Final Fantasy XIV players are paying tribute to the bassist of the game’s official band, mourning him and celebrating his legacy with virtual, in-game funerals across servers worldwide.
Eikichi Iwai was the bass guitarist for The Primals, a band formed specifically to make some of the music in Square Enix’s extremely popular MMORPG. While they aren’t the only ones responsible for some of the game’s iconic tunes, they’re certainly some of the most notable, and they’ve become a firm fixture in the Final Fantasy fanbase over the years.
Iwai’s death was officially announced on November 11, 2026 by his own rock band, Chirinuruwowa, and the Final Fantasy XIV development team, the latter of which penned a public letter to fans informing them of the news.
“As announced earlier today, we are deeply saddened to share the news of the sudden passing of bassist Eikichi Iwai,” the statement reads. “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.
“As we reflect on all that Eikichi-san has left behind, our thoughts are with him, and we offer our heartfelt condolences.”
Chirinuruwowa published a similar statement on social media. “We regret to inform you that our bassist, Iwaieikichi, has passed away suddenly,” the group wrote. “The sudden news of his passing has left all of us in the band and on the staff struggling to come to terms with it, and we are deeply saddened.” The band also informed fans that all upcoming performances in their Endless Loop 2026 -Public- tour have been cancelled.
Iwai’s death sent shockwaves throughout the FFXIV playerbase. In acknowledgement of his legacy as a performer and paying tribute to his contributions to the game, these players gathered together within their respective servers to hold virtual funerals in some of the MMORPG’s fantastical locales.
For example, players on the European server Omega formed a circle around Limsa Lominsa’s Aetheryte Plaza, lighting campfires in remembrance of the bassist. And in the Sephirot, Materia DC server, players hung out for more than seven hours at Ultima Thule, calmly sitting in its field of flowers.
Fans, content creators, and fellow members of the games industry have shared their own fond memories of the game and the impact Iwai’s music had on their lives.
@FF_XIV_EN A small memorial for Eikichi Iwai on Omega (Chaos). Thank you for everything, Iwai-san. Your final performance at Tokyo Fan Fest was incredible Chaos DC・オメガでイワイエイキチさんを偲ぶ小さな集まりを開きます。 イワイさん、ありがとう。東京ファンフェスでの最後の演奏最高でした https://t.co/2204TnVxIU
— Lorenzo (@_kefka_) November 11, 2026
Somehow some people are still here 7 hours later (I’ve just been doing other stuff)
I’ll just leave my character here overnight as I’m going to sleep if anyone wants to continue the memorial feel free to come here at Ultima Thule, Sephirot, Materia DC
#THEPRIMALS #ffxiv https://t.co/l0YB7Ny45Q
— Veridis (@VeridisArpegius) November 11, 2026
イワイエイキチさん
いつも素晴らしいエネルギッシュなLIVEをありがとうございました
イフリート鯖のイフリートの祭壇 (X35.2 Y19.8)の追悼の場からお悔やみ申し上げます
#FF14
#THEPRIMALS https://t.co/Mi2oJtMiS5
— おーびー (@IMPAWD) November 11, 2026
“This one truly hurts… Words just can’t describe the shock and grief I’m feeling right now,” YouTuber and game composer Alex Moukala wrote. “FFXIV fans lost an absolute icon. Many bass players around the world lost a hero. And those who knew Eikichi-san personally lost an incredibly kind friend. Rest in peace, Eikichi-san.”
“Eikichi-san was an absolute legend. This is so sudden and devastating. My sincere condolences to his family and friends. May he rest in peace,” another fan said.
Iwai was 57 years old at the time of his death. He joined The Primals in 2014 and has been performing with the band ever since. The group held a concert at a Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival in Tokyo, Japan on November 1, and further performances were planned for Chirinuruwowa — concerts that have since been canceled in the wake of this tragic news.
Image Credit: EllyRedacted, Twitter/X
Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she’s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.
