Final Fantasy XIV's developer Square Enix has changed the icon of the new Sage job following fans' expressions that it triggered trypophobia - a phobia of irregular or patterned clusters of holes. The original Sage job icon featured three holes clustered together.
According to Final Fantasy XIV's producer and director Naoki Yoshida, the team revealed the icon not thinking it's a "particularly big" deal but soon "received feedback from players all over the world, who told us that the Sage icon made them uncomfortable or fearful". She added, "the severity of the reaction varies between people, and what triggers it in some may not do so in others".
While Square Enix has reduced the holes, the "design concept is unchanged, with the icon being based on the four nouliths which form the Sage's armament." Yoshida also noted that her team expects inevitable comparisons by fans and some might even favour the original one, but they believe designs like the new Sage icon are things that grow on players as they play the job.
Watch the game trailer here!
Comments