Final Fantasy XIV

Square Enix has announced the fifth expansion pack for Final Fantasy XIV Online; Dawntrail. The expansion was revealed by Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida during his keynote at the Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival 2023 in Las Vegas.

Players can look forward to the following features that are included:

• Journey to the New World, Tural, and its capital, Tuliyollal
• Explore new areas, including the mountainous Urqopacha and the forest of Yak T’el
• New Allied Tribes, including the diminutive Pelupelu who wear distinctive masks and inhabit Urqopacha
• Level Cap increase from 90 to 100
• Multiple New Jobs
• Core Battle Content including FATEs, Hunts, Treasure Hunts and Sidequests
• New Dungeons
• New Threats, including Valigarmanda
• Duty Support Update
• New Gear and Recipes
• Expansive New Lifestyle Content
• New Variant Dungeons, Alliance Raid, 8-Player Raid and Ultimate Raid
• PvP Update
• Ongoing Content Updates, including a Blue Mage Update, Inconceivably Further Hildibrand Adventures, New Plans for Deep Dungeons and a Gold Saucer Update

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntraiil (version 7.0) is set to launch in Summer 2024. You can watch the announcement trailer here.

Dawntraiil will also feature the first graphical update for both character and world visuals of the game including improvements to screen-wide aesthetic appeal, higher resolution textures and shadows and improved material qualities.

Also during the keynote Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, joined the stage to confirm the long awaited release on Xbox Series X|S in Spring 2024 with a open beta during the Patch 6.5x series.

During the latest Letter from the Producer LIVE Final Fantasy XIV Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida has announced that the release of the fourth expansion pack Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker will be delayed by two weeks. The new release date will be 7 December 2021, with early access starting on 3 December 2021.

Noki Yoshida has provided the following statement regarding the reasons for the change:

“We sincerely apologize for postponing the release at the last minute on this occasion. FINAL FANTASY XIV: Endwalker is both the latest expansion pack for the game and the one that will conclude the Hydaelyn and Zodiark saga spanning 11 years since the launch of the original FFXIV.

“We will of course deliver a new adventure in FFXIV to follow on from Endwalker but, with the various struggles we experienced from the failure of the original FFXIV leading up to where we are now, I just couldn’t contain my desire to perfect Endwalker to the best of my ability. As a result, the time we spent on quality improvement exceeded our expectations and we ended up using our time allotted for debugging. On the other hand, as stability is crucial for an online game, I have taken the decision to postpone the release of the expansion pack for two weeks in order to resecure the time for debugging that would arise as we wrap up development.

“Once more, I’d like to convey my deepest apologies to all of our Warriors of Light and partners for the inconvenience this has caused. We will continue to do our utmost to bring you the best adventure in Endwalker and to expand the game experience through further updates that will follow, in order to restore your trust step by step.”

On the official website you can read an additonal message from Yoshida directly to the Final Fantasy XIV community.

The following new content is set to arrive with Endwalker:

• Crafter and Gatherer Updates – New crafting and gathering actions will be added along with adjustments for existing actions. Additionally, Studium Deliveries, which are similar to Crystarium Deliveries, will be added for Disciples of the Hand and Land to experience, with extra quests available upon completing all of the new questlines. 
• New Role Quests – Players can look forward to a new series of role quests for tank, healer, melee DPS, physical ranged DPS, and magical ranged DPS. Players who complete all five role questlines can look forward to extra quests in a future patch update.
• New Raids – Yoshida offered a first look at the Pandæmonium raid during the broadcast. Normal and Savage difficulties will be available for players to challenge in the forthcoming 6.01 and 6.05 patch updates respectively. 
• New Treasure Hunt Dungeon – A new treasure hunt dungeon, The Excitatron 6000, will arrive with Patch 6.05 and offer new chances at rare treasure and spoils. 
• New Housing Area – The Ishgardian housing area, Empyreum, will be available to visit beginning at the launch of Endwalker, with plots becoming available for purchase with the release of Patch 6.1. 
• Expansive System Updates – New Allagan tomestones, crafter and gatherer scrips, updates to the achievement UI, and more will also be added with the upcoming patch updates.

Also major updates are coming to PvP in Patch 6.1:

• 5v5 Competition – “Crystal Conflict” will introduce 5v5 team gameplay and an updated matching system that will pair players of similar skill levels together. 
• Exciting PvP Gameplay – Players will fight for control of a crystal in the middle of the arena as they work to keep control of it long enough for it to be pushed into the opposing team’s goal. Crystal Conflict will feature three playable match types depending on play preference: Casual Match, Ranked Match and Custom Match. 
• Ranked Seasons – PvP seasons will be available through Crystal Conflict, offering rewards for those who participate and climb the rankings. Additionally, a new “Series Level” feature allows players to gain rewards such as mounts and equipment simply by participating in PvP matches and earning rewards by raising their Series EXP.

Below the patch schedule and you can watch the launch trailer:

• 3 December 2021: Early Access
• 7 December 2021: 6.0 Launch
• 21 December 2021: Patch 6.01
• 4 January 2022: Patch 6.05

During the opening keynote of the Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival 2021 Naoki Yoshida, producer and director, has announced that the fourth expansion, Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker, will be released on 23 November 2021 and is now available for pre-order. He also revealed new information about the content featured in the expansion. Due to the COVID-19 pandanmic, the Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival 2021 is digital only and can be viewed by stream.

