Final Fantasy XIV is a huge deal in the MMO and gaming space, but it’s not often Square Enix’s flagship MMO enters mainstream popular culture. But that’s exactly what happened when Final Fantasy XIV appeared as a plot point in the second episode of the Chinese drama series Rose War.
First spotted by Reddit user ho1yski3s and posted on the FFXIV subreddit, the presence of a Final Fantasy XIV account and an in-game wedding (Ceremony of Eternal Bonding) is used as the “gotcha” moment in this legal drama. In the episode, a wife takes the blame on behalf of her husband for a traffic accident that killed another woman.
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The show’s main character, Gu Nian, proves that it was, in fact, the husband behind the wheel after discovering his affair with the victim through Final Fantasy XIV. The husband had married his lover in-game, and after joining Final Fantasy XIV herself, Gu Nian uncovers the truth. She then communicates with the husband’s Free Company on the Chinese messaging platform QQ to find a picture of the victim with the husband.
Rose War is a 2022 legal drama that sees full-time housewife, Gu Nian, rejoin the workforce after a split with her husband. It’s unknown if this will be the only reference to Final Fantasy XIV in the series.
It’s certainly entertaining to see Final Fantasy XIV used as a core plot point in the Rose War, although it’s never mentioned by name. Instead, screenshots are used, and it’s only referred to as “the game.”
For more Final Fantasy XIV news and information, check out The Rising event returns to Final Fantasy XIV later this month on Pro Game Guides.
Michael lives in the UK, but wishes he lived in Eorzea. A life-long gamer, Four years ago, he ditched a "real" job to write about video games for a living, and hasn't looked back. When not guiding players how to get the latest mounts, crafting recipes, and in-game goodies, he spends his time nurturing an unhealthy addiction to MMOs and gacha games.