It's been nearly two years since Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) released the Dawntrail expansion in 2024, taking the popular Final Fantasy MMORPG's story beyond the Hydaelyn and Zodiark Saga and to the "New World" of Tural. Indeed, players across Xbox, PC, and PlayStation have been waiting to see the next big DLC for quite a while — and now, thanks to a new reveal, we know where we're headed next.

Square Enix and Creative Studio 3 — and FFXIV director Naoki "Yoshi-P" Yoshida, specifically — officially announced the next expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Evercold, during the opening keynote of the FFXIV Fan Festival 2026 in Anaheim. It was revealed with a lengthy four and a half minute-long teaser trailer at the start of the presentation, with additional details shared by Yoshi-P afterwards.

Notably, the end of the trailer confirmed a release window of January 2027 for the DLC, which came as quite a surprise; typically, the developers don't announce an expansion's release date when it's revealed, but it makes sense in this case since Evercold is only nine months away.

Our introduction to the story of Evercold is told through the perspective of a grandmother telling her granddaughter a story in the trailer. After debuting the trailer, Yoshi-P revealed that the expansion will take us to The Fourth — one of the surviving 14 reflections ("shards") of the sundered world of Etheirys.

Similar to how The Ninth was beset by overwhelming storms of lightning aether, The Fourth has been racked by a calamity of ice that's brought death to much of the life on the planet — though teaser screenshots of various locations we'll be visiting on the reflection suggest that it's not completely ravaged by the cold.

One such place visible in the trailer is a series of floating islands similar to Heavensward's Sea of Clouds, where we see the Warrior of Light, the Azure Dragoon Estinien, and Scion of the Seventh Dawn Alphinaud battling a swarm of constructs.

Presumably, we'll be fighting to stop The Fourth from succumbing to the "ever-spreading ice," and will perhaps be working with Xaela Au Ra that reside there; a praying Xaela woman and a Xaela man behind her are briefly seen before a colossal structure of ice, with the woman mysteriously vanishing into snow soon after.

Little else about Evercold is known beyond this, though Yoshi-P did show artwork of "arcane giants roaming the ice" and note the danger they pose "is going to be massive." He then posed a question: "Are they friend or foe? Or are they gods?" The wording there is particularly interesting, given that Evercold is progressing a new story arc titled "The Godless Realms Saga."

Finding the answer to that question will surely be an important part of Evercold's narrative. Further details about it aren't likely to come until the next FFXIV Fanfest event in Berlin in July, though Yoshi-P did note that FFXIV Patch 7.5 — releasing next week on April 28 — will begin setting it up with the Main Scenario Quest.

Are you looking forward to learning more about FFXIV: Evercold, and eventually playing the expansion when it comes out in January next year? Let me know what you thought of the announcement in the comments, and vote in our poll as well.

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Final Fantasy XIV remains one of the most popular MMOs in the world, with a huge and dedicated player base. Even within my own family, I have seen how easy it is to sink thousands of hours into Square Enix’s long-running online RPG.

However, US-based players attempting to take part in the newly released savage raid tier (Arcadion: Heavyweight Division) are running into serious problems. Since the eight-player savage content went live, North American servers have been repeatedly disrupted by ongoing DDoS attacks, causing players to be disconnected mid-content, lose progress, and face repeated queue times when trying to rejoin.

Reports from the community suggest these attacks have occurred multiple times per day in some cases, with players tracking as many as 15 incidents in a single day. With event progression heavily affected, frustration is growing over why the issue persists and how long it will take to stabilise.

Repeated DDoS attacks are disrupting progression, queues, and organized play

Players across North America describe the issue as frequent and predictable rather than isolated. Many report disconnects occurring roughly once per hour during peak playtimes, with some sessions seeing multiple drops in quick succession.

Several players say the problem worsens after entering instanced content, particularly savage raids. In those cases, a single disconnect can immediately end an attempt or force an entire group to disband.

Adding further frustration, players on European and Japanese servers appear largely unaffected. Some North American players have attempted to switch to Oceania servers, only for those servers to experience disruption as well. That imbalance leaves North American players at a disadvantage during a competitive raid release, where players battle it out to be the first ones to finish the raid.

With the issue persisting across multiple patches, frustration is increasingly aimed at Square Enix’s communication. Players are asking for clearer reassurance and long-term stability from a paid subscription service, particularly as this is not the first time similar problems have occurred.

While Square Enix has acknowledged the disruptions through brief updates, players report that disconnects continued as recently as yesterday. For many, that gap between acknowledgement and resolution is becoming harder to ignore.

Have you been affected by the recent DDoS attacks in Final Fantasy XIV? Let us know how the server disruptions have impacted your playtime by commenting and taking part in our poll below.

During its pre-Tokyo Game Show 2025 program, Capcom hosted a presentation for Monster Hunter Wilds' 3rd Title Update, which is confirmed to launch on September 29, 2025.

In this presentation, we were given an in-depth look at the game's upcoming collaboration with Final Fantasy XIV, in which players will be tasked to hunt Omega Planetes, a monster inspired by one of Final Fantasy's most infamous superbosses.

It turns out this Title Update 3 will be even crazier than we initially thought from its Gamescom trailer.

This is because the update will give the players the power to assume the Dark Knight and Pictmancer Jobs from Final Fantasy XIV, a new Arch-Tempered version of Nu Udra to fight, a ton of cosmetics to collect from fighting Omega Planetes, Event Quests, DLC, and more.

Here's a round-up of all the news on Monster Hunter Wilds' 3rd Title Update.

Everything coming in Monster Hunter Wilds' 3rd title update

Monster Hunter Wilds' 3rd Title Update will add a new quest where players get to meet Alpha and Omega, a couple of characters traveling from Final Fantasy XIV.

They need your help to stop Omega Planetes from invading your world and blowing it to space dust.

Omega Planetes will be one of the toughest battles in the game yet, as it will blast players with a barrage of lasers, missiles, and rocket fists to reduce them to smithereens.

If players manage to defeat this mechanical marauder, they'll be rewarded with materials to craft special equipment lifted directly from Final Fantasy XIV.

One of the things this special equipment includes is the Bale Armor, a Dark Knight gear set from Final Fantasy XIV's Shadowbringers expansion.

This armor possesses the "Soul of the Dark Knight", a set-bonus armor skill that lets players activate "The Blackest Night" ability, which consumes a portion of the player's health to form a shield and then counterattack if an enemy hits it.

There will also be a new Great Sword to go with the Bale Armor called Shadowbringer, which possesses a mysterious, passive weapon skill that boosts your attacks.

Another piece of special equipment you can forge from Omega Planetes materials is the Soul of the Pictomancer. This item lets you wield the powers of the Pictomancer Job introduced in Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail.

With magical paint and brush, you can conjure works of art to come to life and attack your enemies with a flurry of magical mayhem.

The Soul of the Pictomancer and Bale Armor's "The Blackest Night" abilities can be activated as an item in your item hotbar or through custom radial menu shortcuts, much like Akuma's abilities from Monster Hunter Wilds' Street Fighter VI crossover update.

The rest of the rewards for taking part in the Final Fantasy XIV collaboration include a cosmetic costume for the Seikret that transforms it into a chocobo, an armor that transforms a Palico into a Morbol, and various pendants, gestures, hunter profile backgrounds, and hunter profile poses.

The rest of the presentation then discusses other content that will be available in the 3rd Title update, which is as follows:

• Arch-Tempered Nu Udra
• New DLC gestures.
• Cosmetic DLC Pack 3 which will include new cosmetics, quest completion animations, music, Pop-up tent items, and more.
• New Event quests and Challenge quests.
• A new autumn event called Dreamspell.

The presentation then capped with a teaser for Monster Hunter Wilds' 4th Title Update, which will arrive in December 2025.

This teaser reveals that the next monster players will face is Gogmazios, the final boss of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate.

This gargantuan Elder Dragon is regarded as one of the toughest bosses in the entire franchise for its unholy strength, producing endless amounts of oil to trap players in, and firing laser beams that can kill players in one shot, even with endgame gear.

In addition to Gogmazios, the 4th Title Update will have various gameplay improvements, expanded Endgame content, and a winter-themed seasonal event.

Congratulations, Capcom, you've gotten me to care about Monster Hunter Wilds again

I never thought I'd say this, especially after ranting about Monster Hunter Wilds' lackluster difficulty at launch, but I'm beyond excited to play Monster Hunter Wilds again after seeing this update's full details.

Omega Planetes looks really cool and faithful to the Omega boss fight in Final Fantasy XIV. I also think the new gear looks insane, and seeing Gogmazios finally make a comeback to the mainline series after so many years is a pure delight to see.

I can't wait to join the hunt again and reduce Omega Planetes to scrap when Monster Hunter Wilds' 3rd Title Update launches on September 29, 2025.

Monster Hunter Wilds is available for purchase on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.

Final Fantasy XIV has been receiving massive heat from its fanbase as of late, as people have been review bombing Final Fantasy's popular MMORPG on Steam.

The reason this is happening is that fans are upset at Square Enix for shutting down a popular PC mod for the game called Mare Synchronos.

Mare Synchronos is a mod that allows players to see other people's mods in-game, whether its cosmetic or gameplay. For example, this mod can let you see a player equipped with a unique armor set and perform abilities not officially available in the normal version of Final Fantasy XIV.

When Square Enix caught wind of this mod, it filed a cease and desist order demanding that its creator, "Her Royal Fluffness", to shut Mare Synchronos down.

The mod creator complied with the demands and announced the mod's shutdown on August 21, 2025.

Final Fantasy XIV Mod, Mare Synchronos, is shutting down from r/ffxiv

Fans reacted to this news with so much rage and disappointment, that they posted over 400 negative reviews on the game's Steam page within 48 hours between 21-23 August, 2025.

While this number doesn't represent the entire fandom, as the game still has an overall positive review reception on Steam, it is still the biggest backlash Final Fantasy XIV has seen in a long while.

In fact, I haven't seen this game get this much heat since the troubled launch of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker in 2021, where fans were complaining about the absurdly long-queue windows and server issues so bad that Square Enix had to temporarily halt the game's sales to fix them.

Final Fantasy 14 Is Being Review Bombed On Steam Following Mare Synchronos Take Down from r/gaming

This isn't the first time Square Enix has cracked down on PC mods, as earlier this year, it shut down a mod that enabled stalker behavior.

In addition, Square Enix also banned mods that zoomed the camera out further than normal, damage meter mods, and hitbox-reveal mods, which some people used to cheat their way into beating Ultimate Raid bosses during World First Races.

Like those times before this one, the shutdown of Mare Synchronos mod has sparked debates among the fans, with fans arguing for and against it.

The mod's supporters decry Square Enix, with Steam reviews saying that it's unfair of the company to remove purely cosmetic mods that do not harm the game at all, and should focus their time more on making the core game better.

Meanwhile, the people who defend this choice say that Square Enix made the right decision. It's been claimed by a Mare Synchronos alpha tester (which has been shared on Reddit) that the mod has been causing major errors within Final Fantasy XIV's online servers.

These errors alerted Square Enix to the situation and prompted the company to shut down the mod for the good of the game's health.

To mod or not to mod

As a lover of PC mods like the gargantuan library of PC mods for Monster Hunter World: Iceborne or the relatively young but rapidly expanding catalog of Clair Obsur: Expedition 33 mods, my take on this situation is somewhat mixed.

On the one hand, I'm opposed to the removal of purely cosmetic mods as they don't hurt the gameplay and don't count as cheating, as they merely give the game a new coat of paint.

So long as a mod doesn't result in cheating or breaking the game, I feel it should be left alone and allow the mod's creator to express their artistic creativity in ways that will ultimately give the game more life and attract more people to it.

On the other hand, if the claims that the Mare Synchronos mod has been causing server issues, then I think it's a necessary evil to remove it, as it may have done more harm than good for the whole game in the long run.

What's sad is that this drama has been completely overshadowing Final Fantasy XIV's recent positive developments.

The MMORPG had dropped its massive 7.3 update on August 14 and announced a crossover event with Monster Hunter Wilds at Gamescom 2025.

With Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail's main story coming to a close with the 7.3 patch, it's only a matter of time before we see Square Enix set the stage for the game's next expansion.

While I was very disappointed with Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail's lackluster plot, I did enjoy the new Jobs, new bosses, and Final Fantasy IX homages it had to offer.

Hopefully, whatever Square Enix has up its sleeves for the next expansion will be interesting enough to pull me back into the world of Eorzea once more...if it can somehow manage to pull me away from World of Warcraft, and its upcoming epic expansion, World of Warcraft: Midnight, that is.

Capcom and Square Enix took the stage at Gamescom 2025 to reveal that Monster Hunter Wilds will get an upcoming crossover event with Final Fantasy XIV and vice versa.

In Monster Hunter Wilds, players will get a chance to ride the Final Fantasy series' iconic Chocobos as cosmetic skins for the Seikret mounts and catch the speedy Cactuar to add their Endemic Life collection.

In addition, Monster Hunter Wilds will add a boss from Final Fantasy XIV to its extensive monster roster — Omega Planates.

Omega Planates is based on Omega, one of the Final Fantasy franchise's most infamous superbosses that made its debut in 1992's Final Fantasy V as a secret, optional boss and has made appearances in future titles since.

Omega is a giant beetle-like robot armed to the teeth with lasers, rocket punches, and tons of world-shattering explosives.

It's often regarded as one of the toughest bosses in Final Fantasy history as Omega is impervious to nearly all forms of damage, it has a mountain of health to chip at, and it can wipe out players in the blink of an eye if they're not prepared.

The Final Fantasy XIV version of Omega is particularly special, as that game made an entire Raid storyline around it, which had players fight Omega numerous times.

Omega was even later given an Ultimate Raid-tier boss fight in Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker that pushed raiders to the limit.

Players will get to hunt this Omega and ride Chocobos as part of Monster Hunter Wilds' 3rd Title Update, which will be released sometime in late September 2025.

Meanwhile in Final Fantasy XIV, its Dawntrail expansion will feature a crossover event where players can obtain Monster Hunter Wilds' Seikret mount and take on the intimidating Arkveld in a special Trial raid fight.

Arkveld is Monster Hunter Wilds' flagship monster that was once thought to be extinct and is now on a rampage planning to make everything else extinct.

Arkveld attacks players using the chain-like appendages on its arms as weapons and bombards them with Dragon-elemental explosions, which have a mile-wide radius.

This crossover event will go live for Final Fantasy XIV in early October 2025.

Do note that in order to unlock this fight, players will need to be Lv. 100 and complete the Main Scenario Quest "Dawntrail.

Just when I'm losing hope for Monster Hunter Wilds, one of Final Fantasy's most insane bosses has convinced me to start hunting again.

This isn't the first time that the Monster Hunter has had a huge crossover event with Final Fantasy XIV.

Monster Hunter World had a collaboration with Square Enix's popular MMORPG that added the iconic Behemoth as a boss, and it ended up being one of the hardest in the whole game.

With the addition of Omega, we might be in for a crazier challenge, as this mechanical monstrosity is no joke.

I personally fought Omega in Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster and Final Fantasy XIV, and this thing kicked my butt for many hours on end to the point I was tempted to look up guides on how to beat it.

The Final Fantasy V version of Omega was especially gruelling as it required you to build a very specific party composition and pray you were able to kill Omega faster than it could kill you.

Normally I'd be terrified at the thought of fighting Omega in Monster Hunter Wilds (especially after how nightmarishly difficult fighting the Behemoth was in Monster Hunter: World), but I'm actually happy they're adding this boss to the game.

This boss may help solve the lackluster difficulty problems Monster Hunter Wilds has been suffering from since launch earlier this year.

The endgame update buffing Tempered Monsters is a good start, but we need more challenging monsters that push players to the limit using every tool at their disposal and encourage them to prepare for the hunt with the best gear possible instead of relying on Focus Strikes and Wounds to knock enemies down.

Either way, I can't wait to fight Omega and obtain all kinds of cool gear from farming its metallic hide when the 3rd Title Update for Monster Hunter Wilds launches in late September 2025.

Let's hope this update will also come with Optimization upgrades for the PC version to win back fans who've been review bombing Monster Hunter Wilds for months.

As for the Final Fantasy XIV crossover fight with Arkveld — while I don't play the game anymore after the Dawntrail expansion disappointed me, I'm happy for Final Fantasy fans getting to fight another Monster Hunter monster other than Rathalos which was added in Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood.

Arkveld was a really cool monster to hunt in Monster Hunter Wilds, and I hope he'll be just as fun to fight in Final Fantasy XIV and potentially give players a chance to earn a mount version of Arkveld for their mount collection.

Monster Hunter Wilds is available for purchase on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.

A little over a week ago, Final Fantasy developer and publisher Square Enix released the highly anticipated Patch 7.3 update for Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV).

The patch — titled "The Promise of Tomorrow" — is one of the largest 2025 releases for the game, and served to close out the story of the 2024 expansion Dawntrail while introducing new features and several pieces of fresh content to enjoy.

With Dawntrail largely now complete (two more patches that lead into the next expansion are coming, mind you), now is arguably one of the best times to jump into the globally popular MMORPG and catch up before the next DLC if you're a new player. And in apparent recognition of that fact, Square Enix has kicked off a colossal sale for all of FFXIV's editions that knocks their prices down by 40%.

"We are pleased to share that the FFXIV Starter Edition, Dawntrail, and Complete Edition—including Collector's Editions—are 40% off for a limited time! Whether setting sail for new adventures in Tural or taking your first steps into Eorzea, you won't want to miss this opportunity," reads the developer's announcement of the sale.

The discounts are available on both Steam and the Square Enix Store for the PC version, as well as on the PlayStation Store for those who would prefer playing on PS5 or PS4.

Sadly, there are no discounts for the Xbox Series X|S edition, so users of Microsoft's consoles are missing out. Across all platforms, the sale is scheduled to run until August 27.

These are some of the steepest markdowns I've ever seen for FFXIV, with the 50% off deal that I took advantage of to get into the game in 2023 being the only one better.

While they're around, you can get the $19.99 Starter Edition for $11.99, the $59.99 Complete Edition for just $35.99, and the $139.99 Complete Collector's Edition for only $83.99. Existing players can also pick up Dawntrail standalone for $23.99; it's usually $39.99.

The Starter Edition gives you access to the base A Realm Reborn experience and the first two expansions, Heavensward and Stormblood, along with 30 days of game time (FFXIV's monthly subscription cost you'll have to pay after is $14.99/month).

Note that the game's generous free trial features these, too, though you'll have certain restrictions like limited chat options, no trading, and no Free Companies (guilds).

The Complete Edition, meanwhile, adds on Shadowbringers, Endwalker, and Dawntrail, with the Complete Collector's Edition also including all the bonus Collector's Edition unlocks from every expansion. All in all, I'd say the Complete Edition is the best deal here if you're new to the game, and it's what I recommend.

Truthfully, I've never been much of an MMO player — being a veteran Destiny 2 player is about as close as I've gotten to that title, over the years — but I still ended up falling in love with FFXIV despite that. One reason why is that compared to many games in the genre, it has a distinct lack of fear of missing out (FOMO) pressure, and doesn't punish you for taking breaks.

Another is that its main story quest (MSQ) is genuinely terrific — for the most part, anyway. The base game story is a bit weak, but starting with Heavensward, it comes into its own and grows into something truly special, with Shadowbringers and Endwalker in particular standing out as narrative masterpieces. Sadly, Dawntrail is a definite step down from that peak, but it's not terrible.

Beyond the MSQ, there's also a wealth of both casual and hardcore content to engage with, including everything from seasonal events and minigames to optional dungeons, raiding, and an in-game economy fueled by crafting jobs. There's player housing to engage with, too, as well as a strong roleplay scene.

The biggest draws to FFXIV for me are its MSQ and its roleplaying community, largely because I'm always craving a good fantasy story and enjoy writing creatively with friends. But even though I don't engage much with hardcore content, I definitely enjoy doing more casual dungeons and "Trial" bosses as well. The game's rotation-based combat flows incredibly well and is fun to learn.

All in all, FFXIV has rapidly become one of my favorite games to play in the last two years, and it's one I almost always log into daily, at this point.

It's not without problems — the MSQ hasn't been great lately, the lottery system in place for player housing is frustrating, and there's been a heightened amount of maintenance downtime recently, to name some — but it's still one of the best PC games, and a must-play in my book.

On July 8, 2025, the Anime News Network (a website dedicated to reporting and reviewing all things anime) recently conducted an interview with Naoki Yoshida (a.k.a. Yoshi-P), the producer for Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XIV.

