Final Fantasy 14 (FFXIV): Endwalker roadmap — Patch 6.1 'Newfound Adventures' is now available

Ffxiv Endwalker Letter From The Producer
Ffxiv Endwalker Letter From The Producer (Image credit: Square Enix)

Update March 4, 2022: Patch 6.1 will be implemented into Endwalker during mid-April 2022.

Update April 1, 2022: Patch 6.1's release date has been confirmed for April 12, 2022.

Update April 19, 2022: Patch 6.1 launched on April 12, 2022.

What you need to know

  • The director of Final Fantasy XIV, Naoki Yoshida, reveals the post-launch roadmap for its latest expansion, Endwalker.
  • The post-launch patches will include new side quests, new Raids, the debut of the Island Sanctuary, new dungeons, and more.
  • The Trust system will be receiving a massive update where it can made compatible with all Main Scenario Quests and 4-player Trials, starting from Patch 6.1.
  • Final Fantasy XIV will be receiving major graphical updates by the time the next expansion arrives.

The 68th edition of Square Enix's "Letter from the Producer" livestream has just aired. This is a livestream where the director of Final Fantasy XIV, Naoki Yoshida, and his development team discuss news updates for the popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV. After looking back on the 10-year history of Final Fantasy XIV, Naoki Yoshida announces Square Enix's future plans for the MMORPG as well the post-launch roadmap for Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, the latest expansion.

The first major announcement is that the Trust system will be getting a large update. For those unaware, the Trust System is a gameplay system that allows players to undertake dungeons with a party of NPCs if they can't find real players to join with or just want to play solo. This system was only applicable in the Main Scenario Quest (MSQ) dungeons found in later expansions such as Shadowbringers and Endwalker. However, starting from Patch 6.1, Square Enix will begin implementing the Trust System into all the previous Main Scenario Quest dungeon and 4-player Trials.

Speaking of the Main Scenario Quests, some of the older quests from FFXIV: A Realm Reborn will be getting reworked in future patches. The "Cape Westwind" Trial will no longer be an 8-player Trial, but instead a story-instanced boss fight that must be completed solo. This also applies to Lahabrea, one of the main villains of A Realm Reborn, found at the end of the "Preatorium" dungeon. He will be separated from the dungeon and given his own solo, story-instanced boss fight. In addition, the "Castrum Meridianum" and "Preatorium" dungeons will be changed from 8-player dungeons to 4-player dungeons.

The second major announcement is that Final Fantasy XIV will be getting graphical improvements in the future. These include upgraded textures, lighting, shaders, and resolution for character models and environments. These visual changes are expected to arrive in the next expansion after Endwalker, starting with improving the character models and then enhancing the environments afterward.

Finally, Naoki Yoshida announced the roadmap for Endwalker's post-launch patches.

Patch 6.1

  • The Trust System will be applied to the MSQ dungeons of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.
  • New Main Scenario quests and two new side quest series will begin in Endwalker. These series are the "Tataru's Grand Endeavor" side quests which involve one of the player's longtime NPC allies, Tataru. And the "Somehow Further Hildibrand Adventures" side quests will see the long-awaited comeback of fan-favorite, inspector-extraordinaire, Hildibrand Manderville.
  • Patch 6.1 will also include the first part of the 24-man Raid, "Myths of the Realm," a new PVP mode called "Crystalline Conflict," the Arkasodra side quests and dailies, the "Dragonsong's Reprisal" Ultimate Duty, and the return of the Unreal-difficulty boss fights with Ultima's Bane (Unreal). There will also be new hairstyles for Hrothgar race, a new Calling card-inspired system called Adventurer Plates, the opening of the Empyreum Ishgard Housing district, and new custom deliveries with Ameliance.

Patch 6.2

  • In Patch 6.2, the next part of the 8-man "Pandaemonium" Raid, a new weapon enhancement system, new Trials, new Faux Hollows, and the Animal Crossing-esque "Island Sanctuary" will be added. A new dungeon currently codenamed "Criterion" will also be added; this dungeon supports up to four players and is stated to have variable difficulty settings.
  • The Trust System will be implemented into the MSQ dungeons of A Realm Reborn's post-launch patches and two to three MSQ dungeons from Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward.

Patch 6.3

  • In Patch 6.3, the Trust System will be applied to all the remaining MSQ dungeons for Heavensward. Additionally, the third Deep Dungeon series, the second chapter of the "Myths of the Realm" raid, a new Ultimate Duty, new Faux Hollows, new Trials, and updates to Island Sanctuary will be included.

Patch 6.4/6.5

  • The Trust System will be applied to all the MSQ Dungeons of Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood.
  • Between Patches 6.4 and 6.5, more "Criterion" dungeons, new Trials and Faux Hollows, and an additional area for the Island Sanctuary will be added. There will be another chapter in the "Myths of the Realm" Raid, and the "Pandaemonium" Raid will reach its conclusion.

All this and so much more content is in the works for Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker. Patch 6.1 is planned to be released in April 2022, and the rest of the patches will be implemented on a four-month schedule (with an extra week for the summer and New Year's holidays).

Tune in for the next "Letter from the Producer" stream on March 4, 2022, where they'll be showcasing a preview of Patch 6.1's content. The stream will begin at March 4, 2022, 3 a.m. (PST) / March 4, 2022, at 6 a.m. (ET) / March 4, 2022, at 11 a.m. (GMT) / March 4, 2022, at 10 p.m. (AEDT).

Patch 6.1 "Newfound Adventures" release window announced

On March 4, 2022, the developers of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker announced the release window for Patch 6.1 during the 69th episode of "Letter from the Producer."

The Patch 6.1 update, which has now been titled "Newfound Adventures" will be released sometime in mid-April. In addition to all the new content previously announced for the update, there will be a new Trial (whose title will not be detailed here as it contains spoilers for Endwalker's story), a new dungeon, and a new quest called "Omega: Beyond the Rift."

Patch 6.1 "Newfound Adventures" arrives on April 12, 2022

During the 70th episode of "Letter from the Producer" on April 1, 2022, the developers of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker have confirmed that Patch 6.1 (aka "Newfound Adventures") will be released on April 12, 2022.

They also released a trailer that showcases a ton of content that will await players in this massive update. This includes new dungeons, new Trials, the new PVP mode, the 24-man "Myths of the Realm" Raid, the "Dragonsong Reprise" Ultimate Duty, new Main Scenario Quests, new side quests, and much more.

Patch 6.1 "Newfound Adventures" is now available

On April 12, 2022, Patch 6.1 (aka "Newfound Adventures") for Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker was been released.

This patch contains new Main Scenario Quests, new Role Quests, the first part of the 24-man "Myths of the Realm" Raid, new trials, a PVP mode called Crystalline Conquest, adjustments changes for every player Job, reworked dungeons from A Realm Reborn, the Duty Support System, Adventurer Plates, and more.

Alexander Cope

Alexander Cope is a gaming veteran of 30-plus years, primarily covering PC and Xbox games here on Windows Central. Gaming since the 8-bit era, Alexander's expertise revolves around gaming guides and news, with a particular focus on Japanese titles from the likes of Elden Ring to Final Fantasy. Alexander is always on deck to help our readers conquer the industry's most difficult games — when he can pry himself away from Monster Hunter that is!