particularly among returning players eager to experience new content and the game’s evolving storyline.
This growth highlights the importance of regular updates and community engagement in maintaining player interest in long-running MMOs. Final Fantasy 14’s ability to consistently deliver fresh content, both in terms of gameplay mechanics and narrative depth, has proven effective in retaining and attracting players—a model that could serve as inspiration for other MMO developers looking to sustain their games’ longevity.
For gamers and industry enthusiasts, this data underscores how impactful
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Originally published on PC Gamer on 2/25/2026