FFXI devs honor 91-year-old grandma who played for nearly two decades

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I was really sad to hear that a fellow Final Fantasy XI player passed away. He was 91 years old and had been playing the game for almost twenty years! It’s awesome how much he loved FFXI, and it’s touching to see both the players and the developers sharing their condolences. It just goes to show how strong the community can be.

Final Fantasy XI came out in 2002 and has been popular for over 20 years on various systems. One of its most enthusiastic players was a 91-year-old woman from Japan who played the game for almost two decades.

I first heard about this incredible story when Automaton picked it up – it all started when the player’s grandson shared a touching tribute online, and it just blew up! Everyone started sharing it, which is how I found out about it.

Her grandson announced on X (formerly Twitter) that she died on February 3rd. The news quickly resonated with dedicated fans of the game Final Fantasy XI, and even prompted responses from people who worked on its creation.

FFXI devs respond to loss of grandma who loved game

A woman shared a touching tribute on X, saying her 91-year-old grandmother recently passed away. The grandmother was a dedicated Final Fantasy XI (FFXI) player for almost 20 years, and had been watching her grandchild play since the game’s earliest beta tests. The post lovingly imagines her now exploring the game world of Vana’diel with her dog, Mimi.

A grandson’s tweet about his grandmother caught the attention of Final Fantasy XI designer Kensuke Shimoda. He replied with a heartfelt message: “May she rest in peace. As someone who worked on the original game, I truly thank you for playing.”

I’m sharing some sad news. My beloved grandmother passed away on Tuesday, February 3rd, at the age of 91.

Before her health declined, she was a long-time player of Final Fantasy XI, having played for almost 20 years. She even watched me play since the beta version!

Now, I imagine she’s adventuring in the worlds of Vana’diel with her beloved chocobo, Mimi. #FF11 #FinalFantasyXI

— 松けん (@Makken_Dance) February 4, 2026

Composer Kumi Tanioka shared a heartfelt tribute, acknowledging the player’s dedication over almost twenty years. She expressed hope that they were at peace and playfully wished that, if reborn in the game world of Vana’diel, they might occasionally hear her music on the breeze. She concluded with a message of rest in peace.

It’s not uncommon for game developers and their communities to honor players and creators who have passed away. For example, the team behind Helldivers 2 recently acknowledged a heartfelt tribute to a beloved fan, and World of Warcraft players paid respects to the founder of a popular fan website.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 featured a tribute to the late YouTuber John “TotalBiscuit” Bain, demonstrating how game developers are increasingly acknowledging the significant influence individuals can have on gaming and its community.

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2026-02-05 16:50