Music is a key component of the Final Fantasy XIV experience, from the iconic leitmotif’s which are iconic to the series, remixes of classic tracks, and the hundreds of original songs that add weight to an emotional scene, atmosphere to an environment or epicness to a battle – few games compare to it musically in my opinion.
Today’s example comes with last week’s release of Version 7.01, introducing the new Arcadion raids, initially at the normal difficulty setting, but soon to be expanded into Savage raid content. With each of the four battles having their own battle theme music, the fourth and final battle’s theme – Give It All – comes from a collaboration between Square Enix and lead singer Chrissy Costanza of Against the Current.
Composed by renowned Final Fantasy XIV composer Masayoshi Soken, “Give It All” is performed by the official Final Fantasy XIV band THE PRIMALS with Constanza providing vocals. This anthemic rock track is set to play during the final battle of The Arcadion’s raid tier, with Constanza embodying the boss through her lyrics. The song will also be included on THE PRIMALS’ upcoming album, Riding Home, which is set for release on 7 September 2024.
Below is a video message shared by Costanza to players:
In a recent interview on the Square Enix blog, Constanza shared her background as a gamer, her connection to the Final Fantasy series, and her thoughts on the synergy between video games and music. She expressed her excitement about the collaboration, describing it as a “dream come true” and “completely surreal”.
Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, released on 2 July 2024, introduces a new chapter for the Warrior of Light. Players will travel to the distant continent of Tural, exploring new areas such as the mountainous region of Urqopacha, the deep forests of Kozama’uka, and the rain-starved plains of Shaaloani. The expansion follows the champion of Eorzea as they accompany Wuk Lamat in a rite of succession across glittering seas.
I’ve been both a musician and a gamer my entire life and LOVE both worlds so much. I think music is the foundation of so much of the world, whether it’s the soundtrack of movies or just playing in a store while you’re shopping, it can completely change the emotional landscape of your experience. Gaming itself is an immersive experience – video games can be exhilarating, exciting, scary, sad, awe-inspiring and more. Pairing the right music with the right game just completely enhances the player’s experience, and also brings the game out into the real world. It’s more than just a song, it’s more than just a game.