Yoshi-P was asked a fair number of questions, which included Square Enix's plans for Final Fantasy's future, his experiences and inspirations, whether or not Final Fantasy will ever have turn-based combat again, and more.

Here's what he had to say.

The first question Naoki Yoshida answered was about Square Enix's current multiplatform strategy of releasing more of its games on Xbox and PC.

He confirms that Square Enix plans to double down on this strategy by stating, and I quote, "It is safe to assume that we will strive for multi-platform release moving forward."

This statement is compounded by the recently announced Final Fantasy Tactics: Ivalice Chronicles coming to PC, along with Final Fantasy XVI and Final Fantasy VII Remake finally announced for Xbox.

As a result, every mainline Final Fantasy game is now available to play on Xbox. With this in mind, I believe it will only be a matter of time before Final Fantasy Tactics: Ivalice Chronicles and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth follow suit.

The second major question Anime News Network asked Naoki Yoshida was if mainline Final Fantasy titles would ever go back to having turn-based combat. Anime News Networks asks this while citing the popularity and success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as a sign that players are hungry for turn-based combat.

Naoki Yoshida answers this with a lengthy response: "With this question of turn-based versus action, it tends to isolate the gameplay to just the battle system. That doesn't take into account what kind of game the creators want to deliver to players.

For example, based on a certain graphical quality we want to present to our players, or the narrative we want to deliver to our players, it relates to how we set up the game's systems around it. This includes the battle system, game design, and gameplay feel. It's not a clear-cut answer, whether it will become all turn-based, or if it's going to become more action-based."

He then finished with "[I'm] not necessarily going to be on Final Fantasy 17, so we also don't want to obstruct or limit our future director or whomever will be producing the games like 17 or even 18. We don't want to put them on a rail."

Essentially, this is a roundabout way of saying that Naoki Yoshida may not be working on the next mainline Final Fantasy title, and whoever ends up being the director and producer will make it however they want so long as it fulfils their creative vision.

Whether or not the next game will have real-time or turn-based combat is up to them.

The interview then goes on with Naoki Yoshida answering minor questions like stating that his team, Creative Studio III, is continuing to work on Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail and that he has no plans of retiring anytime soon.

Square Enix wants to make Final Fantasy however they wish, but is that what the fans want?

I have mixed feelings about Naoki Yoshida's response regarding turn-based combat. On the one hand, I can respect a company wanting to develop a game that fulfils their creative vision without letting anything stifle it.

After all, one of the main aspects of Final Fantasy that helped it become the legendary JRPG franchise it is today was that every single mainline is vastly different from one another, always innovating and changing things.

On the other hand, that's also become Final Fantasy's greatest weakness. Over the last couple of decades, the franchise has changed and experimented too much to the point where it has practically lost its identity.

As a result, action games Final Fantasy XVI and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth have been failing to meet financial expectations, while its competitors like Persona and Metaphor: ReFantazio are thriving while embracing turn-based combat.

Plus, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has proven to Square Enix that you can make an emotionally provocative story while having turn-based combat, and when the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster launched on Xbox, it was the most popular Xbox Store game of October 2024.

I believe it's clear as day that the fans (myself included) are tired of Final Fantasy games experimenting with real-time combat or mixing real-time combat with turn-based mechanics. They want this beloved franchise to go back to its roots and embrace the turn-based combat that made fans love Final Fantasy during the 1980s and 1990s.

Even some of the higher-ups at Square Enix are starting to notice this by acknowledging Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's success, and vowing to make future Final Fantasy games 'Command-based' going forward.

Could this mean that Final Fantasy XVII will be turn-based, or will it have Final Fantasy VII Remake/Rebirth's real-time combat system, where you can pause the game and command AI allies to fight in battle?

We will have to wait and see what Square Enix has in store for us, potentially at Tokyo Game Show 2025, to find out.

From the pay-to-win loot boxes of the infamous Star Wars Battlefront 2 launch to the ridiculously overpriced skins you can buy in competitive shooters like Valorant, exorbitant microtransactions have come in many shapes and sizes over the years and continue to be a significant issue in the gaming industry. Early Monday morning, though, Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) — Square Enix's globally popular MMORPG — introduced what might just be the worst microtransactions I've ever seen.

I'm referring to the Belt-Leather Attire set that was just added to FFXIV's Online Store cash shop that includes a trousers variant, a cropped slops version, and an additional purchase with a hat and gloves. Overall, the attire looks nice, if not a bit simple; it's hard to go wrong with the combo of a turtleneck sweater and a leather harness, and a pair of leather pants and shoes complete the look.

But then I saw the prices.

The two variations of the set — each only featuring some minor differences like cuffs on the pants or boots instead of regular shoes — cost $18 each, and the hat and gloves cost an additional $6. Altogether, to get every piece in the Belt-Leather set to play around with, you'd need an eye-watering $42.

To put things into perspective, that's two dollars more expensive than the entire ongoing Dawntrail expansion itself, and an absolutely absurd amount of money to charge players for some simple variations on a simplistic set of clothes. Unsurprisingly, the FFXIV community is in an uproar over these items and their prices, with several posts criticizing them at the top of the r/ffxiv subreddit right now.

"This is a new low when it comes to the cash shop," wrote one fan; in the eyes of many, the bang you get for your buck in the Online Store has been deteriorating for a long time now. "I never thought I would say this about this game, but Square Enix deserves these sh*tposts at this point. I bought a lot of glamours over the years, but this is some next-level robbery here," said another exasperated player.

Indeed, asking for $42 for a relatively plain glamour is simply ridiculous — especially when past $18 sets have included alternate pieces and fancier designs, and with look-a-like options available for barely any gil (FFXIV's main earnable in-game currency) at all on the player-driven Market Board. Within hours, a player put together a "Belt-Leather at home" set that looks nearly identical, without spending a penny on Online Store apparel.

The timing of this release isn't particularly great, either — though, admittedly, there's not exactly a good time to introduce insanely pricey cash shop items. Still, it's a shame that they came a little over a week after Square Enix announced support for Hrothgar and Viera wearing hats is coming soon, as fans have been asking for that feature since those playable races came out with Shadowbringers in 2019.

It's an unfortunate and deflating reminder that while player feedback about certain things is finally being responded to with improvements, there are also controversial mishaps like this that make it feel like there's always a step back after every step forward.

In regards to the FFXIV Online Store specifically, I expect we'll only see positive change come if people steer clear of buying microtransactions like these on a wide scale. As one player wrote, these have the prices they do "because people will still buy it and they know it."

You shouldn't, though. With plenty of alternative attires purchasable on the Market Board with gil and the Steam Summer Sale now live, I guarantee you there are better things you can spend $42 on right now.

Final Fantasy XIV is one of the biggest and best MMOs you can play today, and stands tall as one of the best PC games and best Xbox games in general — even despite things like these overpriced shop items. Notably, you can play the base A Realm Reborn experience and the first two expansions Heavensward and Stormblood for free (with limited features), and it's available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, PS5, and PS4.

Early on Friday morning, Square Enix — developer and publisher of the Final Fantasy series — gave fans of its popular long-running MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV a closer look at its upcoming Patch 7.3 update for Dawntrail scheduled to release in early August 2025. A lot was discussed and shown during the nearly four-hour long Letter From the Producer, but one bit of news in particular has the community in quite a tizzy.

That news is the announcement that FFXIV Patch 7.3: The Promise of Tomorrow will bring something people have been begging for since the release of Shadowbringers in 2019: the ability for Hrothgar and Viera characters to wear more than a small handful of hats and helmets. You see, while these races can equip headgear, nearly every piece of it in the game won't actually display on them; this, no doubt, is a result of the former's unique leonine features and the latter's rabbit-like ears.

Come August, though, that's changing with "expanded headgear support" for Hrothgar and Viera that's finally coming six years after Shadowbringers added them. Notably, Viera will have an additional option to hide their ears or let them clip through hats and helmets — something modders realized looks fine years ago. And as you might expect from a community that's been praying for this feature for three expansions now, the hype is real:

VIERA AND HROTHGAR ARE FINALLY GETTING HATS!!!!!! from r/ffxiv

Indeed, celebration of the news has quickly risen to the top of the r/ffxiv subreddit, with countless fans rejoicing at the shocking notion that yes, it's finally happening. "OH MY GOD! OUR time has come! YAYYYYYYY," writes one ecstatic Warrior of Light. "RAAAAAA! Finally! I was this close to fant'ing," said another, referencing the Fantasia items that let you remake your character you can buy for $10 or occasionally get in-game free.

Some, though, aren't letting themselves get too excited just yet, with many pointing out the vagueness of wording like "expanded headgear support" and "various headgear will now display on Hrothgar and Viera characters."

"Expanded headgear. Doesn't mean every single hat in the game. Sure it's a good thing but it's pretty vague on the amount of hats. Keep your expectations realistic," warns one of the top comments on the aforementioned post. "We're making 3 hats available for viera and hrothgar, please look forward to it," another user joked.

I can certainly understand tempering expectations, though it's worth noting that the developers mentioned making headgear compatible with Hrothgar and Viera will be an ongoing process that will eventually encompass helmets as well. So even if many hats and helmets aren't wearable by these races at Patch 7.3 launch, there's a very good chance they will be at a later date.

After six years of radio silence on this topic, I'm just shocked that Square Enix is implementing any headgear support for Hrothgar and Viera at all. Frankly, it's kind of ridiculous that it's taken this long for it to come to the MMO, but as this fan writes, "better late than never."

As for the rest of what's coming in Patch 7.3, players can look forward to the next leg of the Main Scenario Quest (MSQ), Yok Huy allied society quests, several new dungeons, the FFXI crossover alliance raid San d'Oria: The Second Walk, and a new Cosmic Exploration planet called Phaenna.

Final Fantasy XIV is one of the biggest and best MMOs you can play today, and stands tall as one of the best PC games and best Xbox games in general. Notably, you can play the base A Realm Reborn experience and the first two expansions Heavensward and Stormblood for free (with limited features), and it's available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, PS5, and PS4.

Weeks after the emergence of a new mod for Final Fantasy 14 (FFXIV) that enables stalking behavior alarmed large portions of the MMO's community, developer Square Enix has finally responded to the matter officially.

The company's statement comes from a post by FFXIV director Naoki Yoshida (known colloquially by the nickname "Yoshi-P") on the game's official forums. In it, he confirms that Square Enix is aware of the mod's existence and is "discussing" either requesting a takedown or "pursuing legal action," while also reassuring players that the plugin can't be used to obtain personal information and reaffirming the studio's "firm stance" against the usage of third-party tools.

"We have confirmed that there exist third-party tools that are being used to check FFXIV character information that is not displayed during normal game play," reads the statement. "The Development and Operations teams are aware of the situation and the concerns being raised by the community ... The use of third-party tools is prohibited by the FINAL FANTASY XIV User Agreement and their usage could threaten the safety of players. We will continue to take a firm stance against their usage."

As Yoshi-P touches on in the post, the mod in question works by scraping your internal account ID from the FFXIV client and uploading it to a database where it's matched with characters attached to the same ID. This means that people using the plugin can easily see that your "alt characters" — new characters often made to get an in-game stalker off your tail, among other reasons — belong to you, thus circumventing one of the only surefire ways to deal with stalkers in the MMO.

Something crucial to note, though, is that the mod only works because of a vulnerability introduced with the launch of the Dawntrail expansion last summer. When Dawntrail came out, Square Enix overhauled FFXIV's notoriously lackluster blacklisting system with a change that made blacklisting someone also block them on all their other characters. As I'm sure you can guess, this new blacklist functionality hooks into account ID data to work, and the way the developers implemented it left it open to being gathered by third-party mods. In short: by trying to make the game safer with a better blacklist tool, the studio ironically made it easier for dedicated stalkers willing to install mods to do their thing.

It's frustrating, then, that nothing in Yoshi-P's statement here suggests Square Enix is working to address this glaring problem. That means that even if the author of the current mod willingly takes it offline or is forced to do so by a lawsuit, there's nothing stopping someone else from potentially developing a similar plugin (and likely distributing it around far, far less publicly). Other FFXIV players agree; the top comment on a r/ffxivdiscussion post about Square Enix's response reads, "Fixing the game to break the mod isn't on the list of options they're considering I see."

You can make the argument that the developer should implement some sort of anti-cheat, but doing so would upset huge swathes of the FFXIV community that frequently use beneficial and ultimately harmless mods like damage trackers, cosmetic add-ons, decoration helpers for player housing, and the like. Square Enix has always had a sort of non-spoken "keep quiet about it in-game and it's fine" agreement with all the raiders and roleplayers that use plugins despite the fact they violate the game's User Agreement, and I wouldn't be surprised if completely preventing their use with a blanket solution resulted in thousands leaving the realm of Eorzea for good.

Indeed, that seems like it would be an excessively heavy-handed approach. In my view, Square Enix needs to retool its revamped blacklisting feature so that it doesn't expose account ID information. Not only would this completely prevent this mod from working now, but it would also prevent programs like them from being developed later — something court threats or deletion requests won't do.

Final Fantasy XIV is one of the biggest and best MMOs you can play today, with an amazing "theme park" narrative, a vibrant world, and bustling communities for roleplaying, raiding, and more. It's quickly become one of the best PC games I've ever played since I started in 2023, and thanks to a recent release on Microsoft's consoles, it's also one of the best Xbox games for MMO enjoyers, too. Its generous free trial allows you to play through the base game and its first two expansions without paying a cent, though you'll be missing out on features like trading, several chat options, the ability to join guild-like Free Companies, and others.

Back in 2021, I was asked by my colleagues to check out Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) during its sudden burst in popularity when World of Warcraft players migrated to Final Fantasy XIV during the controversial World of Warcraft: Shadowlands expansion and when Blizzard Entertainment was getting into legal hot water.

Almost immediately, FFXIV had me hooked from A Realm Reborn all the way to the climactic finale of Endwalker (which I loved when I reviewed it many moons ago) for many reasons. It treated the player like they’re the main protagonist of the story, it had a fun tab-target-based combat system that served as a good introduction for players new to MMORPGs, and compelling storylines and characters that paid homage to Final Fantasy’s legacy while standing on their own merits. Not to mention it had some of the most awesome and catchy music in the entire Final Fantasy franchise.

This leads me to today’s subject, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail. This game is Final Fantasy XIV’s fifth major expansion and is billed to mark the beginning of a new era for the MMORPG with a more grounded storyline to give players a break from constantly saving the world, new player jobs to master, new locales to explore, playable female Hrothgar, and new epic bosses to fight.

Unfortunately, and it's a bit heart wrenching to say this, but this new chapter of Final Fantasy XIV is not off to a good start.

Master new abilities and Jobs to slay the fiends of Tuliyollal

Before we get into where this expansion drops the ball, let’s take a look at what it gets right. Firstly, Final Fantasy XIV has bumped the level cap for player Jobs up to Lv.100, which means every Job has been given a wide range of new abilities and reworked ones to play with. While I haven't had time to play with all of them, I do like the new explosives, tools, and drones my main Job, the Machinist has received in this expansion. In addition, I love that they gave Gunbreaker Job the "Lion Heart" ability. It originally hailed from Final Fantasy VIII, as represents one of the franchise's most powerful and renowned Limit Break super moves. 

But that’s not all, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail brings two DPS Jobs for players to master that will help them conquer their enemies – the Viper and Pictomancer. The Viper is the first original Job created for Final Fantasy XIV that’s not pulled from a previous Final Fantasy title. 

The Viper is a fun Job to play if you prefer slicing and dicing at close range. It is a fast-paced, simple but effective Job where you string together combos with your dual blades. At the end of a combo string, you can finish with a flourishing execution, where you combine the blades into a double-ended saber that will slice monsters to ribbons.

Viper is great, but its fun factor pales in comparison to the new Pictomancer Job in my opinion. Inspired by the character Relm from Final Fantasy VI, the Pictomancer is a strange Job where you use your imagination to paint magic spells and monsters into existence and attack your enemies. Their game plan primarily centers around preparing paint drawings and bringing them to life at the right time to form powerful damage rotations where you cycle through summoning laser-shooting Moogles, calling forth dark, pastel-colored meteors, and smashing skulls with comic-book stylized hammers.

Pictomancer is awkward to use at first, but once you get the hang of it, this Job becomes so satisfying to use in battle. Not to mention it has a wide variety of spells that not only deal damage but can support the party with damage mitigation and damage-boosting abilities. It also feels really good to control as half your toolkit can be cast while moving. Pictomancers have a mobility spell with a short cooldown timer to help you explore areas faster and escape incoming boss mechanics.

You’re going to need to master these new Jobs and abilities quickly as Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail has some rather fearsome foes to contend with. The gorgeously detailed dungeons of this expansion feature enemies and bosses that can hit surprisingly hard and feature some mechanics that are not immediately obvious to figure out. These mechanics require paying attention to your surroundings and attack patterns to figure out where the enemy is going next and how to avoid getting one-shotted.

This is especially true for the epic Trial boss fights as these battles are no joke. Dawntrail’s Trial bosses are crazy, hit like trucks, and throw out lots of mechanics at once for players to keep up with. Figuring out these bosses’ gimmicks while maintaining damage uptime to efficiently kill them was a jolly good time and even more satisfying than most bosses from previous expansions.

FFXIV: Dawntrail still gets a ton of stuff right, and the combat and PvE gameplay loop remains as rewarding as it is satisfying. But so much of FFXIV's surge to popularity revolved around its characters and story delivery, and Dawntrail feels like a step backward in a variety of ways. 

This adventure was meant to be a vacation, not tiresome work

A lot of my criticism for Dawntrail revolves primarily around the main story, which is usually the biggest main selling of Final Fantasy XIV. The premise is that after saving the world from an apocalyptic event called ‘The Final Days’ in Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, our player character and their friends, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, have been invited by a new Hrothgar character (think lion people) called Wuk Lumat, to travel to the new continent of Tuliyollal.

There we must help Wuk Lamat win a contest called the Rite of Succession where the winner is chosen to become the next ruler of Tuliyollal. She wants to win so she can preserve her people’s peace and happiness, and prevent other contestants with sinister, selfish agendas from claiming the throne. Along the way, we will also be searching the entire nation of Tuliyollal for the legendary city of gold which has yet to be rediscovered.

A huge chunk of Dawntrail's storyline is meant to be a low-stakes, chill adventure to give long time players a reprieve from constantly saving the world from scheming villains, tyrannical empires, and mighty demi-gods — a summer vacation if you will. While some players may enjoy this more laid-back approach, I don't think it will deliver for everyone. 

This 'summer vacation' came off more like a boring business trip where I was assigned to play bodyguard for a princess as they made diplomatic relations with vague allies. The Rite of Succession arc of the story drags on for way too long with lots of repetitive scenes of characters establishing new lore. It's difficult to elaborate without heading into spoiler territory, but there are many scenes where the mood is all over the place, leading tonal whiplash that breaks immersion. Dawntrail seems to struggle to balance its attempts at being "light hearted" at times, while simultaneously trying to build up new stakes.  

Not to mention the story devotes too much screen time to Wuk Lamat's journey to becoming the next ruler. While I did find Wuk Lamat herself to be endearing, her character grows very little beyond her first appearance compared to other characters you meet in the expansion, and listening to her constantly spouting desires for peace and happiness for hours on end gets old fast. 

I feel Wuk Lamat's character arc could've been more fulfilling if she started as a more flawed character and grew into a better person by the end of it, much like how Alphinaud grew from a pompous-know-it-all in A Realm Reborn to a smart but humble hero in Heavensward for example.

As it stands, Wuk Lamat just isn’t compelling enough of an NPC protagonist to warrant over half of the story focusing on her quest for the throne of Tural. Personally, I feel some of the screen time spent on Wuk Lamat could’ve been better spent on other existing characters that desperately needed it. 

For example, without giving spoilers, there’s a certain new major villain who comes off as very two-dimensional with barely any nuance or backstory to justify why they are so evil. This could’ve been fixed with more scenes showing us their past in greater detail and having us talk to them personally to get into their head. Instead of engaging directly with the character, we only hear elements of the backstory in a vague, second-handed way. The investment in adding dimensions to the expansion's central villains should've been higher, because the current direction feels more like the product of having a villain for the sake of needing one in a combat-oriented video game.  

Now, I will concede without divulging spoilers, the main story does start to get a lot more interesting once the Rite of Succession arc is over. The stakes get raised, and we get introduced to wild lore concepts and intriguing plot hooks to set up future expansions. 

However, this only starts to happen once you’re over 30 hours into the Main Scenario Quests, and even then, the third act still suffers from the slow pacing issues from the first two acts, some giant gaping plot holes, and rehashing repetitive story beats of previous expansions. By the time I reached this point, I was so bored to tears from the dull Rite of Succession arc that I no longer had any investment in the story and I could not bring myself to care for the characters. 