The following new content and features for Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker were announced during the opening keynote:

• New Job: Reaper
• New Playable Race: Male Viera
• New City: Old Sharlayan
• Travel to Expansive New Areas: Labyrinthos and Mare Lamentorum
• New Tribes to Encounter: Loporrits
• New Threats to Overcome: The Magus Sisters
• New Alliance Raid Series: “Myths of the Realm”
• A New Data Center: Oceania

Square Enix has also revealed information about the Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker Collections Edition which will be available for pre-order in the Square Enix Store. This edition will feature the digital download version of the game with the following items:

• Endwalker Special Art Box – A unique glossy white-inlaid box that features an illustration of Hydaelyn and Zodiark by artist Yoshitaka Amano.
• Expertly Crafted Paladin Figure – An impressive high-quality figure that showcases the Warrior of Light as a paladin using Passage of Arms to shield allies from harm. Including the base, the figure’s dimensions are approximately W 6.10" x D 8.46" x H 7.28" (W 15.5cm x D 21.5cm x H 18.5cm).
• Art Collection & Frame Set – A collection of ten B5-sized (approx. 7.2" x 10.1" / 18.2cm x 25.7cm) art prints featuring key visuals from throughout the history of FINAL FANTASY XIV, from version 1.0 through Endwalker. The set also includes a frame so you can showcase your favorite image.
• Azem Pin – A pin created to mimic the appearance of Azem's crystal. Designed to fit in the palm of your hand at approximately 1" x 1.2" (2.5cm x 3.0cm).
• Loporrit Mini Plush – A mini plush version of a Loporrit. The plush is approximately 6.5" tall (16.5cm).

Also a digital edition is available for pre-order in the Square Enix Store, PlayStation Store and on Steam.

Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker will be available on 23 November 2021 for PC, Mac, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Players who pre-order the expansion can start playing the game on 19 November 2021 at 09:00 GMT. If you haven't watched the Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival 2021, it can be viewed on YouTube and Twitch.

Square Enix has released Patch 5.3, the final update for Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers, titled Reflections in Crystal. This patch also adds an abundance of new content, including the second instalment of YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse.

Further details on Patch 5.3 content are outlined below:

• New Main Scenario Quests – The Scions endeavour to shed light upon the Ascian Elidibus’ dark plot in the final act of the Shadowbringers storyline.
• Main Scenario Questline Update: A Realm Reborn – The main scenario is now streamlined in terms of overall length, with adjustments to experience point gain and gear rewards for quest completion. Additionally, players will also be able to use flying mounts in A Realm Reborn areas upon completion of The Ultimate Weapon quest.
• Expanded Free Trial – The free trial now offers unlimited playtime and a level cap of 60, along with access to Heavensward content, an additional playable race (Au Ra), and an additional three playable jobs (Dark Knight, Astrologian, and Machinist).
• New YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse Alliance Raid – The white-robed android 2P awakens at last, but so too does an unforeseen danger to Komra in the next chapter of this NieR-inspired alliance raid, The Puppets’ Bunker.
• New “Chronicles of a New Era” Quest: The Sorrow of Werlyt – Part of the ‘Weapon Series’ questline, players can enjoy a story-focused experience culminating in a special event battle.
• New Dungeon: The Heroes’ Gauntlet – The whole of Norvrandt has become a battlefield across which the Warriors of Darkness must fight their way. Players can tackle this new challenge alongside fellow adventurers, or a party of non-player characters, using the Trust system.
• New Trial: A fearsome new foe possessed of immeasurable might has arisen to test Warriors of Darkness in both normal and extreme difficulties.
• New Tribe Quests – A new crafter-focused questline featuring the dwarves.
• New Game+ Updates – The class quests from A Realm Reborn are now be available for players to revisit while retaining their current character and level. Patch 5.35 will see the addition of the revamped A Realm Reborn main scenario quests as well.
• New Battle Content: Unreal Trials – Players can challenge a powered-up version of Shiva, who will now prove a fierce challenge for level 80 heroes. Unreal Trials will feature one primal fight which rotates with each patch.
• Crafter and Gatherer Updates – New custom deliveries, updates to Rowena's House of Splendors, and an update to the Skysteel Tools questline headline several crafter and gatherer updates. Additionally, recipe search functionality will be improved for ease of use.
• YO-KAI WATCH Collaboration Returns – The YO-KAI WATCH collaboration event, Gather One, Gather All returns to FINAL FANTASY XIV Online beginning August 19^th and includes new YO-KAI WATCH-themed rewards for players to earn.
• Ishgard Restoration Update (Patch 5.31) – The third phase of restoration begins following the efforts of the Skybuilders. Skybuilder Rankings return, with new items for players to craft and new achievements for top contributors to the restoration efforts.
• Save the Queen Questline Updates (Patch 5.35) – Players can enhance weapons obtained in the first chapter of this quest series as they explore The Bozjan Southern Front, a new area where the Bozjan Resistance has begun Operation Eagle's Nest in a bid to regain Alermuc Fortress from the Empire.
• Job Adjustments for PvE and PvP, System Updates, and more.

Additional details about this patch can be found on The Lodestone. You can watch the trailer, which was released 2 weeks ago, below.

Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers is the third expansion of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, after Heavensward and Stormblood. Recently this MMORPG has surpassed 20 million registered users, marking it very successful.