Final Fantasy XIV Joins Sydney Mardi Gras

In a first for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras‘ 41-year history, Sydney Gaymers and Final Fantasy XIV Online have announced a collaboration to bring the first video game based float to the annual LGBTQI+ event in Sydney.
The collaboration will see players, the 2,600 strong members of Sydney Gaymers and the team of Final Fantasy XIV getting together to create a one of a kind float known as ‘Realms United’.

Quotes from the organisers

Peak Distapan, the organiser for Sydney Gaymers, had the following to say:

“Sydney Gaymers is thrilled to be collaborating with FINAL FANTASY XIV Online for its 2019 float entry, titled Realms United.  It means so much to receive direct support, validation and acknowledgement from such a force in the industry. Not only that, to be supported by a game where so much of our community and values are represented. The FINAL FANTASY XIV Online community does not discriminate and respects everyone’s freedom and their individual values equally. For many LGBTQI+ people, online communities provide a space for the journey and exploration of personal identities They allow us to connect, and celebrate, and they reinforce that we are not alone. Sydney Gaymers could not have a better sponsor to help create the most ambitious float it has ever undertaken.”

Final Fantasy XIV Online producer and director, Naoki Yoshida had this take on this amazing collaboration:

“This collaboration could never have been realised without the efforts of our community. When FFXIV took part in PAX Australia, it was the FFXIVplayers in Australia who offered us the greatest welcome and utmost support. This led on to our community and Sydney Gaymers working together to make the collaboration a reality. To see it makes me very happy indeed, both as the person in charge of FFXIV and also as just another player of the game. FFXIV is another world that continues to grow and expand online. In that world people become adventurers, known as the Warriors of Light, and can continue to be free. I would like to continue developing this world, hand in hand with communities across the globe.”

More on Sydney Gaymers

This will be the fifth year Sydney Gaymers have participated in the annual two-week long Mardi Gras. The inclusion of video games in the parade in an official capacity like this is incredibly exciting. Hopefully, it’s an indicator for how integrated with our culture they’re becoming. It also shows how seriously developers are taking inclusion and participating in diverse communities.
More information about the collaboration is coming soon.
Source: FFXIV Press Release