What compounds the monotony of the storyline is the middling quest design of Dawntrail’s Main Scenario Quests. You will be spending nearly all of your playtime running around, watching cutscenes, doing fetch quests, gathering info from NPCs, and doing tedious "stealth" missions, while occasionally tackling dungeons and Trial bosses every four to five hours, with very rare solo-instance fights.

Now while the same can be argued for previous Final Fantasy XIV expansions, each of them at least had more interesting and faster-paced storylines with a fair amount of solo and group-instanced combat segments to things fresh. Even A Realm Reborn and Stormblood, which many fans consider to have the least interesting main storylines, were more compelling. FFXIV's big bads like the Garlean Empire, Ascians, Primals, and other mysteries were around to contend with. But now that we've gotten rid of them all by the end of Endwalker, it feels like the developers were struggling for ideas to keep us invested in the Main Scenario Quests until the third act.

No game shouldn’t demand players to sit through dozens of hours of tiresome and mundane fetch quests, repetitive script writing, compounded by the sense you're being bounced from NPC to NPC playing a particularly dreary game of telephone. The morsels of good aren't adequate enough to justify this slog of a journey to get to them.

FFXIV's Xbox Series X|S launch disaster

I would be remiss if I didn’t up bring the issues plaguing the Xbox Series X|S version of Final Fantasy XIV. When the game was released in early access, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail had technical issues causing the Xbox Series X|S version of the game to be subpar. These issues range from the game freezing when transitioning to different zones, boss mechanics in certain Trials and Raids not working correctly, and animation glitches.

Square Enix is currently trying to resolve these hiccups as soon as possible but there’s no denying that this is yet another major misstep for Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail. Although, it's unclear whether it's Square Enix or Microsoft's development environment that is ultimately to blame. 

Thankfully, there were no issues with the PC version I played, at least, save for busy queues on launch day. 

UPDATE (07/09/2024): On July 7, 2024, Square Enix rolled out a hotfix for the Xbox version of FFXIV: Dawntrail fixing the issues and is preparing to grant all Xbox and players ten days of free time game time as compensation for putting up with these technical hiccups. 

The free game time will granted to Xbox players on July 11, 2024. For more information regarding the free game time, check out the official Final Fantasy XIV website.

I hope Square Enix can rethink its story delivery 

Overall, I have been disappointed with Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail. While the new Jobs are fun to mess around with and the new bosses are satisfying to conquer, they do not make up for an abysmally dull storyline with many hours of uninteresting cutscenes with little to no combat, bland characters, and pacing slower than a Tonberry.

It kills me to have written this up, as I loved Final Fantasy XIV and the clever ways it reimagined stories and characters from previous Final Fantasy games to fit its narrative. I'm not asking Dawntrail's Main Scenario Quests to be an overly dramatic war story like Heavensward or dealing with cosmic cataclysms like Endwalker, it's just that I know that Final Fantasy XIV is capable of telling fun and compelling, low-stakes stories that don’t take forever to sell. Look no further than the Allied Society Quests (formally known as the Allied Beast Tribe quests), Job Quests, Role Quests, and even the hilarious Hildebrand quests for evidence of that.

However, the writing and pacing for Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail’s Main Scenario Quests were so painfully hollow and uninteresting that I was actually tempted to skip the cutscenes just so I could get to the point, which has never happened to me before in all my years playing Final Fantasy XIV.

If you’re a diehard Final Fantasy XIV fan, you may get a kick of this expansion, especially when the post-launch raids arrive. However, if you prefer JRPGs with complex plots with fast pacing and high stakes that suck you in right away, then I can’t recommend Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail to you. If you're in FFXIV just for the PvE, though, the game is as fun as ever. I suspect more people than ever will be thumbing over the cutscenes through this expansion, though. 

FFXIV is well-carried by its core gameplay loop, but it was always the story that set it apart from its competitors. I'm not sure if I'm in the minority or not here, and I've for sure met people who have enjoyed what Dawntrail has to offer. But I suspect many will miss the bar set by some of FFXIV's previous expacs. If Dawntrail's campaign is going to be the standard for expansions going forward, speaking for myself only, I'm worried I may have to permanently leave one of Square Enix's Best PC games behind for good. 

What you need to know

• Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, the fifth expansion to Square Enix's long-running MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV, has launched in early access ahead of its July 2, 2024, release and is unfortunately wrought with technical issues and bugs.
• These issues include causing the Xbox version to become unresponsive when transitioning to new areas, mechanics in certain boss fights not working properly, and character animations and emotes not functionally correctly.
• Square Enix is aware of these issues and is working on a hot fix to correct them as soon as possible.

Over the weekend, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, the fifth expansion for Square Enix's popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV, launched in early access allowing players who pre-ordered it to play it ahead of its full release on July 2, 2024, for consoles and PC. 

Unfortunately, there have been reports that this early access build of Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is riddled with technical issues causing the game to crash and freeze a lot, especially the Xbox Series X|S version.

According to a Final Fantasy XIV Lodestone news post by Naoki Yoshida, Final Fantasy XIV's producer and director, one of the biggest issues that fans have pointed out is that the Xbox version becomes unresponsive whenever players transition to different areas.

The developers have confirmed this report to be true, as the game client does indeed become unresponsive on Xbox when players move to different zones. Their initial investigation suggests that this problem is likely caused by memory fragmentation.

Square Enix plans to examine this problem further and implement a patch for the game client, but Naoki Yoshida says that this process may take several days to complete. In the meantime, he suggests players play on World data servers with low player populations like Dynamis, Shadow, or Oceania as the chances of encountering memory fragmentation are lowered when playing on servers with fewer players.

This temporary solution isn't perfect however as there have been reports on Reddit that freezing on Xbox can still have a chance to occur during Solo duties, group instances, transitions into cutscenes and even loading screens.

Comment from r/ffxiv

Another issue that players have been encountering that Square Enix has identified is that certain boss fights in Final Fantasy XIV have new issues where mechanics related to freezing are not functioning properly. These bugged Raids include Dragonsong's Reprise (Ultimate), Minstrel's Ballad: Shinryu's Domain, and Delubrum Reginae (Savage).

The Syrcus Tower Alliance Raid's bosses have also been having these freezing-related mechanic issues, but Square Enix says they have dealt with it now. Right now it is focused on fixing Dragonsong's Reprise (Ultimate), Minstrel's Ballad: Shinryu's Domain, and Delubrum Reginae (Savage) via a client patch.

Lastly, Square Enix has confirmed players' findings of animation and display glitches regarding certain playable races when performing certain emotes and the Scholar Job action, Seraphism. Naoki Yoshida says this is likely caused by incorrect values being input for the aforementioned animations when the developers were fine-tuning Final Fantasy XIV's big graphical update and other bug fixes.

Sadly, by the time the developers had found these issues, it was too late, and they were unable to fix them in time before Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail launched in early access.

Naoki Yoshida says the developers have classified all these issues as high-priority problems and are quickly working on a hot fix to remove them, which will likely be implemented sometime this week after Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is fully released to the public.

Early-access woes strike again

When games launch in early access there is a high chance that players will encounter bugs, glitches, and other technical hiccups that are still being worked on before their full release, and sadly Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is one of them. 

Hopefully, the developers will be able to fix these fixes as quickly as possible so that both PC players and Xbox players can enjoy the next exciting chapter of Final Fantasy XIV without any technical hiccups. 

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is scheduled to launch on July 2, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam and Square Enix Store.

What you need to know

• In Final Fantasy XIV's 81st Letter from the Producer livestream, Square Enix has unveiled a new trailer for the MMORPG's 5th upcoming expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail.
• The gameplay trailer is a showcase of the new Viper and Pictomancer Jobs, new actions and balance changes for all the rest of the player Jobs, an
• Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is scheduled to release on July 2, 2024, for PC (via Square and Steam), PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

On May 16, 2024, Square Enix hosted Final Fantasy XIV's latest Letter from the Producer Livestream event, and during it, unveiled a new trailer for the game's upcoming expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail.

The contents of this livestream and trailer are dedicated to showcasing all the new actions and balance changes player Jobs will receive in Dawntrail. In addition, the new Viper and Pictomancer Jobs and how their gameplay will function are at last fully detailed in this livestream.

The following Job adjustments and new actions shown from the livestream are as follows (do note these are not the full final lists of additions and adjustments):

Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail Job Changes - Action Change Settings

The new Job actions will be acquired as players level up to the new level cap of Lv.100. As there will be lots of new actions to fill your hotbars, there will be new Action Change Settings in the options menu to accommodate.

For example, combo action buttons will now be combined into a single button in Dawntrail, however, you will have the option to change them in Action Change Settings to be separate buttons like how they were originally.

Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail Job Changes - Tanks

The Tank-role Jobs will receive the following changes:

All Tanks

• Rampart and job-exclusive 30% damage reduction abilities will be upgraded in the Lv.90's level range.
• Reprisal's duration will be increased to 15 seconds in the Lv.90's level range.

Paladin

• The second and third executions of Atonement have been changed to new actions with separate animations (Atonement will change to these actions, so input execution will remain the same).
• A new action that can be executed after Blade of Valor will be added.

Warrior

• A new action, which can be performed three executions of Fell Cleave or Decimate while Inner Release is active, will be added.
• A new action that can be executed after Primal Rend will be added.

Dark Knight

• To reduce the number of inputs during burst damage phases, Blood Weapon will upgrade into Delirum, and the effects of Blood Weapon will be added to Delirum.
• A new action that can be executed after Living Shadow will be added.

Gunbreaker

• A new action that can be executed after Fated Circle (via Continuation) will be added).
• A new three-step combo that can be executed after Bloodfest will be added at no cartridge cost.

Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail Job Changes - Melee DPS

The Melee DPS-role Jobs will receive the following changes:

All Melee DPS

• Second Wind's healing potency will be increased in the 90s level range
• Feint's duration will be increased to 15 seconds in the 90s level range.

Monk

• Basic combo mechanics will no longer center around maintaining a buff or damage over time: instead, performing actions in a certain order will increase the next action's potency. (The feel of the Job will remain largely the same, while alleviating uncertainty about which action to use when rotation is interrupted.)
• Can accumulate up to a total of ten Chakra while Brotherhood is active (this is to prevent Chakra overflow).

Dragoon

• To reduce positional requirements for the single-target combo, the fifth combo action has been changed to a new non-directional action, Drakesbane. (Fan and Claw/Wheeling Thrust will change to Drakesbane, so input execution will remain the same).
• To facilitate maximum damage output at the beginning of a battle, Life of the Dragon will be available accumulating Dragon Gauge.
• To reduce the number of inputs during burst damage phases, certain actions will be removed or adjusted.

Ninja

• Huton's effect has been moved to a trait and will always be active (Huton will be changed to an AoE attack which grants the effects of Hidden).
• Actions which extend the duration of Huton's effect will be adjusted in accordance with the above change.

Samurai

• To simplify recast management, Tsubame-gaeshi will be changed to be executable after Meikyo Shisui.
• Hakaze, Tenka Goken, and Midare Setsugekka will be upgraded into new actions.

Reaper

• Plentiful Harvest's effect will no longer increase the Shroud Gauge by 50 and instead will allow the execution of Enshroud (now can be used when gauge is at 51 or more without waste).
• A new action that can be executed while Enshrouded will be added.

Viper

The Viper is a fast-paced Job that fluidly shifts between dual-blade and double-bladed strikes in their various combos and abilities. It has a similar total number of actions as other Jobs but designed so that fewer actions need to be set on the hotbar.

The general game plan around Viper is mixing your dual-blade and double-bladed attacks to build a gauge that will activate Rewakened mode and unleash a storm of powered-up super-moves on foes.

Do note that this is a partial description and not a complete summary of the Job.

Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail Job Changes - Ranged DPS

The Ranged DPS-role Jobs will receive the following changes:

All Ranged DPS

• Second Wind's healing potency will be increased in the 90s level range
• Damage reduction of Job-exclusive defensive abilities will be increased to 15% in the 90s level range.

Bard

• Mage's Balld, Army's Paeon, and the Wanderer's Minuet will be changed into buffing actions which do not attack enemies.
• Pitch Perfect will be changed into an AoE attack for ease of use in encounters with multiple enemies.

Machinst

• Barrel Stabilizer will no longer increase Heat Gauge by 50, and instead will allow execution of Hypercharge (now can be used when gauge is at 51 or more without waste).
• A new trait which accumulates charges for Drill will be added.

Dancer

• A new action that can be executed after Flourish will be added.
• A new action which consumes Esprit and can be executed after Technical Finish will be added.

Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail Job Changes - Magical Ranged DPS

The Magical Ranged DPS-role Jobs will receive the following changes:

All Magical Ranged DPS

• Swiftcast's recast will be reduced to 40 seconds in the 90s level range.
• Addle's duration will be increased to 15 seconds in the 90s level range.

Black Mage

• Various adjustments will be made to streamline certain aspects of the Job, such as restoring MP upon landing ice spells while Umbral Ice is active, instead of passively over time.
• A new action which repositions Ley Lines beneath the caster will be added.

Summoner 

• Solar Bahamut, a new summon akin to Bahamut and Phoenix will be added.
• A new action that can be executed after Searing Light will be added.

Red Mage

• Manafication will no longer increase Black Mana and White Mana by 50, and will instead allow the execution of enchanted swordplay actions without cost (can now be executed while mana is at 51 or more without waste).
• The AoE enchanted swordplay combo beginning with Enchanted Moulinet will now consume a total of 50 Black Mana and White Mana, similar to its single-target counterpart.

Pictomancer

Pictomancer is an unorthodox Job that fights by painting a variety of motifs, then renders them to life to produce an assortment of effects. It can render multiple motifs to execute high-powered attacks and grant buffs to the whole party.

By painting specific renders in the correct order, you can unlock and unleash powerful super-moves. 

Do note that this is a partial description and not a complete summary of the Job.

Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail Job Changes - Healers

The Healer Jobs will receive the following changes:

All Healers

• Swiftcast's recast will be reduced to 40 seconds in the 90s level range.

White Mage

• A new action allowing the caster to quickly move forward will be added.
• A new AoE attack, which can be executed up to three times after Presence of Mind, will be added.

Scholar

• Seraphism, a new action which changes the caster's appearance and enhances healing magicks, will be added.
• A new AoE attack that be can be executed after Chain Strategem will be added.

Astrologian

• The card system will no longer be random, and will instead simultaneously draw cards with offensive, defensive, and curative effects.
• Astrodyne will be removed in accordance with the discontinuation of astrosigns.

Sage

• Eukrasia will now enhance Dyskrasia II into Eukrasian Dyskrasia, an AoE attack which deals damage over time to enemies with range.
• A new party buff, which heals nearby party members whenever the caster casts a spell, will be added.

Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail Job Changes - PVP

Final Fantasy XIV's PVP mode will also receive new Job actions and adjustments, and more with the following changes:

• Viper and Pictomancer will be added in 7.0 (both Jobs will have their own respective PvP actions and limit break).
• New PvP actions, action adjustments, and adjustments to existing maps are planned for 7.1.
• Crystalline Conflict ranked matches will be in pre-season between 7.0 to 7.1 (rankings will not be updated, but tiers and Crystal Credit will be affected by wins and losses).

Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail Job Changes - Miscellaneous news

In addition to the Job balance and PvP changes, Square Enix has other news to share. First off, they will release a new Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail Benchmark program on May 31, 2024, that will better showcase the improved visuals of Final Fantasy XIV's graphical update that will be included in Dawnlight compared to the previous Benchmark program.

Next, Square Enix has announced they will add a new low-level quest in Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail that will reward players with a Fantasia potion upon completion. Fantasia are special items that allow players to completely change their character's appearance or even their race. 

Fantasia are normally bought via microtransactions on Square Enix's Online Store, but when Dawntrail launches, players will be able to acquire one for free thanks to this new quest.

Square Enix also announced a few Final Fantasy XIV collaboration events planned over the coming weeks. First off is the return of the Fall Guys collaboration event which will run from May 23, 2024, to June 10, 2024. 

Then, Square Enix announced a special giveaway competition in collaboration with Mountain Dew. From May 16, 2024, to July 14, 2024, players must find codes underneath Mountain Dew bottle caps (specifically marked with MTN DEW) and enter them on the Mountain Dew website to receive special in-game prizes. Do note this event is for US residents only.

Finally, the FFXIV x KFC collaboration will also be making a return at an unspecified date. Do note this event is for Japan residents only.

I can't wait to try all these new Job actions in Dawntrail

Overall, the new Job actions showcased in the trailer and update notes look so cool, and I can't wait to try them out when this upcoming PC title and upcoming Xbox title launches later this summer. 

The new Job adjustments also have me excited because some of them are looking to fix problems I had with certain Jobs so that they're more fun to play (I'm so happy that the Black Mage Job will finally be able to move Ley Lines to their current position)

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is set to launch on July 2, 2024, for PC (via Square Enix's Online Store and Steam), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

What you need to know

• At Pax East 2024, Square Enix announces the release date for Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail along with the launch date for early access and special editions.
• Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail will be released on July 2, 2024, and early access to the expansion will begin on June 28, 2024.
• There will be several special Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail to pre-order and they'll include special mounts, minions, and items based on Final Fantasy IX.

At this year's Pax East gaming convention, the director and producer of Final Fantasy XIV, Naoki Yoshida (a.k.a. Yoshi-P) held a panel (which was broadcasted on Twitch) for the MMORPG where he revealed when its next expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, will be released. 

He confirms that Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail will be released on July 2, 2024, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Pre-orders for the game will open on March 26, 2024, and anybody who pre-orders the game will be eligible for Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail's early access release on June 28, 2024.

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail editions and pre-order bonuses

In addition to Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail's release date, Naoki Yoshida announces a few special editions of the game you can pre-order, each of which contains several in-game items. 

These items include the Ark mount (a mount inspired by the boss monster and Eidolon Summon from Final Fantasy IX), a Wind-Up Garnet Minion (based on Princess Garnet from Final Fantasy IX), a Chocobo Brush (a weapon wielded by the new Pictomancer Job).

If you pre-order any edition of Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, you will receive two in-game items ahead of the expansion's release. These are the Wind-Up Zidane Minion (based on Final Fantasy IX's protagonist Zidane) and Azeyma's Earrings (a pair of earrings that will boost your EXP gains by 30% until you reach Lv. 90 on a Job).

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail PC and Mac specs

Naoki Yoshida has also announced that the upcoming PC version of Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail will be getting updated PC requirements. Here is the full of the minimum and recommended PC specs you will need for this expansion.

In addition, the specs for the Mac version of Final Fantasy XIV have finally been announced and they are as follows:

Final Fantasy XIV x Final Fantasy XVI crossover

The last piece of important news Naoki Yoshida had to share for Final Fantasy XIV is that its upcoming crossover event with Final Fantasy XVI is set to begin on April 2, 2024, and will last until May 8, 2024. 

This event will entail an exciting questline where players get to go on adventures with Clive Rosfield, the protagonist of Final Fantasy XVI, and fight the Infernal Eikon Ifrit to earn special rewards like cosmetic outfits and mounts. 

Final Fantasy IX fans, embrace for a nostalgic adventure in Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail

The excitement is starting to ramp up for Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail now that the release date has been revealed. 

Judging from the Final Fantasy IX-themed bonus in-game items like the Ark mount, new locales, and the game's new Viper Job, it's becoming clear Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail's story is going to be heavily inspired by Final Fantasy IX, one of my favorite games of all time.

If my prediction turns out to be true in the final product, then I can't wait to get my hands on this upcoming Xbox title. Of course, there will be other things to look forward to in Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail like new mounts to collect, new Jobs to master, new bosses to beat, new locales to explore, new Raids to conquer, and much more.

Today is a special day for Xbox Final Fantasy fans as Square Enix's popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV, has at last gone live on Xbox Series X|S now that its Xbox Open Beta Test has ended. To celebrate the occasion, Square Enix has shared instructions on purchasing and downloading the game and some exclusive content for Xbox players.

Not to mention, there are multiple editions to purchase and download. For your convenience, we have summarized all the info Square Enix has announced so you can get through the process as quickly as possible.

Final Fantasy XIV: Where and how to download

To purchase and download Final Fantast XIV, head to the Microsoft Store on your Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S and search for its store page by typing 'Final Fantasy XIV Online' in the search bar.

Note that you will require an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Xbox Game Pass Core subscription to play Final Fantasy XIV. Also, be aware that Final Fantasy XIV is currently not a part of Xbox Game Pass's library at this time.

