Summary
SeveralFinal Fantasy 14players took to the streets of Ul’dah to pay respects to the lateDragon Ballcreator Akira Toriyama, with campfire vigils and outfits based on characters that Toriyama drew over his career. These vigils inFinal Fantasy 14are ongoing at the time of writing and are being held across several data centers, such as Aether and Crystal in North America.
On March 8, it wasreported that Akira Toriyama died on March 1at age 68. The reported cause of death was listed as acute subdural hematoma, but further details were not made public. Known for creating theDragon Ballanime/manga franchise, and other works such asSand LandandDr. Slump, Toriyama was also the character designer forChrono Trigger,Blue Dragon, and theDragon Questseries. The upcomingDragon Ball Daimawas one of several upcoming projects that Toriyama was involved with before his death. With a career that spanned over four decades, Toriyama’s works left their mark on popular culture globally.
Hours after news spread of Akira Toriyama’s death, theFinal Fantasy 14player community took it upon themselves to honor him in a way that they had done before. Similar to thevigils held in 2021 forBerserkcreator Kentaro Miura, severalFinal Fantasy 14players took to Reddit to post where servers held vigils for Toriyama. They posted screenshots of the gatherings happening in the city of Ul’dah. In one post, a Redditor named mfpoke posted a small but growing vigil on the Cactuar server in North America. In the replies, other players posted their screenshots of vigils on servers such as Zodiark in Europe, and other cities such as Rhalgr’s Reach.
Final Fantasy 14 Players Hold Vigil for Akira Toriyama
At each vigil,Final Fantasy 14players lit campfires and wore outfits based on characters that Toriyama created. While Goku and other characters from theDragon Ballfranchise were among the most prominent characters portrayed, characters fromthe timeless RPGChrono Trigger, such as Crono, Marle, Lucca, and Frog, were also seen on different servers. Only time will tell how many of Toriyama’s works will see representation as the vigils continue.
ThoughFinal Fantasy 14is in a content lull, that has not stopped players from gathering and paying respect to an author who gave them joy and inspiration, as Toriyama did. As players wait for morenews of theDawntrailexpansion in the coming weeks, what else players will do in the weeks ahead remains to be seen.
Final Fantasy 14 (2010)
WHERE TO PLAY
Begin your adventure in FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm RebornCreate your very own Warrior of Light and embark upon a quest to deliver the land from an eternity of Darkness.Take to the skies in FINAL FANTASY XIV: HeavenswardTake your first steps in the reclusive nation of Ishgard, locked in a seemingly never-ending struggle with dragons.Rekindle the fires of hope in FINAL FANTASY XIV: StormbloodJourney to the East and rise up against the might of the Garlean Empire.Become the darkness in FINAL FANTASY XIV: ShadowbringersTravel to a world where light ushers all unto oblivion. But hope is not yet lost, for where there is light there is shadow.Journey to the very stars above in FINAL FANTASY XIV: EndwalkerA great calamity has been building - a second advent of the Final Days. The Warrior of Light must journey ever higher and stand firm as hope’s last bastion.Set forth for new horizons in FINAL FANTASY XIV: DawntrailBlue seas, clear skies, and boundless possibilities await! Explore uncharted territories with familiar faces as hope’s light dawns once more.
