Moo Deng causes pet hippo prices to shoot up astronomically on 'Final Fantasy XIV'

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Final Fantasy XIV players are hungry, hungry to acquire a virtual baby hippo, thanks to Moo Deng, the pint-sized pygmy hippopotamus from Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo who has waddled her way into the hearts of the internet… and interestingly into the wallets of gamers.

 

Fans couldn’t resist the charm of this nearly three-month-old ball of blubber, and soon enough, her influence spilled over into the virtual world of FFXIV, causing an unexpected ripple in the game’s economy.

 

The game's Hippo Calf minion, a cosmetic pet that players can acquire, has seen its price surge tenfold.

 

 

 

 

 

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What was once a modest investment of 30,000 Gil now commands a whopping 300,000 Gil on some servers.

 

 

For those unwilling to shell out the big bucks, there’s still hope. The Hippo Calf minion can be obtained as a random drop in the Vanaspati dungeon, part of the Endwalker expansion. However, given the rarity of the drop, many players are opting to bite the bullet and purchase the minion directly from the market board, despite the inflated prices.

 

Who knew a tiny hippo could make such big waves in both the real and virtual worlds?


 

• https://kotaku.com/ff14-mmo-hippo-calf-price-increase-moo-deng-explained-1851661383 
• https://www.vg247.com/moo-deng-is-bankrupting-final-fantasy-14-players-because-of-hippo-calf-minion-prices 
• https://www.thegamer.com/final-fantasy-14-hippo-calf-price-moo-deng/ 
• https://www.esports.net/news/gaming/ffxiv-hippo-calf-moo-deng/ 

 

 

Images: FFXIV and Wannarat Jumnongtoy | Dreamstime.com