You must link your Xbox account and Square Enix account together to play. Be warned that once you link the accounts, this process can't be undone, so make sure you're linking the correct accounts.

Final Fantasy XIV: How many editions are there?

When you head to Final Fantasy XIV's store page, you will notice there are several editions of the game to purchase. So we rounded up all of them and detailed what content they contain.

FINAL FANTASY XIV Online Free Trial

This is a free trial version of Final Fantasy XIV where players can experience all the game's content from A Realm Reborn up to the Stormblood expansion and level up their character to Lv.70 without any restrictions on playtime. 

However, there are rules that players need to be aware of in the Free Trial (which can be found on the official Square Enix website):

Final Fantasy XIV Online Starter Edition

The Final Fantasy XIV Online Starter Edition includes the base game of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, the Heavensward and Stormblood Expansions, and a 30-day free trial period.

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Endwalker

This edition contains the Shadowbringers and Endwalker expansions. However, this requires installing Final Fantasy XIV Online Starter Edition in order to be played.

Final Fantasy XIV Online Complete Edition

This is the full, definitive edition of Final Fantasy XIV and all of its expansions up to Endwalker in one complete package.

Final Fantasy XIV Online Complete Collector's Edition

Final Fantasy XIV Online Complete Collector's Edition bundles together Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, all of its expansions up to Endwalker, and the bonus in-game items found in the Collector's Editions of each game.

Final Fantasy XIV: If you participated in the Xbox Open Beta

If you have participated in Final Fantasy XIV's Xbox Open Beta Test, you will need to perform certain instructions before you start playing the full retail version with your existing game date. Note that you don't have to re-install the game to play and you can continue playing the Free Trial before moving on to the full product version.

1. Log into the Xbox account you used to participate in the open beta test and purchase either Final Fantasy XIV Online Starter Edition, Final Fantasy XIVOnline Complete Edition, or Final Fantasy XIV Online Complete Collector's Edition.

If you're subscribed to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you will be able to download the Final Fantasy XIV Online Starter Edition for free until April 19, 2024.

2. Launch the Final Fantasy XIV app on your Xbox.

3. Log on and follow the on-screen instructions to select which service account the product should be registered to.

Final Fantasy XIV: If you haven't participated in the Xbox Open Beta

If you didn't take part in the Xbox Open Beta and this is your first time ever playing Final Fantasy XIV, you will need to follow these instructions: 

1. Log into the Xbox account you used to participate in the open beta test and purchase either Final Fantasy XIV Online Starter Edition, Final Fantasy XIV Online Complete Edition, or Final Fantasy XIV Online Complete Collector's Edition.

If you're subscribed to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you will be able to download the Final Fantasy XIV Online Starter Edition for free until April 19, 2024.

2. Launch the Final Fantasy XIV app on your Xbox.

3. Enter your Square Enix account information. After launching the game for the first time, you must link your Xbox account and Square Enix account together. This process is permanent, so make sure you link the correct accounts before doing so.

If you are playing Final Fantasy XIV on another platform, such as the Windows PC version, and would like to continue playing as the characters you created on that platform on the Xbox version, then make sure to use the Square Enix account associated with those characters. Also, check to make sure the account information is correct.

If you're playing Final Fantasy XIV for the very first time, the Free Trial version is a valid option if you want to give it a try before committing to the full retail version. 

When creating new characters, the game will ask you to select a starting World (the name of this game's servers). This game offers special bonuses for creating characters on certain Worlds, such as EXP boosts, Gil gifts, free game time, and more. The specifics of these bonuses can be found on the Final Fantasy XIV website.

Final Fantasy XIV: FFXIV Coins

The Xbox version of Final Fantasy XIV will feature an exclusive premium currency called FFXIV Coins, which can be purchased from the Microsoft Store with real money. FFXIV Coins will allow you to purchase items from the Mog Station or Final Fantasy XIV Online Store, such as cosmetic gear, mounts, retainers, emotes, and more.

In order to use FFXIV Coins, you will need to purchase them from the Microsoft Store and then log into the Xbox version of Final Fantasy XIV to have coins registered to your Square Enix account.

If you're playing Final Fantasy XIV on other platforms, you can use other payment methods instead of FFXIV Coins when making purchases at the Mog Station or Final Fantasy XIV Online Store.

Final Fantasy XIV: Xbox Game Pass Perk and other bonuses

To commemorate the release of Final Fantasy XIV on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can download Final Fantasy XIV Online Starter Edition for free through a limited-timed Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perk.

The Xbox Game Pass Perk will be available from March 21, 2024, until April 19, 2024. Do note that dates and times are subject.

In addition, Xbox players will be able to download Xbox gamer pics of the main cast from Final Fantasy XIV from the official Final Fantasy XIV website.

Also, if you purchase the Starter Edition, Complete Edition, or Complete Collector's Editions of Final Fantasy XIV, you will receive the following in-game items:

• Wind-up Palom Minion
• Menphina Earring

The in-game Moogle Delivery Service will deliver these items to your characters. Minions are cosmetic pets that follow the player around and have no effects on a player character's stats. 

Meanwhile, the earring grants a 30% EXP boost when defeating enemies wearing it. The earring can only be equipped by Disciples of War or Disciples of Magic Classes and Jobs.

If you have service accounts that have already obtained these items through the Endwalker pre-order bonus code, you will not be able to acquire them again.

The Starter Edition obtained through the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perk will also include the Wind-up Palom Minion and Menphina Earring.

These Early Purchase Bonus items will only be available from March 21, 2024, until April 19, 2024. Note that dates and times are subject to change.

Its time to begin your Final Fantasy XIV adventures

And with that, you know how to purchase and install Final Fantasy XIV. Now, you will be able to get through the installation process as soon as possible and join millions of players to save the land of Eorzea from evil empires and godlike monsters in one of the most popular Final Fantasy games to date.

Not to mention, this will provide the perfect opportunity to catch up with PC players in time for when the next expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, will be released for both Xbox and PC in the summer of 2024. This lighthearted adventure will take players on a new adventure to the distant lands of Tural, where they will meet the new female Hrothgar race, find new challenges to overcome, learn new Jobs, find new mounts to collect, and much more.

What you need to know

• Square Enix's MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) Final Fantasy XIV is currently in beta testing on Xbox Series X|S. 
• Final Fantasy XIV is fully launching on Xbox Series X|S consoles on March 21, 2024.
• While the beta test was limited to new players, the full launch will allow players with existing accounts to start playing on Xbox.
• Players with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will be able to grab the Starter Edition of Final Fantasy XIV at no extra cost through April 19, 2024.

It's almost time for Xbox players to descend in full upon Eorzea.

During the Xbox Partner Preview on Wednesday, Square Enix shared that Final Fantasy XIV is exiting its Open Beta test and fully launching on Xbox Series X|S consoles on March 21, 2024. 

While the beta was restricted to new players trying the game out for the very first time, with the full game's launch, any existing Final Fantasy XIV players will be able to play on Xbox with their current accounts. Additionally, any Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to redeem the Starter Edition of Final Fantasy XIV (which is usually $20) at no extra cost through April 19, 2024. You can take a look at the release date announcement trailer below. 

Final Fantasy XIV's road to Xbox

Final Fantasy XIV has had a long road in coming to Xbox, with the original game first releasing back in 2010 on Windows PC. Universally panned, it was replaced with an all-new version of the game in 2013 that also launched on PlayStation 3, with a PlayStation 4 version coming the following year. After multiple successful expansions over the next few years, an Xbox Series X|S version was finally announced in July 2023.

The free trial for Final Fantasy XIV includes all content released through the 2017 expansion, Stormblood, meaning you can try the game out for dozens (if not hundreds) of hours at no additional cost. Players on all platforms can look forward to the upcoming Dawntrail expansion, which is slated to launch at some point later in 2024.

Analysis: A smart injection of players ahead of the next expansion

Final Fantasy XIV's rise has been something to watch over the last few years, and with Xbox players finally able to join the fray, the game looks to have plenty of great years ahead of it. I know there was some consternation around exactly who could try out the beta on Xbox, but with the full game's launch coming up soon, those issues should go away. 

It'll be interesting to see what other games Square Enix opts to bring to Xbox in the coming months. The upcoming Visions of Mana will launch on Xbox day one later in the year, but while a PC version of 2023 PlayStation 5 exclusive Final Fantasy XVI is in development, there's no Xbox Series X|S version announced yet. 

What you need to know

• Square Enix has announced that the Open Beta Test for the Xbox Series X|S port of its popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV, has gone live.
• The Xbox Open Beta Test is only open for new players who have never played Final Fantasy XIV or created a Square Enix account.
• Square Enix has also released a series of videos to help beginners learn how to play Final Fantasy XIV.
• The full version of the Xbox port of Final Fantasy XIV will be released sometime after the Open Beta Test ends.

Xbox players will at long last be able to experience one of Square Enix's most popular MMORPGs as the Xbox Open Beta Test for Final Fantasy XIV has officially gone live. 

The Xbox Open Beta Test is available to download from the Xbox Store on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. However, only players who have never played Final Fantasy XIV before and never created a Square Enix account will be able to participate in the beta test. Players with existing accounts and characters will be able to play the game once the full rendition of the Xbox version is released.

You can read our full FAQ on the Final Fantasy XIV Open Beta Test for more information regarding contents, how to join, and limitations.

Welcome to the land of Eorzea Xbox players

To celebrate the occasion and to help newcomers get acclimated to the game, Square Enix has released a series of Starter Guide videos on the Xbox YouTube channel. These informative tutorials will teach new players how to create their character, what race to play as, what Job to pick, how to fight enemies and introduce them to the game's main setting of Eorzea.

They're a bunch of fun and informative videos that will help new Xbox players get to grips with the basics of the game and get started on experiencing, what is widely regarded, as one of the best PC titles in the Final Fantasy series.

Square Enix has stated that the full version of this upcoming Xbox title will be released shortly after the Xbox Open Beta Test concludes at a later date. So stay tuned to find out as we keep for the Final Fantasy XIV's full Xbox release date, as well as the release date for its upcoming expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail.

In July 2023, Microsoft's CEO of Gaming, Phil Spencer, made a shocking surprise guest appearance during Square Enix's annual Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival in Las Vegas. When he took the stage, Square Enix then announced that their long-running MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV, would finally come to Xbox consoles after many years of requests by Xbox fans with an Xbox Open Beta Test that would launch in early 2024.

Well, that time has now come as on February 5, 2024, Square Enix has at long last announced the date for the Xbox Open Beta Test of Final Fantasy XIV, which is February 21, 2024. The full details on how to join the Xbox Open Beta Test have been disclosed on Final Fantasy XIV's official website, Lodestone, which we will recap for you right here.

Here is everything you need to know for the Xbox Open Beta Test for Final Fantasy XIV.

FFXIV Xbox Open Beta Test — When will it start?

The full date for when the Xbox Open Beta Test will begin is February 21, 2024, at 8:00 (GMT), 19:00 (AEDT), 3:00 (ET), and 0:00 (PT).

FFXIV Xbox Open Beta Test — How do I participate?

To join the Xbox Open Beta Test, players will need to adjust the privacy settings on their Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S with the following options in the Communication & Multiplayer section:

• "You can join multiplayer games," set to Allow
• "You can join cross-network play," set to Allow
• "Others can communicate with voice, text, or invites," set to Everybody
• "You can communicate outside of Xbox with voice & text," set to Everybody

Then, in the previous "View details & customize menu," select Game content and confirm the "You can see and upload community creations" option is set to 'Everybody.'

Afterward, go to the Microsoft Store, search for Final Fantasy XIV, and click on the product page. At the "..." options menu, select and download "Final Fantasy XIV Free Trial" onto your Xbox Series X|S.

Once the installation is complete, launch the game and follow the on-screen instructions to begin playing.

FFXIV Xbox Open Beta Test — requirements, content and limitations

The Xbox Open Beta Test will contain all the content of Final Fantasy XIV's Free Trial, including everything from Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn to Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood. However, players won't be able to purchase DLC from Final Fantasy XIV's Online Store.

FFXIV Xbox Open Beta Test — Will I need Xbox Game Pass to play FFXIV?

The Free Trial version of Final Fantasy XIV and the Xbox Open Beta Test will not require players to purchase an Xbox Game Pass subscription (Core or Ultimate) to play. 

However, the full Xbox version of Final Fantasy XIV will require an Xbox Game Pass (Ultimate or Core) subscription for Xbox players to play.

FFXIV Xbox Open Beta Test — What happens if I already own FFXIV on different platforms?

Furthermore, suppose a player already has access to the Free Trial version of Final Fantasy XIV on a different platform (such as PlayStation consoles or PC) or owns a Final Fantasy XIV license registered to their Square Enix account. In that case, they will be forbidden from participating in the Xbox Open Beta Test. 

This means that only new Xbox players who have played never Final Fantasy XIV before or never created a Square Enix account will be able to partake in the Xbox Open Beta Test. Fortunately, Square Enix has confirmed on their website that legacy players will be able to play with their existing accounts and characters once the full version of the Xbox port is released.

In addition, Xbox players will need to link their Microsoft account to their Square Enix account. Once this process is complete, players cannot unlink the accounts. Square Enix requests that players hold off on doing this until the Xbox version is officially released.

FFXIV Xbox Open Beta Test — When will the Open Beta Test end and the full version releases?

Square Enix plans to launch the full Xbox Series X|S version of Final Fantasy XIV immediately after the Xbox Open Beta Test. The conclusion of the Xbox Open Beta Test will be announced later after thorough examinations. 

In addition, all your progress during the Xbox Open Beta Test will carry over to the full game, and you won't be required to re-download the game from scratch to play. Square Enix will announce the full Xbox Series X|S version's release date and when players can transfer their data at a later date.

Square Enix also states that should any maintenance be required to address any technical problems uncovered during the Xbox Open Beta Test, they will announce them separately later.

Soon Xbox players will finally be able to play Final Fantasy XIV alongside PC and PlayStation players

It has been a long time coming, but soon, Xbox players will finally be able to experience one of Square Enix's best PC games and embark on their own Final Fantasy-inspired adventures with friends. 

They will also get to experience Final Fantasy XIV's next upcoming expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, at the same time as the PC and PlayStation players when it launches in the summer of 2024.

Stay tuned for more info as we keep an eye out for the release date of the upcoming Xbox version of Final Fantasy XIV and more details regarding Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, which will be adding tons of new content, including new Jobs, new mounts, new playable Races and much more.

What you need to know

• Microsoft briefly made a statement on Xbox Wire that Final Fantasy XIV's highly-anticipated Open Beta for the upcoming Xbox Series X|S version is now ready, ahead of its estimated date of February 2024.
• However, it turned out to be incorrect. Microsoft's announcement lacked information on how to access the beta and the beta wasn't showing up on the Xbox Store or Xbox Insider. 
• Microsoft then quickly deleted the announcement on Xbox Wire.
• Final Fantasy XIV is the 14th major entry in Square Enix's Final Fantasy series and is a popular MMORPG that's been active for over ten years. It is expected to receive its fifth expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, in the summer of 2024.

On January 16, 2024, Microsoft made a startling announcement on Xbox Wire that the Open Beta test for the upcoming Xbox version of Final Fantasy XIV is now available. However, Microsoft then immediately took it down because the announcement was completely incorrect, as Square Enix stated during the Final Fantasy XIV 2024 Fan Festival in Japan, that the Xbox Open Beta would be estimated to launch in February 2024.

Microsoft has apologized for the incorrect announcement on Xbox Wire's social media and will follow up with the correct date for Final Fantasy XIV's Xbox Open Beta at a later date when it's available.

So what exactly did this article incorrectly say that caused Microsoft to delete it? For starters, nowhere in the article does it tell players how to access the Xbox Open Beta, and when it was up, nobody could find it on the Xbox Store or the Xbox Insider App. 

Not to mention, Square Enix's official website for Final Fantasy XIV, Lodestone, did not make any announcements that the Xbox Open Beta is available.

All information this article gave was that Final Fantasy XIV is a popular entry in the Final Fantasy series and a beloved MMORPG with over 30 million players. It also gave a link to their FFXIV beginner's tips YouTube video series and stated the Xbox Open Beta would include all the content of Final Fantasy XIV's Free Trial which includes all gameplay content up until Final Fantasy XIV's Stormblood expansion.

In addition, all the progress they would make in the beta would carry over to when the full Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S versions of Final Fantasy XIV eventually release.

Confusing Patch 6.55 with Xbox Open Beta?

You might be thinking, "What has caused Microsoft to make such an incorrect announcement?" Personally speaking, I'm going to guess that somebody at Microsoft mistakenly assumed that the Xbox Open Beta would be released today alongside Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker's last major update, Patch 6.55, without seeing or forgetting about Square Enix's aforementioned announcement. Perhaps they incorrectly selected the month, and that we'll get the announcement on February 16th, instead of January 16th? Perhaps it was originally slated for January 16th, it's hard to know for sure. 

Mistakes happen, though. Microsoft and Square Enix have developed a blossoming relationship recently, with the latter confirming greater support for upcoming Square Enix titles, including Visions of Mana, Final Fantasy XVI, and of course, Final Fantasy XIV and its upcoming expansion for PC and Xbox, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail.

What you need to know

• Square Enix has shown off new gameplay details for Final Fantasy XIV's fifth expansion, Dawntrail at Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival 2024 Japan.
• These announcements include the reveal of the Pictomancer and Beastmaster Jobs, the long-awaited female Hrothgar playable race, a new date for the Xbox open beta test date, and more.
• Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is scheduled to launch during the summer of 2024 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC.

On January 7, 2024, Square Enix showcased a mountain of new info regarding Final Fantasy XIV's upcoming expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail at this year's Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival in Japan (which can be viewed on YouTube). These include new player Jobs, a new playable race, a new date for the open beta test of Final Fantasy XIV's upcoming Xbox version, and so much more.

Here are all the biggest announcements from Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival Japan 2024:

New Magical Ranged DPS Job: Pictomancer

The first major announcement was the reveal of the Magical Ranged DPS player Job which will be added to Final Fantasy XIV alongside the new Melee DPS Job, Viper. Last year, we predicted that one of the new Jobs for Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail last year would be Pictomancer based on hints given by the game's director, Naoki Yoshida. It turns out we were right on the money as the new Ranged Magical DPS Job will indeed be the Pictomancer.

Pictomancers are an unorthodox Job that originated in Final Fantasy VI used by the character Relm, and its main gimmick is combining art with magic. For example, Pictomancers can sketch monsters, locations, or even weather patterns and then use magic to bring their artwork to life to attack enemies or support allies.

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker Patch 6.55 part 2

The second major news announcement is that Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker's next major update, Patch 6.55, will be released on January 16, 2024. This update will include new side quests and new Main Scenario Quests that will conclude the story of Endwalker and set the stage for Dawntrail. 

New areas

We have been given a trailer showcasing the new jungle and desert-themed areas players will explore in Dawntrail's main setting, the continent of Tural. Then afterward, Square Enix unveiled a trailer showcasing a new player hub called Solution 9, which is unlike any locale we have seen in Final Fantasy XIV thus far.

All we know about this futuristic-looking city is that it was built by a civilization entirely separate from Tuliyollal, the main player hub city of Dawntrail.

Similar to Solution 9, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail will feature another locale that mixes low-fantasy and advanced science-fiction-esque technology called Heritage Found. This region is brimming with magical energy that conjures eternal thunderclouds that blot out the sun and strike the land with purple lightning.

New Allied Tribes: Yok Huy and Hanu Hanu

In addition to the Mamool Ja, Pelupelu, and Moblin Allied Tribes, Dawntrail will introduce a new Allied Tribe of giants called the Yok Huy and what appear to be regional variants of the Vanu Vanu Allied Tribe from Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward, called the Hanu Hanu.

New Expansive Lifestyle content: Cosmic Exploration

The next major new announcement is that Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail will feature a brand new lifestyle content activity called Cosmic Exploration. This activity will involve players traveling through space to explore other planets alongside the Loporitts from Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker. Cosmic Exploration can be tackled solo or with other players.

New Raid dungeon info

Square Enix unveils new information regarding Dawntrail's Raid content. First up is that new concept art has been unveiled for the Shadow Lord, one of the enemies players will face in Echoes of Vana'Diel, the 24-man Alliance Raid dungeon that will be based on Final Fantasy XI. The Echoes of Vana'Diel will be added to Final Fantasy XIV through Dawntrail's post-launch updates at a later date.

Next up is that Square Enix gives players a glimpse of what Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail's 8-man Raid will be like through mysterious concept art. This artwork shows us a futuristic city looks like it takes place in the same general area as Solution Nine but with gigantic skyscrapers with fans built into them.

