Final Fantasy XIV's new 7.1 hairstyle controversy, explained

Final Fantasy XIV Patch 7.1 is filled to the brim with new content and changes. Among all the new things is a new hairstyle named "Doing the Wave," inspired by a winning entry from the 2023 in-game hairstyle design contest. However, this new hairstyle has already sparked controversy within the community.

The main complaint players have is that the hairstyle Square Enix added is quite different from the winning entry. Although the developers have shared that they have only taken “inspiration” from the winning entry, the community is not very happy with the iteration added to the game.

---

What was the original concept of "Doing the Wave" in Final Fantasy XIV?

The hairstyle variation that has been added to the game (Image via Square Enix || YouTube/Meoni)

"Natural Curls," the contest-winning design, had natural, tightly coiled hair, with curls on the top and sides. Overall, it looked quite realistic and had great representational value. Since the release, many players have felt that the game’s customization options are somewhat restrictive, especially when it comes to having options to create a character based on people of color.

The original concept (Image via Square Enix)

With Patch 7.1 Square Enix tried to bring some inclusivity to the game with the “Doing the Wave” hairstyle, but instead of tight, defined curls, the hairstyle featured loose, relaxed waves and an asymmetrical style with a noticeably longer right side. This version was way off compared to the original, which made the community have heated conversions on the official forum.

---

Square Enix’s response to the Final Fantasy XIV's new 7.1 hairstyle controversy

SE official response to the new hairstyle controversy. byu/Andrew_Rumbuckle25 inffxiv

However, Square Enix soon addressed the controversy in a formal statement, acknowledging the community’s disappointment and explaining the challenges behind the hairstyle’s redesign. According to the developers, technical difficulties in rendering curls due to the restrictions of the game engine had forced them to make alterations to the original concept.

In the statement, the developers shared that although it wasn’t possible to implement the hairstyle in the current patch, they are currently working on other ways they can add the hairstyle in future updates. Nevertheless, the community is positive that Square Enix will take this issue as a lesson and may try more inclusive options.