On November 11, 2026, Square Enix and the Final Fantasy XIV team announced on social media the passing of Eikichi Iwai, the bassist for the band The Primals. For those who don’t know, The Primals are a band composed of FFXIV developers who play songs from the game itself, specifically in the heavy metal genre. Other members of the band include composer Masayoshi Soken and Michael-Christopher Koji Fox, and they perform in standalone concerts and festivals.
“Having witnessed his truly unforgettable performance on stage at the recent FINAL FANTASY XIV Fan Festival in Japan, the sudden news of his passing has come as a profound shock. The members of THE PRIMALS and the entire FFXIV Development and Operations teams are overcome with deep sorrow,” reads part of the social media post from the FFXIV and The Primals teams. “As we reflect on all that Eikichi-san has left behind, our thoughts are with him, and we offer our heartfelt condolences.”
Just minutes after the announcement, Final Fantasy XIV’s players gathered in social areas across the majority of servers to honor Iwai. This tribute included sitting down side by side with a campfire and sharing stories of Iwai and the music the band has created. We have written before on the kindness and goodwill among the Final Fantasy XIV community. No community is perfect, but the majority of players in FFXIV are always willing to help, and these actions prove it.
This, however, isn’t the first time the FFXIV community synchronizes to pay homage to special people. For example, with the passing of Akira Toriyama, many players gathered similarly in social hubs in respect, while many others prepared their Warriors of Light with special outfits inspired by Toriyama’s characters.
For more on Final Fantasy XIV, stay tuned to GameObserver.
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