In addition, the title of the 8-man raid will be "The Arcadion" and will feature a completely original story with new characters to meet and new enemies to battle. As with previous 8-man Raids, there will be a Normal version for all players of any skill level to enjoy the story and a Savage version that will test the mettle of hardcore raiders. The Arcadion will be implemented at least a month after the base game of Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail launches.

Finally, Square Enix announces that the first Ultimate Raid (the hardest battle content of FFXIV) of Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail will be called "Futures Rewritten (Ultimate)" and it will be based on the 8-man Eden Raid series from Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers. The Eden Raids were extremely popular with the fans for featuring a storyline and a host of bosses inspired by Final Fantasy VIII and introducing the fan-favorite character Gaia. 

As with the other Raids, Futures Rewritten (Ultimate) will be added to Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail after its release, and more information about how the Raid will play out at a later date.

Field Operations

After stating various smaller-scale updates coming to Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail like new Variant Dungeons, Deep Dungeon updates, PVP updates, Hildibrand Quests, Blue Mage updates, Square Enix announces that they are planning to add new Field Operations.

Field Operations are instanced areas where players band together to defeat hordes of enemies and giant bosses on large-scale battlefields. They were featured in FFXIV: Stormblood as "The Forbidden Land, Eureka" and FFXIV: Shadowbringers as "Save the Queen: Blades of Gunnhildr", but were absent in FFXIV: Endwalker, so fans of those activities can look forward to their return in Dawntrail.

New Limited Job: Beastmaster

In addition to the Viper and Pictomancer Jobs, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail will introduce a new Limited Job called Beastmaster. Limited Jobs are restricted from most of Final Fantasy XIV's content like Ultimate Raids and Main Scenario Quests, but are compensated with a gigantic wealth of exclusive content and quests that can be tackled solo or with parties filled with players also using Limited Jobs.

The only Limited Job currently available is the Blue Mage so Beastmaster will be the second Limited Job added to the game. Beastmasters debuted in Final Fantasy V and their main gimmick is being able to tame and control monsters in battle. Square Enix has not stated what Beastmaster's gameplay will entail in Final Fantasy XIV as of yet, but we can hazard a guess they will feature Pokémon-style quests where we capture monsters and train them to fight bigger monsters at our behest.

Xbox Open Beta

After showcasing previously announced miscellaneous features in more detail like the Graphics Update and the new Dye system, Square Enix announces when Xbox fans can expect to join open beta for the Xbox edition of Final Fantasy XIV. Square Enix plans to start the open beta on February 21st, 2024, but this date is subject to change before then.

FFXIV x FFXVI crossover

Square Enix then declares that the highly-anticipated crossover event with Final Fantasy XVI is scheduled to begin in early April 2024.

Playable Female Hrothgar

To close out the list of announcements, Square Enix unveiled a trailer confirming that female Hrothgar will finally be playable once Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail launches. The Hrothgar are a playable race of half-human/lion hybrids introduced in Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers, whose bestial appearances are mostly inspired by the Ronso Race from Final Fantasy X. 

Players were only able to play as male Hrothgar when they were added in Shadowbringers in 2019 and had to wait several years until now before playable female Hrothgar became official. 

We are drawing ever closer to a new era for Final Fantasy XIV

That was a lot of new information to unpack for this upcoming PC title. We've got new Jobs, new Raids, new activities, a new playable race, new locales to explore, and so much more to look forward to. 

However, I will say it is pretty bold of Square Enix to release Patch 6.55 on January 16, 2024. This is likely going to be the last major content update for Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker and Square Enix is releasing it at the same time as the Seeds of Renewal update for World of Warcraft: Dragonflight. Needless to say, the competition for player retention between the two biggest MMORPGs on the market is going to be fierce. 

Could this be a sign that Square Enix plans to release Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail around the same timeframe as World of Warcraft's upcoming The War Within expansion in the summer of 2024? Is Square Enix planning on taking Blizzard's juggernaut MMORPG directly to see which game comes out on top as one of the best PC titles of 2024? We will have to wait and see to find out.

What you need to know

• Two years ago, Square Enix and GrubHub held a limited-time promo event where you could get a code for an exclusive pizza emote by ordering $15 of food or more during The Game Awards.
• The event was a complete disaster. Many were forced to battle GrubHub reps for days to get their code, and lots of players never got one at all.
• Recently, the pizza emote was added to the Final Fantasy XIV Online Store microtransaction shop, and can now be purchased for $7.
• Fan reactions to this are mixed, but skewed towards happiness. Some are annoyed that they have to spend even more money to get the emote, but most are pleased to see it become widely available.

Many players in the Final Fantasy XIV community are in quite a tizzy at the moment, and no, it's not because of exciting new gameplay content or quests. This time around, all the hubbub stems from the recent addition of a pizza emote to the game's microtransaction shop. Yes, a pizza emote.

You see, about two years ago in December 2021, Square Enix held a promotional event with GrubHub during The Game Awards. By using the delivery service to order at least $15 of food during the evening of the show and then using the promo code "ENDWALKER" at checkout, you'd be able to get a code sent to your email a day later that, when redeemed, would unlock the exclusive /eatpizza emote in FFXIV.

Unfortunately, things took quite a disastrous turn very quickly. Tons of people never got the code despite ordering $15 of food or more, and many who did had to fight tooth and nail with GrubHub's customer service staff for days. GrubHub's fine print did say that there was limited availability, but this was never made clear, and also...it's a digital item. Any "limited supply" is completely artificial.

"I honestly think that the customer service reps have no idea what they're talking about. This one's saying it's a lottery. Others are saying there were a limited number of codes and it was first come first serve, but aren't even being consistent with what that limit even was," wrote u/Shizucheese in a Reddit thread about the scandal. "I know I saw one person post that a grubhub rep told them you had to place two orders in order to qualify. Others are saying that there was a glitch in the system and that the code didn't get applied to some people's orders, and if it didn't apply to yours than you're SoL."

Then came the eBay sales. Once folks who had actually received their code like they were supposed to realized how lucky they were, many of them began listing their pizza emote codes on consumer-to-consumer sites. Suddenly, these codes were selling for $200 or more, with one even going for as much as $500.

That brings us to today, and Square Enix's surprise announcement that the /eatpizza emote can now, a full two years after the aforementioned debacle, be purchased from the Final Fantasy XIV Online Store for $7. Unsurprisingly, the community's reaction to this decision has been rather mixed, though I'd say it's on the happy side overall.

On one hand, you have people who wish they could get all the time they spent battling GrubHub service reps for their code back. There's also the folks who never got their code at all, and are frustrated that they'll have to spend even more money than they already did on expensive food delivery just to get this silly pizza emote. Some are miffed that their rare, exclusive emote just got a whole lot less exclusive, too, which isn't surprising.

"After ALL that hell fighting GrubHub for months for them to finally cough up the code…I’m a bit salty," wrote u/Rynn21 on the r/FFXIV subreddit. "I’m glad we can get it, but so many were scammed by Grubhub that I wish this was free," says @griffon_rex on X (formerly Twitter).

But then, on the other side of the coin, you've got all the players that are simply happy to have a chance to get the emote since they either weren't playing FFXIV at the time, missed the promo, or don't live in the United States (only North American Square Enix accounts were eligible for the event). There's some grumbles about the rather high price tag of $7, but overall, most folk are just excited to finally give their Warrior of Light a slice to snack on.

The decision to ease up on this limited-time event's "fear of missing out" (FOMO) factor isn't one that anyone was expecting, and it's got players wondering if we could see the /eatchicken KFC Japan-exclusive emote become more widely available next. Given that the handling of the GrubHub promo was uniquely terrible, though, Square Enix could just be feeling generous with its pizza.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is currently available on Windows PC, PS4, and PS5, with the Xbox version coming in Spring 2024. It's one of the best PC games, and notably, the Complete Edition includes all of its DLC and a 30 days of playtime for $60. This makes it the best way to jump in and get access to its full content suite.

What you need to know

• News regarding Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, the 5th upcoming expansion to Final Fantasy XIV, has been shown off during Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival 2023 London.
• These announcements include new player Jobs, details regarding the new 24-player Alliance Raid, the Xbox open beta test date, and more.
• Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is set to release in the summer of 2024 on Xbox Series XS, PlayStation 4 and 5, and PC.

On October 21, 2023, Square Enix hosted 2023's second Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival in London to showcase a new trailer and features of the 5th upcoming expansion to Final Fantasy XIV, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail. Among the new details announced include the reveal of new Jobs, the title of the 24-player Alliance raid, the date for the open beta test of the upcoming Xbox version of Final Fantasy XIV, and more.

Here are all the biggest announcements of Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival 2023 in London:

New Melee DPS Job: Viper

The first major piece of new information for Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is the full reveal of one of the two Jobs that will be added: Viper. The Viper is a Melee DPS Job that uses a pair of swords that combine to form a double-bladed staff. 

It is an original Job exclusive to Final Fantasy XIV, not based on any Job from previous Final Fantasy games. However, longtime Final Fantasy fans will notice that the Viper's move-set bears a resemblance to Zidane, the protagonist of Final Fantasy IX who uses similar weapons.

The new Ranged Caster DPS Job will not be revealed until the next FFXIV Fan Festival event in Tokyo on January 7, 2024.

New areas: Kozama'uka and Shaaloani

Square Enix showcased a couple of new areas that the players will explore in FFXIV: Dawntrail. The first is a jungle-themed area called Kozama'uka filled with tropical forests, rivers, and indigenous tribes. The second is an arid region called Shaaloani, a land featuring desert plains and a railroad built to aid the transport of Ceruleum deposits. 

New Allied Tribe: Moblins

One of the new Allied Tribes that will be added in Dawntrail will be the Moblins, a culture similar to the Goblins. Moblins are skilled gatherers and traders who reside in the jungles of Kozama'uka. This tribe will host quests for players proficient in the Gatherer and Crafter Jobs.

New boss and dungeons

During the event, we were given a glimpse of the new dungeons, and one of the bosses' players is expected to encounter in Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail. The dungeons will include tropical jungles, mountains with mystical fauna, and ancient ruins.

One of the new bosses of Dawntrail will be the Eliminator, a gigantic mechanical war machine.

New Alliance Raid: Echoes of Vana'Diel

The new 24-player Alliance Raid series will be called Echoes of Vana'Diel. This will be a special Raid series as it will be a collaboration of Final Fantasy XI, the first MMORPG of the Final Fantasy series. No details regarding the Raid's plot and content have been announced at this time but will be revealed at a later date.

New Limited Job

A new Limited Job will be added into the latter half of Dawntrail's post-launch patch series. A Limited Job is a Job with its own exclusive set of quests and content separate from the regular Jobs. The only Limited Job Final Fantasy XIV currently has is the Blue Mage, which was implemented into the game during Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood.

Xbox Open Beta Test date

Square Enix has announced that the open beta test for the Xbox version of Final Fantasy XIV will take place between the middle of January 2024 and February 2024.

FFXIV x Fall Guys Collab

The release date for Final Fantasy XIV's unexpected collaboration with Fall Guys has been announced. The Fall Guys mini-games will be added to the Manderville Gold Saucer on October 31, 2023, alongside FFXIV's Patch 6.51 update. There will also be special prizes for completing these mini-games.

Final Fantasy XVI Crossover

Final Fantasy XIV will feature a limited-timed, crossover event with Final Fantasy XVI. In this event titled "The Path Infernal", players will get to team up with Final Fantasy XVI's protagonist Clive, and take on Final Fantasy XVI's version of Ifrit, the franchise's reoccurring fire-based Summon monster.

Cloud Data Center Stress Test

Square Enix is inviting players to take part in a stress test for cloud data centers that will be later implemented into Final Fantasy XIV. The stress is scheduled to take place from November 21, 2023, to November 27, 2023.

The Stress Test will be held in the North America (East Coast) Data Centers, but players from all over the world can take part. To take part, players will need to create new characters specifically for this test (they will automatically be deleted after the test is over). During this test, Data Center Travel and the backup configuration settings feature will be unavailable.

To aid participating players in this test, they will be granted Tales of Adventure Items for the Main Scenario Quests and every Job up until Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers, and 50,000,000 Gil.

New adventures are dawning for Final Fantasy XIV

Things are starting to get exciting for this upcoming PC title as we move ever closer to Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail's release date. What new adventures await us in the next expansion, and what could the Magical Ranged DPS Job possibly be? Stay tuned to find out, as more updates for one of Square Enix's best PC games will no doubt be revealed during Final Fantasy XIV's next Fan Festival in Tokyo, on January 7, 2024.

On July 28, 2023, Square Enix announced the 5th major expansion to its popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV, during that year’s Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival. This new upcoming expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail will be coming to PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms in 2024 and will bring a smorgasbord of new gameplay features, gameplay balance changes, and new content to indulge in.

Some of the new content that Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail will include are: the beginning of a new story arc, two new playable Jobs, a new continent to explore, new dungeons, new raids, a huge graphical update, quality of life improvements, and more.

Here is everything you need to know on Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail.

Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail: What is it about?

After saving the world from a cataclysmic event called ‘The Final Days’, the Warrior of Light and his companions, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, embark on a new adventure to the continent of Tural. There they will discover new cultures, participate in a Contest of Champions to help determine the next ruler of Tural, and explore the lands to uncover the fabled lost city of gold.

Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail: What will the gameplay be like?

The gameplay of Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail will be the same as previous expansions. You will explore new lands and take up Main Scenario Quests to advance the plot, while completing optional side-quests along the way. At certain points in the story, you will be tasked to battle through dungeons filled with enemies using a Tab-Target Combat system like in most MMORPGs and take on titanic boss fight sequences called Trials.

Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail: What new gameplay features will this expansion bring?

As with every expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail plans to bring a host of new dungeons, Variant Dungeons, 8-player Raids, 24-player Alliance Raids, Trials, and Ultimate Raids for players to engage in. One of the new Trials that players can look forward to is fighting against Valigarmanda, a magnificent bird-like creature originally featured in Final Fantasy VI, where it was formerly known as Tritoch.

One of the Raids announced for Dawntrail is the Echoes of Vana'Diel Alliance Raid. This will a special Raid series as it will be a crossover between Final Fantasy XIV and its MMORPG predecessor, Final Fantasy XI, created to celebrate FFXI's 20th anniversary,

To help players overcome the new challenges that await them, the level cap for player Jobs has been increased to Lv. 100 and new player Jobs will be added: a Melee DPS, a Ranged Magical DPS Job, and a new Limited Job.

During the FFXIV 2023 Fan Festival in London, the Melee DPS Job was revealed to be an original Job, exclusively made for Final Fantasy XIV called the Viper. This is a fast-paced, dexterous Job that allows the player to wield a pair of swords and combine them to form a double-bladed staff. 

If you're an old-school Final Fantasy fan, you may notice that the Viper's fighting style and choice of weapons are reminiscent of Zidane, the thieving protagonist of Final Fantasy IX.

Based on hints provided by the initial teaser trailer and Naoki Yoshida (the game’s director and producer), fans speculated that the new Magical Ranged DPS Job could be a painter-themed Job inspired by Relm Arrowny from Final Fantasy VI. It turns out they were right as Square Enix confirmed during the 2024 Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival in Japan, that the new Magical Ranged DPS Job will indeed be Pictomancer.

At the time same as Pictomancer's announcement, Square Enix also revealed that the new Limited Job coming in FFXIV: Dawntrail will be Beastmaster. Beastmasters originated in Final Fantasy V and their strength lies in wielding giant axes and taming monsters in battle.

Limited Jobs are special Jobs compared to regular Jobs, as they have their own plethora of quests and content to complete. However, Limited Jobs cannot partake in specific content like Main Scenario Quest instances or Ultimate Raids, for example.

One of the biggest changes that Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail will bring is a huge graphical update for the whole game. This graphical update will improve the overall lighting of environments and upgrade the visual fidelity of character and material models with higher-resolution textures and shadows.

Other gameplay additions Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail will include are:

• Job balance changes.
• Female Hrothgar finally becoming a playable race.
• A new Hub City situated in Yok Tural called Tuliyollal.
• New areas to explore: Urqopacha, Yak T’el, Kozama'uka
• New Allied Tribes: The Pelupelu, Moblins
• New FATES.
• More ‘The Hunt’ bounties.
• New Treasure Hunt maps.
• New Quest-Synced Sidequests.
• PVP Updates.
• Duty Support Updates.
• New Gear and Recipes.
• Expansive New Lifestyle Content similar to Final Fantasy XIV: Storm Island Sanctuary content and Bozja/Eureka battle-instanced content from previous expansions.
• Blue Mage Update.
• New quests for the Hildibrand questline called ‘Inconceivably Further Hildibrand Adventures’.
• New plans for Deep Dungeons.
• Updates for the Gold Saucer.

In addition to gameplay and graphical updates, there will also be system changes that apply for the whole game:

• You will be able to use two dyes on each piece of gear you acquire, instead of being restricted to one dye per gear piece.
• There will be a new type of gear piece called ‘Eyeglasses’ that can be equipped alongside headgear.
• The furnishing limit will be increased for player-owned houses.
• A new ‘Strategy Board’ feature will be included to help player teams plan their strategies when tackling various hardcore Raids or Trials.

Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail: What are the PC spec requirements?

Thanks to the graphical updates introduced in Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, the PC specifications for the PC and Mac versions of Final Fantasy XIV have all been updated.

Do note that these system requirements may change when the final product is released. 

Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail: What platforms will it release on and when is it coming out?

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail will be released on July 2, 2024, on PC (via Windows, Mac and Steam), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail: Are there any special editions and pre-order bonuses?

There will be a few editions of Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail to buy once pre-orders go live on March 26, 2026. There is the Standard Edition, Digital Collector's Edition, Collector's Box, and the Collector's Edition. 

If you pre-order any of these editions of Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, you will receive the Wind-Up Zidane Minion and Azeyma's Earrings(which grants a 30% EXP up to Lv.90) in-game items ahead of the expansion's release. 

The dawn of a new era for Final Fantasy XIV is upon us

With these new quality-of-life improvements and exciting quests, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is promising to bring to the main game, it’s no wonder fans are excited to get their hands on this upcoming PC title.

What’s more is that Xbox fans will be able to join in on the fun as Final Fantasy XIV and all of its content up until Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, is now available on the Xbox Series X|S.

What new adventures await the Warrior of Light now that the world is safe from evil, and will they be able to prove Tural’s lost city of gold exists? Stay tuned for more details as we keep an eye out for news updates on the latest expansion of one of the best PC games on the market.

What you need to know

• Final Fantasy XIV is the 14th mainline entry in the Final Fantasy series and is the second long-running MMORPG in the franchise's library.
• An open-beta session for the Xbox Series X|S version of Final Fantasy XIV, is set to launch during the Patch 6.5x series of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker. The new patch cycle is set to begin on October 3, 2023. 
• The upcoming Xbox version of Final Fantasy XIV, set to release in Spring 2024, shall feature all the PC's content from A Realm Reborn up until the latest expansion, Endwalker.
• Final Fantasy XIV is expecting to see a new expansion in 2024 called Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail

UPDATE (January 7, 2023): At Final Fantasy XIV 2024 Fan Festival in Japan, Square Enix announced that they planning to start the Open Beta for the Xbox version of Final Fantasy XIV on the tentative date of February 21, 2024. 

UPDATE (October 21, 2023): During the Final Fantasy XIV 2023 Fan Festival in London, Square Enix announced the date for the Open Beta Test of the Xbox version of Final Fantasy XIV. It will start from the middle of January 2024 and last until February 2024.

On September 29, 2023, Square Enix updated the website for Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker's upcoming Patch 6.5x series, which is set to begin on October 3, 2023 with Patch 6.5. 

This series of updates for the long-running MMORPG shall include:

• New Main Scenario quests: Growing Light.
• New sidequests including Tataru's Grand Endeaver, Somehow Further Hildibrand Adventures, Manderville Weapons, and Splendorous Tools.
• A new Alliance Raid Dungeon: Myths of the Realm, Part 3: Thaleia.
• A new dungeon: Lunar Subterrane.
• A new Trial called The Abyssal Fracture where players will battle a boss called Zeromus.
• Endwalker Tribal Alliance Quests
• A new Custom Deliveries client: Margrat,
• A collaboration with Fall Guys at the Manderville Gold Saucer.
• A new update for Island Sanctuary.
• A new Crystalline Conflict Arena.
• The Duty Support shall include all the Main Scenario dungeons of Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood.
• The Free-trial shall be extended to include all the content of Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood.
• New minions, PVP gear, and mounts.

