Final Fantasy 14 is encouraging Japanese players to donate their taxes in exchange for in-game items, including costumes and a Shiba Inu mount. This initiative, however, is not directly from publisher Square Enix but from the Shibuya ward in Tokyo.
How the tax donation scheme works
In Japan, a hometown tax system allows citizens to donate a portion of their taxes to any municipality, not just their own. Municipalities often offer rewards as incentives. Shibuya ward is now offering Final Fantasy 14 items for donations. For example, three character costumes require a donation of 7,000 yen (about £33) each, the Shiba Inu mount costs 9,000 yen (about £42), a dance emote is 11,000 yen (about £52), and five Fantasia potions cost 17,000 yen (about £80).
Are the items worth it?
Compared to the official Final Fantasy 14 store, these prices are significantly higher. The costumes are only £11.16 each, the Shiba Inu mount is £13.80, emotes range from £1.15 to £4.20, and five Fantasia potions cost £28.75. Therefore, players primarily motivated by the items would save money by purchasing them directly. The donation scheme is more suited for those wanting to support Shibuya ward.
Square Enix's involvement
Square Enix has given permission for this initiative. The company stated, "Final Fantasy 14 has deepened its ties with the local community through events held in Shibuya and other activities. Moving forward, we will continue to undertake various initiatives based in Shibuya, leveraging the characteristics of Shibuya as a hub of diverse cultures." Square Enix's headquarters are in Shinjuku, but it has a Shibuya office and a merchandise store called Square Enix Garden.
Upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 launch
Final Fantasy 14 is set to launch on Nintendo Switch 2 in August, marking its first appearance on a Nintendo platform. Additionally, Square Enix has expanded the free trial to include the base game and the first three story expansions: Heavensward, Stormblood, and Shadowbringers.
