'Final Fantasy 14' fans honor late, beloved voice actor with touching in-game vigils

Final Fantasy 14  players are mourning over the passing of actor Stephen Critchlow, who played Edmont de Fortemps in the Heavensward expansion, TheGamer  reported Tuesday. In a moving tribute to Critchlow’s memory, fans are holding mass in-game vigils outside Fortemps Manor, where the late actor’s character lives. 

“It is with great sadness that we report the death of Stephen Critchlow, or ‘Critch’ to his friends,” Big Fish, a production company that Critchlow regularly worked with, said in a statement. “We were privileged to work with [Critchlow] on dozens of Big Fish audio dramas over the years.”

While Critchlow had notable roles on BBC audio dramas like The Archers, Doctor Who, and Torchwood, he lent his vocal talents to many video games as well, from first-person shooters like Killzone 3 to RPG hits such as Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Though to many, his work on Final Fantasy 14: Heavensward outshines it all

With great sadness we have learned that our dear colleague, Stephen Critchlow, has passed away. We were privileged to work with him on dozens of audio dramas. RIP. pic.twitter.com/172STFPnLs

— Big Finish (@bigfinish) September 19, 2021

Once word of the actor’s passing reached the ears of Final Fantasy 14 fans, hundreds immediately began congregating outside Fortemps Manor inside the game. Many stood in quiet silence for hours while others lit bonfires to commemorate the occasion. It’s a sight likely to yield misty-eyes even if you’re not familiar with Final Fantasy 14 — and it’s happening across all of the MMORPG’s servers right now.

Many fans are sharing screenshots, videos, and fanart from the vigil on social media that you can check out below. Be sure to bring tissue papers, though.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.