The most important piece of info for Xbox fans is that the website has stated that the Patch 6.5x series will feature an open-beta test for the upcoming Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S version of Final Fantasy XIV. While no specific date for the open-beta has been given at this time, Square Enix has confirmed it will launch during Patch 6.5x's timeline so expect it to drop in the upcoming months between Patch 6.5 and Patch 6.55.

The upcoming Xbox version of Final Fantasy XIV will feature faster load times compared to the PlayStation and PC versions, and 4K resolution exclusively on Xbox Series X. The Xbox version will launch in Spring 2024 as a digital-only release and will include all of Final Fantasy XIV's content up from Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn up until the current expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker.

Xbox fans have been waiting for years to play Final Fantasy XIV, one of the best PC games on Xbox consoles, and soon their dream will become a reality. On top of that, Xbox fans will also get the chance to play Final Fantasy XIV's upcoming expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, which is set to launch in the Summer of 2024 on PC, PlayStation and Xbox systems.

During the Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival last week, Game Director Naoki Yoshida and Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer made a shocking announcement: after a full decade since the release of FFXIV: A Realm Reborn, the critically acclaimed PC and PlayStation MMO is finally coming to Xbox Series X|S. Specifically, players can expect to a Spring 2024 release, with an open beta coming when Patch 6.5 goes live in January. The Xbox version of the game will support 4K and improved load times, full crossplay with players on other platforms, and cross-progression and shared subscription time (provided you're linking to the same Square Enix account everywhere you play).

It's incredible news for JRPG and MMO fans alike, and as someone who's fallen in love with the game recently on PC, I can confidently say that FFXIV should be at the top of your most-anticipated games list. Here are seven reasons why you should be excited for the arrival of the title on Xbox consoles.

1. The community is incredible

Since I started playing FFXIV in late June, the thing that's stuck out the most to me is how incredibly kind and supportive the game's community is. Within hours of the start of my journey in Eorzea, over a dozen players had already reached out to welcome me to the experience and give helpful tips, useful early-game items, and large sums of "gil" — FFXIV's in-game currency. Many experienced adventurers have approached with friendly suggestions and offers to help with group content, too, no doubt noticing the green bud symbol next to my name that indicates I'm a "sprout."

I've had some rough times with MMO communities in the past, so my time spent with FFXIV's has been quite touching. And based on what I've been able to glean from other players, positive experiences like the ones I've had are the norm. Overall, you can look forward to being part of a welcoming, supportive, and inclusionary community.

2. It's very easy to learn

Some MMOs can be challenging to learn due to the complexity of their gameplay systems, but I've had very little difficulty picking up and playing FFXIV. Its hotbar-based, rotation-focused combat takes some getting used to, but the game starts off very simple so you can learn the ropes in a stress-free environment before things ramp up. Similarly, important questing mechanics and other systems such as gear customization are clearly explained as you progress, which has ensured that I never feel lost or unsure of how to do something.

Obviously things will get more complicated as you unlock activities like raids, but at that point, you'll likely be very comfortable with the game's core design and systems. And don't forget, you can always ask other players about something if you're confused!

3. You can play every Job on one character

Something I generally dislike in MMOs is when you're forced to make multiple characters just to try out different roles and classes. This takes a ton of time to do, and it's often pretty tedious to play through the same quests over and over again. FFXIV solves this problem by allowing you to play as every Job in the game on a single character, and even speeds up your progression while you're leveling up new Jobs with XP boosts. These boosts start off extremely strong and gradually get weaker as you approach the level of your highest-level Job, making them a fantastic catch-up mechanic.

Switching between Jobs couldn't be simpler, as all you have to do is swap out your character's equipped Soul Crystal for a different one after earning them from your Job quests. FFXIV also allows you to create custom gear set loadouts for each of your Jobs that you can swap between with the press of a button.

4. It plays great on controller

Xbox players will be happy to learn that all of FFXIV is incredibly intuitive to play on controller, especially if you make tweaks suggested in community guides like this one. This stems from the fact that the A Realm Reborn relaunch of the game was built for PS4 as well as PC, and as such, Square Enix made sure that the gamepad controls were quite robust.

Unfortunately, you won't be able to chat with other players well with a controller, but you can connect a cheap USB keyboard to your Xbox and talk with folks that way (or use a wireless one). You can also choose from multiple different pre-written responses with the Auto-Translate function, which will send other players the message you selected and translate it into their native language if necessary.

5. The award-winning story

If you're looking for a good story, FFXIV is the MMO for you (this is Final Fantasy, after all). The base A Realm Reborn experience starts off pretty slow and is a bit of a slog, but once you get through the game's first 35-40 levels or so, things start picking up fast. At level 50-60, you'll reach the Heavensward DLC, and from there on out the writing is widely considered to be some of the best in all of gaming. 

No spoilers here, of course, but you can count on tons of rich storylines and deep character arcs supported by plenty of fascinating pieces of lore and worldbuilding. For many FFXIV players, the quality of the writing is worth the price of admission alone. The latest expansion, FFXIV: Endwalker, even received an Excellence in Narrative Award at the 2022 SXSW Gaming Awards.

6. A vibrant roleplaying scene

If roleplaying is your thing, you'll have no problem finding like-minded players to chat with in Eorzea. There are multiple social hubs where folks like to hang out and meet new people — most players advertise quick details about their character and what they're interested in with a customizable Adventurer Plate — and many people that own plots of land in housing areas choose to create venues for roleplaying in settings like bars, nightclubs, restaurants, cafés, inns, and more.

For example, one place I've frequented since I began playing FFXIV is The Moirai, a popular nightclub that's open every Saturday night from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. ET. The staff are incredibly friendly and fun to roleplay with, and whether you want to get down on the dance floor or just mingle with other guests, it's a great place to be (shoutout to the Moirai community for helping to get the screenshots above, they're the best). You can find plenty of venues like this throughout FFXIV's different Data Centers and Worlds, and sites like FFXIVVenues and FFXIV RP Event Calendar make it easy to keep track of what, where, and when things are going on every day.

Ultimately, roleplay in FFXIV is a fantastic way to make new friends, so if it sounds like something you'd be interested in, don't hesitate to give it a shot once the game is out on Xbox.

7. There's no FOMO

Lastly, FFXIV is widely renowned for its lack of FOMO, or the Fear of Missing Out. Many MMOs introduce lots of limited-time content and rewards in an effort to encourage tons of consistent playtime, but for many, this approach leads to stressful pressure and burnout. Aside from the occasional seasonal event with a handful of cosmetic rewards, FFXIV does not do this, which makes it more conducive to casual playstyles. 

You can grind it hardcore if you'd like to, of course, but you don't have to worry about missing out on things if you decide to take a break. And in an age where more and more games are pushing players towards the live service treadmill, that's quite the breath of fresh air.

Eorzea awaits, Warrior of Light

The arrival of FFXIV on Xbox is something that many gamers thought would never happen, so the fact that it's less than a year away is incredibly exciting. During the upcoming open beta, I highly recommend giving the game a shot, even if you don't typically play JRPGs or MMOs.

The game's community is absolutely wonderful, and the game as a whole is extremely beginner-friendly and easy to pick up. There are no restrictions on what or how you can play the game with your character, and it's arguably the best MMO on the market in terms of controller support. The excellent gameplay is accompanied by a phenomenal story and lots of fun opportunities for roleplaying, and everything can be experienced at a pace that you're comfortable with.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is currently available on Windows PC, PS4, and PS5, with the Xbox version coming in Spring 2024. It's one of the best PC games, and notably, the Complete Edition includes all of its DLC and a 30 days of playtime for $60. This makes it the best way to jump in and get access to its full content suite.

What you need to know

• Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker will conclude with its final patch titled 6.5 "Growing Light".
• This is a two-part patch, with the first arriving in October 2023 and the second part in January 2024.
• This wraps up the Endwalker story in preparation of the release of the latest expansion Dawntrail.

It has been a wild few days for Final Fantasy XIV fans with the announcement of Dawntrail; the latest expansion for Final Fantasy XIV, which will bring an entirely new story arc for the first time since A Realm Reborn was released a decade ago. Before that, however, there's a slew of new content to be released with the highlight being Patch 6.5 "Growing Light". 

This is a two-part patch with the first part being released in October of 2023 and the second part in January 2024. Growing Light will wrap up the story of the highly acclaimed expansion "Endwalker" and will prepare players for the start of this new era of the game.

Here are a number of things scheduled to arrive with Patch 6.5 Growing Light this year: 

• New Main Scenario Quests (Part 1).
• New Dungeon - The Lunar Subteranne.
• Duty Support Expansion - This now allows you to play through all dungeons solo.
• New Trial - Battle against Zeromus in both Normal and Extreme difficulties.
• New Alliance Raid - Myths of the Realm #3: Explore the mysteries of Thaleia.

This is just a selection of the content arriving in the first part of Patch 6.5 Growing Light, with the second patch 6.55 coming in January 2024 bringing even more to the table. There's even going to be a Final Fantasy XIV x Fall Guys crossover! 

It looks like it will be a very exciting time for players in the run up to Dawntrail as well as the newly welcomed to Final Fantasy XIV Xbox players. Check here for the full press release on what's coming before the arrival of Dawntrail.

After concluding a ten-year-long story arc in Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, Final Fantasy XIV is set to begin a new chapter with Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail. This upcoming expansion to Square Enix's long-running MMORPG will take players on a grand adventure where they explore a new continent called Tural, challenge new bosses and raid dungeons, learn new Jobs to help players succeed in battle, and much more.

In addition, Xbox fans will be joining PC gamers on this endeavor as Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn and all its expansions are finally coming to Xbox. 

Naoki Yoshida (a.k.a. Yoshi-P), the director of FFXIV, stated during the FFXIV Fan Festival that there would be two new Jobs introduced in Dawntrail — a Melee DPS Job and a Ranged Magic DPS Job. Since then, fans have begun speculating what these new Jobs could be from hints provided by the FFXIV: Dawntrail reveal trailer and from Yoshi-P himself.

Here some are ideas from FFXIV fans and from us at Windows Central as to what these Jobs may be.

The new Melee DPS Job for FFXIV: Dawntrail

The Youtuber, "Quazli FFXIV", did a deep dive analysis of the cinematic reveal for Dawntrail and noticed some hidden details that may hint at what the new Melee DPS Job could be. In the trailer, the Warrior of Light (the player character) is seen wearing a robe and brandishing a medieval-style long sword in one hand.

During a fight with Gulool Ja Ja, a two-headed Mamool Ja that will be crucial to Dawntrail's plot, the Warrior of Light gets knocked back and his robe is pulled slightly to reveal an outfit that looks like something a pirate would wear. Quazli then upscaled and brightened this scene and spotted an object hanging by the Warrior of Light's waist which looks to be a pistol of some kind.

Then in another scene at the end of the trailer, Quazli notices that the Warrior of Light is holding objects that aren't actually there (the objects are probably hidden on purpose by developers to conceal the Job until the full trailer is released). The Warrior of Light is positioning his left hand in the air as if he's gripping the hilt of a sword and his right hand is slightly gripping an object while keeping his index finger straight as if he'd holding a gun while keeping his finger off the trigger.

Given these hints, it is highly likely the new Melee DPS will be a pirate-themed Job. In the Final Fantasy franchise, there have been two Jobs that could fit the bill for what we are seeing in Dawntrail. The first is the Cannoneer, a Job introduced in Final Fantasy V: Advance where a player character dons a privateer outfit that attacks their enemies with knives, swords, and cannons. 

The other potential Job could be the Corsair, a Job introduced in Final Fantasy XI. This is another pirate-themed Job where a player character fights with knives, swords, and a special six-barreled revolver called a Hexagun. In addition, Corsairs have a unique ability where they provide positive buffs to party members by rolling dice and drawing playing cards.

Whether it is a newly-named Job or the returning Cannoneer or Corsair, a pirate-themed Job is certainly a novel idea for FFXIV. Not to mention, it would fit easily into the lore of FFXIV as one of the starting hub areas, Limsa Lominsa, is a town founded by reformed pirates. There are a few characters there I can imagine who could teach Warrior of Light this pirate-themed Job like Eynzahr Slafyrsyn or even Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn.

The new Ranged Magical DPS Job for FFXIV: Dawntrail

For the Ranged Magical DPS Job, guessing what it could be is a lot more tricky. All we have to go on at the moment is a hint from Yoshi-P is a shirt of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles he wore during the FFXIV Fan Festival. At first glance many players, including myself thought "Wait a minute. We already have a Ninja Job in Final Fantasy XIV. This doesn't make any sense."

However, some fans on Twitter like URAunitB have been thinking outside the box and come up with a startling revelation. 

URAunitB reasons that since the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are named after Renaissance painters, this could imply that the hint given by Yoshi-P is that the new Ranged Magical DPS Job will be a painter-themed/Pictomancer Job. A painter-themed Job may sound ridiculous but it does exist in various JRPGs created by Square Enix. 

In Final Fantasy VI, there is a playable character called Relm who is a magic-user that has the unique ability to sketch paintings of monsters and have them come to life to attack enemies.

In Bravely Default 2, there is a Job called the Pictomancer. Their main game plan is to create paintings that debuff enemies or buff party members. However, some drawings Pictomancers create can deal damage to enemies. A painter-themed Job is unorthodox say the least and how such a Job will be integrated into Final Fantasy XIV and who will teach the players the Job is anybody's guess at the moment.

Still, the idea of a Pictomancer in Final Fantasy XIV sounds like a neat idea. Creating monsters through sketches and weakening enemies through paintings would be an interesting and quirky playstyle to balance out the more-destructive Magical Ranged DPS Jobs like Black Mage and Summoner.

New adventures and Jobs await us in The New World

As you can see, there are all sorts of possibilities as to what these new Jobs could be. An MMORPG with a community as passionate and creative as this is one of the reasons why Final Fantasy XIV is one of the best multiplayer games on PC.

What do you personally think? Do you agree with these fan predictions that we could see pirate and painter Jobs added into Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail or do you have different ideas on what the new Jobs could be? If you have a different prediction, say your piece in the Windows Central Discord forum and we'll highlight it.

In the meantime, we will find out the true answer in the coming months as more information on this upcoming title for both PC and Xbox will be unveiled at the next Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festivals in London on October 2023 and Tokyo on January 2024.

What you need to know

• At Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival, Square Enix announced the latest expansion for its MMO, called Dawntrail.
• The new expansion will be released in Summer 2024.
• This expansion starts an entirely new story arc for the first time since the games release.
• Final Fantasy XIV is also finally coming to Xbox Series X|S in 2024.

It's nearly two years since the release of the last Final Fantasy XIV expansion Endwalker and today Square Enix announced the new expansion "Dawntrail" at its Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival in Las Vegas. You'll be able to take your Warrior of Light through this expansion when it arrives in Summer of 2024.

Final Fantasy XIV has brought a lot of success to Square Enix after the original XIV was replaced within two years with Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, which was dubbed version 2.0. This rapid change was brought about by producer and director of the game Naoki Yoshida, aka Yoshi-P. The game wasn't perfect but it was a great foundation to build on, and it's now one of the best PC games for MMO fans.

A decade later and with many successful expansions such as the more recent Shadowbringers and Endwalker, Final Fantasy XIV continues to be hugely successful and one of the last MMO's requiring a monthly payment to play.

Dawntrail is the beginning of a new story arc, after Endwalker brought to an end the decade long story of Hydaelyn and Zodiark, and is focused on a brand-new set of locations. There will be multiple new jobs, a level cap increase to 100, new dungeons and lots of new characters.

There are no videos of the gameplay, unfortunately, but we do at least have the short intro shown at the beginning of Naoki Yoshida's Fan Fest keynote. There's a bunch of images of the artwork showing a very different landscape. There's more news coming in as the keynote progresses so we'll no doubt have more information on this soon.

In other big news, Final Fantasy XIV is finally coming to Xbox Series X|S in 2024, beginning a new partnership to bring more Square Enix games to Xbox in the future.

What you need to know

• Phil Spencer and Naoki Yoshida have announced during the 2023 Final Fantasy 14 Fan Festival event, that Square Enix's MMORPG Final Fantasy 14 will be ported to Xbox Series X|S.
• The Xbox version will feature cross-platform support, faster load times, and 4K support on Xbox Series X.
• Final Fantasy 14 will be released on Xbox Series X|S during Spring 2024 and an open-beta will launch when Final Fantasy 14's 6.5 patch is released.

During this year's Final Fantasy 14 Fan Festival, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer made a shocking surprise appearance during the event. Naoki Yoshida, the director for Final Fantasy 14 then alongside Phil made a world-shattering announcement — Final Fantasy 14 is coming to Xbox Series X|S!

During event, Spencer joined Square Enix's new CEO Takashi Kiryu to announce deeper ties between Xbox and Square Enix, with an aim to bring more Square Enix games like Final Fantasy to Xbox consoles. 

The Xbox version of Final Fantasy will feature load times compared to the current PC version, 4K resolution support on Xbox Series X, it will be a digital-only release and it will contain gameplay content all the way up to Final Fantasy 14's next expansion, Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail.

An open-beta for the Xbox version will go live when Final Fantasy 14's Patch 6.5 update is released and the full version will be released for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S sometime during Spring 2024. 

A long time coming

There have been talks and speculation about Final Fantasy 14 coming to Xbox for years and now it's finally happening. This is incredible news for Final Fantasy fans and JRPG fans on Xbox as Final Fantasy 14 is one of the best-selling games in the franchise and has entertained fans around the globe with its captivating gameplay and content-rich expansions like Final Fantasy 14: Endwalker. 

In addition, Square Enix CEO, Takashi Kiryu has stated that Square Enix plans to bring more Final Fantasy games to Xbox in the future. Meaning that Final Fantasy games that have skipped over Xbox like Final Fantasy VII Remake, Final Fantasy XVI, and the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters may finally be ported to Xbox as well.

As today is only the first day of the Final Fantasy 14 Fan Festival, there may be more details coming on this upcoming Xbox title over the weekend. So stay tuned as we look out for news on the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S versions of Final Fantasy 14.

Exploring the universe of Square Enix’s popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV is no easy task. From the vast fields of Eorzea, the mountains of Orthard, and worlds beyond the stars, Final Fantasy XIV has a lot of ground to cover. As a result, it can be an arduous journey traveling to the many vistas of this game on foot, especially for new players. Fortunately, Final Fantasy XIV contains a huge number of mounts to help players traverse the lands at a greater pace ranging from mighty steeds to technologically advanced vehicles.

Final Fantasy XIV has over 200 mounts to collect and ride, with more being added with every patch and expansion like Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker and Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail. So, we have put together a list of every single mount you can acquire in Final Fantasy XIV and how to unlock them to help your journey go by much faster. We will also showcase mounts that are currently no longer available due to being limited-timed exclusives in case they are brought back in a future update.

Final Fantasy XIV mounts: Main Scenario Quest mounts

These are mounts you can obtain by playing through the main storyline.

Final Fantasy XIV mounts: Online Store mounts

You can directly purchase these mounts from Square Enix's Final Fantasy XIV Online Store using real money.

Final Fantasy XIV mounts: Recruit a Friend & Callback mounts

These mounts are gifted to players who managed to get their friends to play Final Fantasy XIV through the Recruit a Friend and Callback campaigns.

Final Fantasy XIV mounts: Job mounts

These are mounts you can acquire by completing achievements as specific Jobs.

Final Fantasy XIV mounts: Deep Dungeon mounts

You can obtain these mounts by engaging in the Roguelike, Deep Dungeons.

Final Fantasy XIV mounts: Raid and Dungeon mounts

These mounts are rewards for clearing Raids and Dungeons.

Final Fantasy XIV mounts: Trial mounts

These mounts are rewards for completing Trials.

Final Fantasy XIV mounts: Beast Tribe mounts

Befriending the Beast Tribes of Final Fantasy XIV will reward you with these mounts.

Final Fantasy XIV mounts: Hunt mounts

The Hunt is side-content that tasks you with hunting special monsters out in the overworld. Slaying these creatures will reward you with these mounts.

Final Fantasy XIV mounts: FATE mounts

These mounts are acquired by participating in rare, overworld events called "FATES."

Final Fantasy XIV mounts: PVP mounts

Engaging other players in Final Fantasy XIV's myriad of PVP modes will reward you with these mounts.

Final Fantasy XIV mounts: Gold Saucer mounts

These mounts are available for purchase using currency earned in mini-games at the Manderville Gold Saucer.

Final Fantasy XIV mounts: Crafting & Gathering mounts

These mounts can only be obtained in content that requires Crafting and Gathering Classes.

Final Fantasy XIV mounts: Bozjan Resistence mounts

You can obtain these mounts by completing activities associated with the Bozjan Resistence.

