The rating of Final Fantasy XIV in Japan is changing from CERO C to CERO D, and the reason may be surprising for many.
The change isn’t due to the content becoming less suitable for a younger audience or the addition of mature themes to the story.
CERO, the Japanese rating organization, has decided that the game’s photo mode, known as “Gpose” or “Group Pose,” would have to be restricted in order to keep the C rating, which means suitable for players 15-year-old and above.
This is likely due to the fact that players can get rather creative with the posing, which can result in portrayals that CERO deems inappropriate to the current rating.
Square Enix has decided not to budge and to preserve the ability of players to express themselves with the Gpose feature without further restrictions. As such, the rating of the game will change to CERO D (suitable for playrs 17-year-old and above) from the upcoming update 7.5.
In practice, nothing changes for existing players, besides the fact that those who are under 17 years of age are encouraged by Square Enix to consult their guardians.
CERO ratings from A to D only have an advisory value on Japan, and it’s legal to sell games with any of these ratings to players of any age. Only games rated CERO Z (18+) come with a legal restriction of their sale to minors.
This means that the change isn’t a massive deal, besides the fact that Square Enix’s refusal to budge according to the whims of the rating organization should be lauded, especially considering how much players enjoy the Gpose feature.
Update 7.5 will launch on April 28, 2026.
Final Fantasy XIV is currently available for PC, PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X|S. If you’re interested, you can read about the previous update 7.4 and its follow-up patches.
The community is preparing for the reveal of the next expansion, which will happen with the upcoming fan festivals in the United States, Europe, and Japan later this year.
