Square Enix has announced that official support for Final Fantasy XIV on Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025. This lines up with Microsoft’s own decision to stop providing security updates and support for Windows 10 PCs after that date, and more games will likely follow in the coming months.
Now, before you panic and rush to update, it’s important to clarify what this actually means. Square Enix has stated that you’ll likely still be able to play Final Fantasy XIV on Windows 10 systems even after the end of official support. However, the catch is that once support is discontinued, they generally won’t be able to provide help for problems that pop up because of the operating system itself.
Microsoft has put Square Enix in a “difficult proposition,” so the company might offer “informal support” on a case-by-case basis, but it’s not guaranteed and will be pretty limited. Basically, you’ll be on your own if something goes wonky with Windows 10 while you’re adventuring in Eorzea.
It’s clear that a lot of people are still holding onto Windows 10. A Steam hardware survey from last month showed that 35% of players are still on Windows 10. I am one of those, but I’m not going to upgrade to Windows 11 at all. I just don’t want to do the work to move my main PC to Linux right now. However, I don’t doubt that a lot of others just don’t have the requirements needed to upgrade.
Make sure to check out the new requirements that will come when the deadline hits. If you were able to play the game on Windows 10 and upgrade to 11, you’ll likely have no trouble continuing to play, and this is mostly for those who are getting new hardware for the update.
This is all due to security reasons. When Microsoft stops supporting Windows 10, your PC will become a lot more vulnerable to security risks and malware. This also isn’t just about games, because most applications will eventually require you to be on Windows 11 to run properly and securely. Square Enix is just getting ahead of the curve and giving Final Fantasy XIV players a heads-up so they can make the switch before any major issues arise.
If you’re one of those loyal Windows 10 users, and you’re really passionate about staying put, there is a temporary workaround. Microsoft has an Extended Security Updates (ESU) program that can give you an extra year of Windows 10 updates for a $30 fee. It’s a short-term solution, though, and you’ll eventually have to upgrade.
Some people really like Windows 11, so don’t hold out if you actually can move over and have no reason to stick to 10. The update process will be long, but at least you won’t lose your games. For everyone else, we’ll just need to get used to apps and games starting to ditch the old software because it’s just unsafe to operate without security updates.