Final Fantasy XIV mounts: Miscellaneous mounts

This section is dedicated to mounts obtained through various forms of content that were too short for their own sections.

Final Fantasy XIV mounts: Limited-timed mounts

These mounts were available for a limited-time during special events or seasons of the PVP modes. While most of these mounts can't be obtained anymore, some of these events that reward these mounts are brought back every once in a while so it is a good idea to keep an eye out.

Final Fantasy XIV mounts: Endwalker mounts

These are mounts that were added to Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker. Be warned that this list will contain potential spoilers for the main scenario quests, so read this list if you're prepared for that or after completing the story.

Final Fantasy XIV mounts: Dawntrail mounts

These are mounts that were introduced in Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail. Be warned that this list will contain potential spoilers for the main scenario quests, so read this list if you're prepared for that or after completing them.

What mount will you strive to obtain?

As you can see, Final Fantasy XIV has a metric ton of mounts for you to ride. I plan to grab the Landerwaffe mount because it is an epic-looking robot dragon that transforms into a jet straight whenever it flies. This is but one of many features that have made Final Fantasy XIV one of the best multiplayer games on PC, and future updates and expansions will continue to expand upon them.

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is now available to purchase on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 as it was released on July 2, 2024.

We wish to give a special shout-out to YouTuber Zepla HQ and the fansite FFXIV Collect for information regarding the unlock requirements for every mount.

Final Fantasy XIV features a rich, multifarious selection of races for players to choose from when creating their characters to explore the wondrous land of Eorzea. We have human-like, multi-talented Hyur, hulking, muscular Roegadyn, long-living and wise Elezen, adorable and intelligent Lalafell, the half-man, half-beast Hrothgar, and more. If you combine this sheer variety of playable races with the ability to embody any Job, FFXIV allows Final Fantasy fans to live out their dream of creating their Final Fantasy-inspired hero and saving the world alongside their friends.

Since this game has a huge selection of races to choose from, it can be troublesome for new players to decide which one is right for them. So, we at Windows Central have gathered all the playable races of Final Fantasy XIV together in one comprehensive list that will describe their attributes, lore, and personalities. With this guide, new players can learn more about these races and more easily decide which one they want to play.

Final Fantasy XIV playable races: Race primer

When creating your character, you have seven races to choose from; Hyur, Elezen, Miqo'te, Lalafell, Roegadyn, Viera, and Hrothgar. Each race is split into two variants which come with their own characteristics and cosmetic features that their respective counterpart does not. We will go over the specifics of each race later.

While each race has different base stats, they are so minor they have no impact on your character's performance in combat or crafting. It's their currently selected Job and equipped gear which define their stats. It's also worth noting that the races of FFXIV don't have racial abilities, unlike other MMOs. All this means is that you are free to pick whichever race appeals to you most without worrying about messing up your character's build.

Final Fantasy XIV playable races: Hyur

The Hyur are Final Fantasy XIV's version of humans. They are the most numerous race of Eorzea and the most diverse in terms of skill and personality. While this has resulted in a lack of a unified cultural identity among the Hyur, they do share a common goal of defending freedom for their fellow man.

The Hyur come in two variants; Midlander and Highlander.

Midlander

Midlanders comprise half of the Hyur population in Eorzea. Compared to other races, they have an average height and build and are commonly seen throughout the realm's cities, most notably Gridania.

Highlander

Highlanders make up the remaining half of Eorzea's Hyurs and they are taller and beefier than Midlanders. Highlanders originally hailed from the mountainous region of Gyr Abania, but they were cast out of their homeland after the Garlean Empire conquered their capital city, Ala Mhigo. All the surviving Highlanders now take refuge in the arid region of Thanalan and built a small settlement they dubbed Little Ala Mhigo, in honor of their former home.

Final Fantasy XIV playable races: Elezen

The Elezen resemble your typical medieval fantasy elves, complete with pointy ears, tall and slender physiques, and an extremely long lifespan. Once upon a time, the Elezen were the sole inhabitants of Eorzea but as time progressed, more races migrated to the continent which the Elezen didn't take too kindly at first, believing them to be invaders. After initial bitter conflicts with the Hyur and negotiating, the Elezen eventually opened to co-exist with the other races for the betterment of all.

There are two types of Elezen to play as: the Wildwood Elezen and the Duskwight Elezen.

Wildwood

The Wildwood Elezen reside within the forests of the Black Shroud region. They are proud warriors who will protect their homeland from all invaders. Though some Wildwood Elezen have ventured beyond their homelands to seek out a living in the urban cities of Gridania and Ishgard.

Duskwight

Duskwight Elezen meanwhile are a reclusive, hermit-like variant of the species that like to avoid nearly all contact with the other races by living in caverns. They prefer isolation because it grants them peace, and they believe living life in the cities stifles their freedom. But rest assured, if their brethren or livelihood is threatened in anyway, they will fight to defend them in earnest.

Final Fantasy XIV playable races: Miqo'te

The Miqo'te are a race who look very similar to Hyur, but they exhibit traits which belong to cats like cat ears, tails, and vertical slit-like irises. These traits aren't just for show; they heighten a Miqo'te's sense of smell, sight, and hearing, which they use to aid them with hunting the wildlife of Eorzea. The drawback of their animal traits is that they're extremely territorial by nature, preferring to live in solitude.

Miqo'te migrated to Eorzea a long ago during the Age of Endless Frost. This ice age deprived the Miqo'te's homeland of their food supply, so they traveled to different countries in hope of finding new food sources to survive.

You have two different Miqo'te to choose from: Seekers of the Sun and Keepers of the Moon.

Seekers of the Sun

As their name implies, The Seekers of the Sun Miqo'te revel in the light of the sun. Outgoing and extrovert, Seekers of the Sun long for adventure while proclaiming their devotion to their sun god, Azeyma the Warden. Seekers of the Sun can be seen in the maritime city of Limsa Lominsa and the Sagolii Desert.

Keepers of the Moon

By contrast, the Keepers of the Moon Miqo'te shun the daylight hours and prowl the realm during the night. After offering prayer to their patron goddess, Menphina the Lower, goddess of the night, the Keepers of the Moon go on nocturnal hunts. However, their nighttime hunting activities dropped these Miqo'te into hot water with the citizens of Gridania, being accused of poaching. Thankfully in recent times, the Keepers of the Moon Miqo'te have managed to peacefully resolve their dispute with Gridania to the point where they're allowed to live there.

Final Fantasy XIV playable races: Lalafell

The Lalafell are the smallest of Eorzea's races that migrated to the realm from the southern seas. They have often been mistaken for Hyur children due to their small bodies and eternally youthful faces, making it hard for non-Lalafell to tell just how old these tiny people really are at a glance. But beneath their childlike appearance lies a cunning and brilliant mind rarely found in other races. Most Lalafel are exceptional craftsmen, engineers, and merchants who will jump at the chance to form relations with others. Be warned, don't let their size fool you into thinking they're not suitable for combat, Lalafel warriors and mages are just tough as any race out there.

There are two types of Lalafell: Plainsfolk and Dunesfolk.

Plainsfolk

The Plainsfolk are a laidback and friendly type of Lalafell that likes to relax and work as farmers in the fields of La Noscea. They can also be seen in Limsa Lominsa working as fishermen or becoming officers in the city's security force, the Yellowjackets.

Dunesfolk

Dunesfolk Lalafell are the Plainsfolk's hard working and commercially obsessed counterpart. They live in the harsh region of Thanalan but that didn't stop them from making a profit in a seemingly parched land. This led the Dunesfolk to found the city of Ul'dah and become its de facto leaders, opening up trade routes with the other regions, allowing the area to prosper when other settlements would've quickly fallen apart.

Final Fantasy XIV playable races: Roegadyn

The Roegadyn are largest and most intimidating race in Eorzea. They are extremely muscular, tough, and dangerous in a fight. If you enrage a Roegadyn, they may cut your life short using the business end of an ax. But if you earn their trust and respect, you will find no companion more loyal or passionate than the Roedgadyn. Before coming to Eorzea, the Roegadyn traveled the high seas as sailors, fishermen, and even pirates. Once they made landfall, they quickly made a name for themselves by boasting some of the mightiest warriors Eorzea had ever seen.

You have two Roegadyn clans to choose from: Sea Wolves and Hellguard

Sea Wolves

The Sea Wolves were originally a notorious gang of Roegadyn pirates who terrorized the high seas long ago. But thanks to Limsa Lominsa's leader, Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn, outlawing piracy, the Sea Wolves no longer prey upon hapless travelers and have instead become their protectors. Working as navy officers, fishermen, or mercenaries to help the maritime city survive in a realm filled with savage Beastmen.

Hellguard

The Hellguard is an atypical variant of Roegadyn which has adapted to the harsh and unpredictable climates of the Abalathia's Spine mountain range. Their homeland offered little in terms of food and comfy livelihoods, so they set out into the wider world to better their chances for a brighter future. They can be mostly seen in the merchant city of Ul'dah, earning themselves a living as mercenaries or soldiers in the city's military company, the Immortal Flames.

Final Fantasy XIV playable races: Au Ra

When the first expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward came out, it introduced a new playable race called the Au Ra. Hailing from the eastern continent of Othard, the Au Ra are a mysterious race that resemble Hyur but are covered in scales, have horns protruding from their necks, and possess a lizard-like tail. Their looks have often caused debates suggesting the Au Ra are the descendants of dragons, but there is no evidence to support these wild accusations.

There are two types of Au Ra to create your character: The Raen Au Ra and the Xaela Au Ra.

Raen

The Au Ra legends tell of two godly beings who created them called the Dawn Father and the Dusk Mother. The Raen Au Ra believe they descended from the Dawn Father due to their bright white scales. Like the Duskwight Elezen, the Raen are a peaceful clan of Au Ra who like to live sheltered lives in the valleys of Othard, only on rare occasions visiting the outside world.

Xaela

By contrast, the Xaela are a wild and daunting breed of Au Ra who believe they possess the blood of the Dusk Mother because of their black scales. The Xaela Au Ra live nomadic lives, journeying from one locale to another in search of adventure, hunts, and conflict as their ancestors had done before them.

Final Fantasy XIV playable races: Viera

The Viera are a race that display traits of the Hyur and Elezen but with the unique addition of having rabbit ears. Viera are one of the more recently added playable races which premiered in Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers. Viera are one of the rarest civilized races of all Eorzea because they follow a strict code known as the Green Word, which forbids them from leaving their homes. If a Viera breaks it, they would be exiled, never to return to their village.

For the longest time, male Viera were unplayable because once they come of age, males are assigned to stick to the shadows and protect the females from all threats. However, players were finally able to play as male Viera in Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker.

There are two kinds of Viera to hop into the shoes of: the Rava and the Veena.

Rava

Rava Viera hail from the treacherous jungles of Golmore. They are hardened hunters who constantly struggle for survival against the dangerous wildlife and the neighboring nation of Dalmasca that seeks to conquer them. Nonetheless, they have beaten back every threat before them and managed to maintain a stable grip on their homeland.

Veena

The Veena Viera live in the snowy forests of the Stakey Range. These Viera are also skilled hunters, fighting to defend their homes from foreign threats but have much difficulty due to the cold climate. Many Veena Viera have lost their lives during these battles, and many have traveled to Eorzea in hopes of attaining a better life away from constant strife.

Final Fantasy XIV playable races: Hrothgar

Making their debut in Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers, the Hrothgar are the most bestial race to play as. Unlike the Miqo'te and Viera, which inherit minor animal traits, the Hrothgar are full-blown anthropomorphic lionlike creatures originating from the continent of Ilsabard. 

As you can imagine, when the Hrothgar arrived on Eorzea's shores, the local populace was terrified, mistaking them for Beastmen. After some skirmishes, the Hrothgar learned how to speak the language of Eorzea's people and dash away any misunderstandings and fears they had. Over time, the Hrothgar were accepted into Eorzea and allowed to live alongside all the other races.

Like the male Viera, female Hrothgar was unavailable to play as when the race was first introduced. They were scheduled to be implemented in FFXIV: Endwalker, but sadly weren't able to. However, fans finally got the chance to play as them in Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail.

There are two kinds of Hrothgar to play as: the Helions and the Lost.

Helions

The Helion Hrothgar are stout protectors of their brethren, particularly the queen of their tribes. They used to only reside in southern regions of Ilsabard but have recently begun to make themselves known throughout every corner of Eorzea.

The Lost

Meanwhile, the Lost Hrothgar do not serve any queen and spend their lives traveling the world as nomads. How these Hrothgar became Lost varies from person to person, each with an interesting story to tell. You would often see a Lost Hrothgar working as a sellsword, worker, and many more professions to make ends meet.

What race will you pick?

And that concludes our list of playable races in Final Fantasy XIV. No doubt from what you have just read, you can see that Final Fantasy XIV has a rich and diverse cast of races to play as. Personally, my favorite race is the Hrothgar because I enjoy playing as monsters or beast-like creatures in RPGs. This is one of the many gameplay features which has made Final Fantasy XIV one of the best multiplayer games on PC.

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is now available after releasing on June 2, 2024, for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. This expansion marks the beginning of a new era for Final Fantasy XIV, bringing new Jobs, quests, mounts, and more.

The arrival of an expansion to a long-running MMORPG is always a time of excitement and anticipation, and that rings true for Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker. This expansion will feature new locations to explore, new dungeons and raids to battle in, new mounts to obtain, and new races to roleplay as. However, the most anticipated addition is the changes to player Jobs. These range from simple quality-of-life improvements to drastic reworks which completely change how they played from previous expansions.

On Sept. 18, 2021, Square Enix broadcasted a Letter from the Producer livestream that previewed these changes along with a Job Action trailer. Then later in October 2021, Square Enix invited players to test out these changes in the Endwalker Media Tour, and showcased more detailed descriptions to the public over the course of the month. On Dec. 2, 2021, Square Enix released patch notes for Endwalker, detailing the final Job changes for the official release of Endwalker.

We have compiled all the biggest changes during these times to help you decide which Job to take now that the latest expansion for one of the best multiplayer games on PC is available. We will also update this article with future Job changes that will be made in post-launch patches.

Final Fantasy XIV Job changes: All jobs

• Primary actions will have their recast timers standardized to 60- or 120-second timers.
• Using Limit Breaks will no longer cancel action combos.

Patch 6.2

• Abilities that heal HP gradually over time will no longer generate enmity with every tick of healing. Do note that the initial execution of these abilities will still draw in enmity.
• When under effects that increases the likelihood to land critical or direct hits, actions that are guaranteed to land critical or direct hits will now deal damage under these effects. The damage increase calculations are based on the increased change to land critical or direct hits.
• When performing actions that are guaranteed critical hits or direct hits, they will now deal increased damage based your character's direct hit rate and critical hit rate attributes.

Final Fantasy XIV Job changes: Tanks

All Tanks

• Activating defensive buffs at optimal times will yield more significant benefits.
• Ranged attacks will no longer break melee combos.
• Weapons of the same item level will have parity between their physical and magical attributes. Action potencies will change to accommodate this adjustment to the weapons.
• All Tanks' invulnerability abilities (Holmgang, Hallowed Earth, Living Dead, and Superbolide) now have a duration of 10 seconds.

Patch 6.2 changes

• Enmity generated from Provoke has been increased.

Paladin

• The duration of Sword Oath stacks has increased to 30 seconds.
• Requiescat's damage no longer scales on remaining MP and has a flat potency of 400. It grants five stacks of Requiescat, and each stack increases magic damage by 100%, and spells will not require cast times. The duration of these stacks is 30 seconds.
• Spirits Within's attack power no longer scales off max HP and instead has a flat damage potency of 250.
• Clemency's healing potency is reduced to 1,000.
• Intervention's additional damage reduction increases if Rampart or Sentinel is active has been reduced to 10%.

• At Lv. 82, Paladins will gain the Enhanced Intervention trait. This trait will increase the duration of Intervention to eight seconds and grant the targeted party member the Knight's Resolve and Knight's Benediction buffs. Knight's Resolve reduces damage by 10% for four seconds and Knight's Benediction will gradually heal the target for 12 seconds with a healing potency of 250.
• At Lv. 82, Sheltron upgrades into Holy Sheltron thanks to the Sheltron Mastery trait. It will blocking incoming damage for eight seconds and grant the user the Knight's Resolve (with a 15% damage reduction instead of 10%) and Knight's Benediction buffs. This ability costs 50 Oath Gauge points to use.
• At Lv. 84, Paladins gain the Melee Mastery trait, which increases the damage potency of Fast Blade to 200, Riot Blade to 170, Royal Authority to 130, Holy Spirit to 270, and Atonement to 420.

• At Lv. 86, Holy Spirit and Holy Circle now restores the user's HP with a healing potency of 400 thanks to the Divine Magic Mastery II trait.
• At Lv. 86, Spirits Within will upgrade into Expiacion thanks to the Spirits Within Mastery trait. This is an area of effect (AOE for short) attack that deals 300 damage potency to the main target and 50% less damage to nearby enemies. It also restores the user's MP and has a recast timer of 30 seconds.
• At Lv. 88, Divine Veil can heal all nearby party members with a healing potency of 400 thanks to the Enhanced Divine Veil trait.
• At Lv. 90, the Confiteor ability becomes a four-part combo attack. When Confiteor is used, it becomes Blade of Faith, which deals unaspected damage with a damage potency 250 on the main target and 50% less damage on nearby enemies. It also restores the user's MP as a combo bonus. Blade of Faith then becomes Blade of Truth, which has the same effects but with a damage potency of 350. And finally Blade of Truth becomes Blade of Valor, which deals the same effects with an increased damage potency of 420. In addition, Blade of Valor inflicts a damage over time effect with a damage potency of 80 to the main target and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Blade of Valor's damage over time effect cannot be stacked with Goring Blade.

Patch 6.08 changes

• The damage potency of Spirits Within has been increased from 250 to 270.
• The damage potency of Expiacion has been increased from 300 to 340.
• The damage potency of Blade of Faith has been increased from 250 to 420.
• The damage potency of Blade of Truth has been increased from 350 to 500.
• The damage potency of Blade of Valor has been increased from 420 to 580.

Patch 6.1 changes

• The recast timer for Iron Will has been reduced from 10 seconds to 3 seconds.
• Executing Clemency no longer interrupts action combos.
• Executing Holy Spirit no longer interrupts action combos.
• When the effects of Requiescat ends, the user is granted an additional effect called "Blade of Faith Ready," which lasts for 30 seconds.
• Executing Holy Circle no longer interrupts action combos.
• Confiteor now has an additional effect that restores the user's HP with a cure potency of 400.
• Blade of Faith is no longer a combo action with Confiteor and requires an effect called "Blade of Faith Ready" to be cast.
• Blade of Faith now has an additional effect that restores the user's HP with a cure potency of 400.
• Blade of Truth now has an additional effect that restores the user's HP with a cure potency of 400.
• Blade of Valor now has an additional effect that restores the user's HP with a cure potency of 400.
• The Divine Magic Mastery II trait now adds a healing effect to Confiteor.

Patch 6.2 changes

• The damage potency of Holy Spirit has been increased from 270 to 280.
• The damage potency of Requiescat has been increased from 540 to 560.
• The damage potency of Blade of Faith has been increased from 420 to 460.
• The damage potency of Blade of Truth has been increased from 500 to 540.
• The damage potency of Blade of Valor has been increased from 580 to 620.

Patch 6.21 changes

• The damage potency of Holy Spirit has been increased from 280 to 300.
• The damage potency of Confiteor has been increased from 900 to 1000.
• The damage potency of Requiescat has been increased from 560 to 600.
• The damage potency of Expiation has been increased from 340 to 420.
• The damage potency of Blade of Faith has been increased from 460 to 480.
• The damage potency of Blade of Truth has been increased from 540 to 560.

Warrior

• The Storm's Eye damage buff has been renamed to Surging Tempest and has a new icon.
• Inner Release has been reworked to grant three stacks of Inner Release instead of a 10-second damage window of using Beast Gauge actions for free. Each stack allows the use of a Beast Gauge action with no Beast Gauge cost and guarantees that all attacks will be critical and direct hits. The duration of each Inner Release stack will last for 30 seconds and will extend the duration of Surging Tempest by 10 seconds up to a maximum of 60 seconds. The charge timer is 60 seconds.
• Mythril Tempest now grants the Surging Tempest buff if you complete the AOE melee combo.
• Raw Intuition's damage reduction has been reduced 10%. It will grant the additional effect of restoring HP with every weaponskill you successfully land with a healing potency of 400. It shares a recast timer with Nascent Flash.

