Final Fantasy 14 gets a brand-new gaming keypad & it’s such a throwback

Final Fantasy 14 is getting its own officially licensed gaming keypad compatible with PC and PS5, thanks to the new Tactical Assault Commander Black Edition by Hori.

Whether you’re a Final Fantasy XIV Online veteran, or still a newbie sprout, chances are you’ve given what peripherals you use to play your favorite MMO some deep thought. For console players on the PlayStation 5 or the Xbox Series X/S, controllers like the DualSense and Xbox Wireless Controller are likely the preferred way to play. While PC players may opt for a more traditional mouse and keyboard setup.

With the ongoing onslaught of attacks to avoid, and rotations to remember, making sure you’re well-equipped to take on whatever FF14 throws at you is important. Luckily, there are some FF14-branded accessories available at your disposal, if you want to take down raid bosses in style, though so far they’ve only taken the form of a controller and a wearable speaker.

For those looking for something more aligned with a gaming keyboard, you’re in luck. HORI, known for making some of the best third-party peripherals, is releasing the Tactical Assault Commander Final Fantasy XIV Black Edition.

Gaming keypads get modern makeover

The Tactical Assault Commander by design isn’t anything new. Plenty of the biggest names in tech have manufactured their version of this niche PC gaming accessory over the last decade and change. Razer has the Tartarus V2 gaming keypad, which comes decked out with RGB in case your PC gaming setup doesn’t already have enough. Even Logitech has the G13 Programmable Gameboard, and RedDragon also has its K585 DITI one-handed gaming keypad.

While the Tactical Assault Commander isn’t a new product, this is the first time we’ve seen an officially licensed gaming keypad available in the West, with a swanky new colorway. The upcoming peripheral is made of an ergonomic keypad, an adjustable analog stick, and a wrist pad for all your comfort needs. There are 21 programmable keys at your disposal, to personalize as you see fit and up to eight profiles can be saved to the device.

If you aren’t a PC FFXIV player, the gamepad is compatible with the PS4 and PS5, so console players can still get in on the action. You’ll still be able to use the PC companion app that will allow any saved settings to be functional with the Sony console.

The HORI Tactical Assault Commander Final Fantasy XIV Black Edition is up for pre-order at Square Enix for a hefty $139.99 and will be shipping sometime this April. If you prefer to save your cash for mounts and accessories on the FFXIV online shop, we won’t blame you. However, with Dawntrail just around the corner, it may be an ideal way to take on the latest expansion.