There’s controller players and keyboard players in Final Fantasy XIV, but did you know there was a secret third option? That’s what FFXIV and peripheral maker HORI have teamed up once again to offer with the Tactical Assault Commander F14 (FINAL FANTASY XIV Black Edition). This new black edition of the HORI Tactical Assault Commander F14 was revealed today (Jan. 25) and offers a unique way to play the game.
Combining ergonomic design with an analog stick and 21 programmable keys, this gamepad appears to offer the best of both worlds whether you’re a controller stalwart or a keyboard and mouse puritan. This device appears to be an enhanced version of the Tactical Assault Commander F14 released by HORI in 2019. That edition bore a somewhat more old-school silver and black color scheme. Five years later and the Tactical Assault Commander is back, this time in black.
The HORI Tactical Assault Commander F14 Black Edition is compatible with PC, PS5, and PS4, as per the HORI website. Each of the 21 keys are programmable, and you can have eight profiles, meaning 168 possible key combinations for this kit.
The gamepad comes with its own companion app which allows you to switch between profiles, toggle the backlighting, and switch between multiple modes. You can also adjust the analog stick with its own deadzone, allowing you to completely customize your experience.
The HORI Tactical Assault Commander F14 was reportedly originally created under the supervision of Naoki “Yoshi-P” Yoshida himself when it first launched, as stated by the description in older listings. This version is a fully-licensed FFXIV piece of equipment, and has differences from other versions of the HORI Tactical Assault Commander controller series to optimize it for the MMO.
Overall, it looks like this piece of equipment would be most useful for PlayStation users (and potentially new Xbox users, later in the year, if it’s compatible). Having 21 keys isn’t going to replace a full keyboard, but it's a nice compromise between the compactness and convenience of controller and the versatility of keyboard and mouse.
HORI is a third-party computer and console accessory maker that specializes in controllers of all kinds, from fight sticks, to steering wheels, and gamepads. For more information on the HORI Tactical Assault Commander F14 game pad, you can head to the official website.
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