• Nascent Flash will grant the Nascent Flash buff to the user and the Nascent Glint buff to the targeted party member. The Nascent Flash buff will restore HP with every successfully landed weaponskill with a healing potency of 400 for eight seconds. Nascent Glint will provide the party member with 100% restored HP equal to the amount gained by Nascent Flash and provide a 10% damage reduction.
• At Lv. 76, Shake It Off can now heal nearby party members with a healing potency of 300 thanks to the Enhanced Shake it Off trait.
• At Lv. 82, Nascent Flash will grant the targeted party member the Stem the Flow and Stem the Tide buffs thanks to the Enhanced Nascent Flash trait. Stem the Flow reduces damage by 10% for four seconds, and Stem the Tide nullifies damage equal to a healing potency of 400 for 30 seconds. It shares a recast timer with Bloodwhetting.
• Upheaval no longer costs Beast Gauge meter.

• At Lv. 82 Raw Intuition upgrades into Bloodwhetting thanks to the Raw Intuition Mastery trait. It retains the abilities of Raw Intuition while applying to the Stem the Flow and Stem the Tide buffs onto the user instead of a targeted party member. It shares a recast timer with Nascent Flash.
• At Lv. 84, Warriors gain the Enhanced Equilibrium trait. This grants Equilibrium an additional HP Regen status effect with a healing potency of 200 over the course of 15 seconds.
• At Lv. 84 Warriors gain the Melee Mastery trait, which increases the damage potency of Heavy Swing to 200, Maim to 130, Storm's Eye to 120, and Storm's Path to 120.
• At Lv. 86, Warriors gain a new ability called Orogeny. It is an AOE attack that deals 150 potency damage to all nearby enemies. It has a recast timer of 30 seconds, which is shared with Upheaval and costs no Beast Gauge points.
• Onslaught no longer costs Beast Gauge points; it gains two charges for consecutive usage. At Lv. 88, Onslaught gets a third charge thanks to the Enhanced Onslaught trait.
• At Lv. 90, the Warrior learns a new ability called Primal Rend. This attack launches the user toward an enemy within 20 yalms to deal a guaranteed critical direct hit to the target and all nearby enemies. It has a damage potency of 700 to the main target and deals 70% less damage to remaining enemies. This attack can only be activated under the effect of Primal Rend Ready, which is granted by Inner Release. Do note that Primal Red does not consume Inner Release stacks, and it cannot be used while bound.

Patch 6.08 changes

• The damage potency of Tomahawk has been increased from 100 to 150.

Patch 6.1 changes

• The recast timer for Defiance has been reduced from 10 to 3 seconds.
• The AOE range for Overpower has been changed from a cone to a centred AOE attack that hits all nearby enemies.
• Inner Release's stacks now only apply to Fell Cleave and Decimate.
• Inner Release's additional effect "Nullifies Stun, Sleep, Bind, Heavy, and most knockback and draw-in effects" has been changed to "Grants Inner Strength, nullifying Stun, Sleep, Bind, Heavy, and most knockback and draw-in effects."

Patch 6.2 changes

• The damage potency of Maim has been increased from 130 to 150, and its Combo damage potency has been increased from 280 to 300.
• The damage potency of Storm's Path has been increased from 120 to 130, and its Combo damage potency has been increased from 400 to 410.
• The damage potency of Storm's Eye has been increased from 120 to 130, and its Combo damage potency has been increased from 400 to 410.
• The effects of Shake it Off will now be applied more quickly.

Patch 6.21 changes

• The damage potency of Storm's Path has been increased from 130 to 150, and its Combo damage potency has been increased from 410 to 430.
• The damage potency of Storm's Eye has been increased from 130 to 150, and its Combo damage potency has been increased from 410 to 430.
• The damage potency of Fell Cleave has been increased from 460 to 470,
• The damage potency of Upheaval has been increased from 350 to 360.

Patch 6.28 changes

• The damage potency of Fell Cleave has been increased from 470 to 490,
• The damage potency of Upheavel has been increased from 360 to 370,

Dark Knight

• Delirium now grants three stacks of the Delirium status. Each stack will allow the use of Quietus and Bloodspiller without any Blood Gauge cost, each restoring MP when either of these weaponskills successfully hits a target. The charge stack for each stack is 30 seconds and the recast time is now 60 seconds.
• Abyssal Drain now restores additional MP, has a range of 20 yalms, and shares its recast timer Carve and Spit.
• Salted Earth is now placed at the Dark Knight's feet when cast instead of being required to be targeted at the ground.
• At. Lv. 82, the Dark Knight gains the Oblation ability. Oblation can be cast on yourself or a party member and reduces damage by 10% for 10 seconds. This ability has two charges, and each charge has a charge timer of 60 seconds.

• At. Lv. 84, Dark Knight will gain the Enhanced Mended trait, which reduces the recast time of Plunge by five seconds when activating Unmend.
• At Lv. 84, Dark Knights gain the Melee Mastery trait, which increases the damage potency of Hard Slash to 170, Syphon Strike to 120, and Souleater to 120.
• At Lv. 86, Salted Earth gains a new combo action called Salt and Darkness. Salt and Darkness is an AOE attack that deals unaspected damage with a potency of 500 to all enemies standing in the area created by Salted Earth. This ability has a recast timer of 20 seconds.

• At Lv. 88, the Dark Knight's Simulacrum will have all of their attacks' damage potency increased to 300 thanks to the Enhanced Living trait.
• At. 90, the Dark Knight gains a new ability called Shadowbringer. Shadowbringer deals unaspected damage to all enemies standing in a line in front of you. The first enemy hit takes damage with a potency of 600, and all the remaining enemies take 50% less damage. This ability has two charges and each has a charge timer of 60 seconds. Shadowbringer can only be activated when under the effects of Darkside.
• At Lv. 90, the Simulacrum's Flood of Darkness attack will upgrade into Shadowbringer thanks to the Enhanced Living Shadow II trait. The Simulacrum's Shadowbringer functions the same as yours except it has a damage potency of 450 for the first enemy hit and deals 25% less damage for all remaining enemies.

Patch 6.1 changes

• The recast timer for Grit has been reduced from 10 to 3 seconds.
• The damage potency of Flood of Darkness has been reduced from 130 to 100.
• Blood Weapon now grants 5 stacks of the Blood Weapon effect and its duration has been increased from 10 to 15 seconds.
• Stalwart Soul is now acquired at Level 40 instead of Level 72.
• Living Dead now has an additional where it restores the user's HP with a cure potency of 1,500 for every single successfully landed weaponskill or spell. If the user restores an amount of HP exceeding their maximum HP before the Walking Dead dead timer runs out, the Walking Dead effect will now change into Undead Rebirth. Undead Rebirth is a new effect that will make sure most attacks will drop your HP below 1. Its duration is based on the remaining amout of time carried over from Walking Dead.

Patch 6.2 changes

• The damage potency of Abyssal Drain has been increased from 150 to 240.
• The effect duration of Living Shadow has been reduced from 24 to 20 seconds. The simulacrum will now always attack the first target the player attacks after it has been summoned. The simulacrum no longer attacks with Quietus. The damage potency of the simulacrum's Shadowbringer ability has been increased from 450 to 500. In addition, all of its other actions have had their damage potency increased from 300 to 350.

Gunbreaker

• The Gnashing Fang combo has been combined into a single button instead of being spread out across three buttons to free up space on the hotbar. Gnashing Fang will become Savage Claw, and then into Wicked Claw while allowing the use of Continuation in between each attack.
• At Lv. 82, Aurora will gain two charges to spend instead of one thanks to the Enhanced Aurora trait.
• At Lv. 82, the Gunbreaker's Heart of Stone ability will upgrade into Heart of Corundum. This ability can be targeted on the user or a party member, and it will reduce damage taken by 15% for eight seconds. When using Heart of Corundum while under the effects of Brutal Shell on a party member, they will also receive the benefits of Brutal Shell for 30 seconds. In addition it will also grant the Clarity of Corundum and Catharsis of Corundum buffs. Clarity of Corundum reduces damage taken by 15% for four seconds and Catharsis of Corundum restores HP when the target's HP falls below 50% or when the effect's 20-second duration ends.

• At Lv. 84, Gunbreakers gain the Melee Mastery trait, which increases the damage potency of Keen Edge to 170, Brutal Shell to 120, and Solid Barrel to 120.
• At Lv. 86, the Gunbreaker gains the Enhanced Continuation trait, which grants the Ready to Blast state after executing Burst Strike. When under the effects of Ready to Blast, you can execute a new attack called Hypervelocity which has a damage potency of 180.
• At Lv. 88, the Gunbreaker will gain the Cartridge Charge II trait, which adds a third cartridge slot to the Powder Gauge, and executing Bloodfest will load all three cartridges into it.
• At Lv. 90, Gunbreakers will learn a new AOE weaponskill called Double Down. It deals damage to the first enemy hit with a damage potency of 1,200, and 20% less damage to all remaining nearby enemies. It costs two cartridges to use.

Patch 6.1 changes

• The recast timer for Royal Guard has been reduced from 10 to 3 seconds.

Patch 6.11 changes

• The damage potency of Gnashing Fang has been increased from 360 to 380.
• The damage potency of Savage Claw has been increased from 440 to 460.
• The damage potency of Wicked Talon has been increased from 520 to 540.
• The damage potency of Jugular Rip has been increased from 180 to 200.
• The damage potency of Abdomen Tear has been increased from 220 to 240.
• The damage potency of Eye Gouge has been increased from 260 to 280.

Patch 6.2 changes

• The damage potency of Brutal Shell has been increased from 120 to 130 and its Combo damage potency has been increased from 260 to 270.
• The damage potency of Solid Shell has been increased from 120 to 140 and its Combo damage potency has been increased from 340 to 360.
• The range of Jugular Rip, Abdomen Tear, Hypervelocity and Eye Gouge has been increased from 3 yalms to 5 yalms.
• The damage potency of Fated Circle has been increased from 290 to 300.
• The recast timer for Bloodfest has been increased from 90 seconds to 120 seconds.
• The damage potency of Blasting Zone has been increased from 700 to 720.
• Double Down's reduction in damage potency after the first target has been changed from 20% to 15%.

Final Fantasy XIV Job changes: Melee DPS

All Melee DPS Jobs

• The Feint ability now reduces physical damage dealt by an enemy by 10% and their magic damage by 5%.
• Ranged attacks will no longer break melee combos.
• Weapons of the same item level will have parity between their physical and magical attributes. Action potencies will change to accommodate this adjustment to the weapons.

Reaper

Patch 6.05 changes

• Arcane Crest's cure potency from the Crest of Time Returned effect has been reduced from 100 to 50.

Patch 6.1 changes

• When executing Hell's Ingress or Hell's Egress, the duration of Enhanced Harpe has been increased from 15 to 20 seconds.
• The action animation for Regress, Hell's Ingress, and Hell's Egress has been shortened.

Patch 6.2 changes

• Reaper gains a new trait at Lv. 84 called Death Scythe Mastery II. This trait increases the damage potencies of Slice from 300 to 320, Waxing Slice from 140 to 160, and Infernal Slice from 140 to 180.
• The Combo damage potencies of Waxing Slice have been increased from 380 to 400 and Infernal Slice from 460 to 500.

Patch 6.28 changes

• The damage potency of Lemure's Slice has been increased from 200 to 220,
• The damage potency of Plentiful Harvest has been increased from 520-800 to 720-1,000,
• The damage potency of Communio has been increased from 1,000 to 1,100,

Dragoon

• Blood of the Dragon is now a separate ability. It increases the damage potency of Jump to 320 and Spineshatter Dive to 250. Also, all the original effects granted to certain abilities by the previous version of Blood of the Dragon have been removed.
• Lance Charge's damage increase has been reduced to 10%, and its recast timer has been reduced to 60 seconds.
• Battle Litany's recast timer has been reduced to 120 seconds, and its duration has been reduced to 15 seconds.
• The 10% damage buff Dragoons receive upon executing Disembowel, which lasts for 30 seconds, is now called Power Surge. You can also gain Power Surge after executing Sonic Thrust within the AOE combo.
• At Lv. 76, Dragoons gain the Lance Mastery II trait. This increases the damage potency of True Thrust to 230, Vorpal Thrust to 130, and Disembowel to 140. In addition, this grants the user the Draconian Fire buff when Fang and Claw is used after Wheeling Thrust and vice versa. While under the effects of Draconian Fire, True Thrust is converted into Raiden Thrust, effectively replacing the Raiden Thrust Ready buff. The damage potency of Raiden Thrust has been reduced to 260.

• At Lv. 82, Dragoons gain the Enhanced Coerthan Torment trait, which grants them the Draconian Fire buff after completing a combo with Coerthan Torment. While under the effects of Draconian Fire, Doom Spike is converted into the new Draconian Fury attack. It is an AOE attack that damages enemies in a 10-yalm line in front of the user with a damage potency of 130.
• At Lv. 84, Spineshatter Dive gains two charges for consecutive usage thanks to the Enhanced Spineshatter Dive trait.
• At Lv. 86, Full Thrust and Chaos Thrust get upgraded into Heavens' Thrust and Chaotic Spring respectively, thanks to the Lance Mastery III trait. Heavens' Thrust has an increased combo potency of 430. Meanwhile, Chaotic Spring's upgrades include an increased combo potency of 240, a rear combo potency of 280, and its damage over time effect has a higher damage potency of 45 for 24 seconds.

• At Lv. 88, Life Surge gets two charges for consecutive usage with a charge timer of 45 seconds thanks to the Enhanced Life Surge trait.
• At Lv. 90, the Dragoon gains Lance Mastery IV trait, which increases the damage potency of Geirskogul to 250 and Nastrond to 350. In addition, it unlocks new effects for Draconian Fury and Raiden Thrust where upon execution, they will generate a point towards the new Firstminds' Focus gauge, up to a maximum of two points.
• The Firstminds' Focus gauge is used to perform the new Lv. 90 Dragoon ability, Wyrmwind Thrust. This AOE attack costs 2 Firstminds' Focus points to use and damages enemies in a straight line in front of the user with a damage potency 370 for the first enemy hit, and 50% less damage for all remaining enemies.

Patch 6.05 changes

• Wyrmwind Thrust's damage potency has been increased from 370 to 420.
• Geirskogul's damage potency has been increased from 250 to 260.
• Nastrond's damage potency has been increased from 350 to 360.

Patch 6.08 changes

• The range of Dragon Sight has been increased from 12 yalms to 30 yalms. The targeted party member is no longer required to remain within 12 yalms of the Dragoon who cast Dragon Sight in order to receive the effects of Left Eye. The Channeling between the Dragoon and the affected party member has been removed.
• The damage potency of Raiden Thrust has been increased from 260 to 280.
• The damage potency Stardiver has been increased from 500 to 620.
• The combo damage potency of Heavens' Thrust has been increased from 430 to 480.
• The combo damage potency of Chaotic Spring has been increased from 240 to 260, and its Rear combo damage potency has been increased from 280 to 300.

Patch 6.1 changes

• The action animations for Jump, High Jump, Elusive Jump, Spineshatter Dive, and Dragonfire Dive has been shortened.
• Jump and High Jump now change into Mirage Dive while under the effects "Mirage Dive Ready."

Patch 6.11 changes

• When Jump changes to Mirage Dive, there is now a small input delay to prevent the unintended execution of Mirage Dive.
• When High Jump changes to Mirage Dive, there is now a small input delay to prevent the unintended execution of Mirage Dive.

Patch 6.2 changes

• Jump and High Jump will no longer be Mirage Dive while under the effects of Dive Ready. Mirage Dive is now a separate action that must be set on the hotbar. Do note that the recast timer for Jump and High Jump no longer affects the execution of Mirage Diver.

Monk

• The Fist Stances have been removed.
• Bootshine, Dragon Kick, Twin Snakes, and True Strike will have their positional requirements for extra damage removed.
• Meditation is now learnt at Lv. 15 instead of Lv. 54.
• At Lv. 15, Monk gains the Steel Peak attack. This attack deals damage to a single enemy with a damage potency of 180 and can only be executed while under the effects of the Fifth Chakra. The Fifth Chakra is spent upon usage. It also shares a recast timer of one second with Howling Fist. Steel Peak gets upgraded into Forbidden Chakra at Lv. 54, and its damage potency increases to 370.
• Shoulder Tackle has been removed and replaced by the new Thunderclap ability at Lv. 35. Thunderclap allows the user to dash towards a targeted enemy or ally within 20 yalms. It has two charges (three at Lv. 84 due to the Enhanced Thunderclap trait) to spend with a charge timer of 30 seconds.
• At Lv. 40, Monk gains the Howling Fist AOE attack. Howling Fist deals damage to all enemies in a straight line in front of the user with a damage potency of 100 and can only be executed while under the effects of the Fifth Chakra. The Fifth Chakra is spent upon usage. It also shares a recast timer of one second with Steel Peak/Forbidden Chakra. Howling Fist upgrades into Enlightenment at Lv. 74 with a damage potency increase to 170.

• At Lv. 60, Monk receives a new attack called Masterful Blitz called. This gives the Monk access to a variety of new attacks after generating Beast Chakra when executing certain weaponskills under the effects of Perfect Balance. As a result, Perfect Balance has been reworked to accommodate this mechanic.
• Perfect Balance now grants 3 stacks of the Perfect Balance buff, each stack allowing the use of a weaponskill without any form requirements for 10 seconds. Perfect Balance will also grant the following Beast Chakra types depending on the weaponskill you use and what form they normally require during this buff: Opo-opo Chakra, Coeurl Chakra, or Raptor Chakra. In addition, you now get two charges of Perfect Balance for consecutive usage with a charge time of 40 seconds.
• After generating the aforementioned Beast Chakras, Masterful Blitz will turn into one of the following attacks: Elixir Field, Celestial Revolution, Flint Strike, and Tornado Kick. Do note that any buffs associated with these attacks will apply.
• The AOE attack Elixir Field can now only be executed after generating three of the same Beast Chakra types. Its damage potency has been increased to 600 for the main targeted enemy, and it now deals 70% less damage for remaining nearby enemies. This attack will grant the user the Formless Fist buff, allowing them to perform weaponskills without form requirements for 30 seconds. Elixir Field will generate a Lunar Nadi.

• Celestial Revolution is a new attack with damage potency of 450 dealt to a single target. It can only be executed after generating any three Beast Chakra types. This attack will grant the user the Formless Fist buff, allowing them to perform weaponskills without form requirements for 30 seconds. Celestial Revolution will generate a Lunar Nadi; however if you already have one, it will generate a Solar Nadi instead.
• Flint Strike is a new AOE attack with damage potency of 600 for the main targeted enemy, and it now deals 65% less damage for all remaining enemies. It can only be executed after generating three different Beast Chakra types and grants the user the Formless Fist buff, allowing them to perform weaponskills without form requirements for 15 seconds. Flint Strike will generate a Solar Nadi upon execution.
• Tornado Kick is now an AOE attack and can only be executed after generating three Beast Chakras of any type, a Lunar Nadi, and a Solar Nadi. It has a damage potency 850 for the main targeted enemy and deals 65% less damage for all remaining enemies. This attack will grant the user the Formless Fist buff, allowing them to perform weaponskills without form requirements for 15 seconds.
• At Lv. 72, Monk gains the new Riddle of Wind ability which reduces auto-delay by 50% for 15 seconds.

• At Lv. 82, Arm of the Destroyer is upgraded into Shadow of the Destroyer. Its damage potency is increased to 110 and is guaranteed to deal a critical hit while under the effects of the Opo-Opo Form.
• At Lv. 86, Flint Strike upgrades into Rising Phoenix thanks to the Flint Strike Mastery trait. Its damage potency is increased to 700 for the main targeted enemy, and it deals 70% less damage for remaining nearby enemies. Its Formless Fist buff duration has been increased to 30 seconds.
• At Lv. 90, Tornado Kick upgrades into Phantom Rush thanks to the Tornado Kick Mastery trait. Its damage potency is increased to 1,000 for the main targeted enemy, and it deals 50% less damage for all remaining enemies. Its Formless Fist buff duration has been increased to 30 seconds.

Patch 6.05 changes

• Arm of the Destroyer now grants Raptor Chakra while under the effects of Perfect Balance, even when missing a target.
• Rockbreaker now grants Opo-opo Chakra while under the effects of Perfect Balance, even when missing a target.
• Four-point Fury now grants Coeurl Chakra while under the effects of Perfect Balance, even when missing a target.
• Shadow of the Destroyer now grants Raptor Chakra while under the effects of Perfect Balance, even when missing a target.
• Elixir Field now generates a Lunar Nadi and grants Formless Fist when executed, even when missing a target.
• Flint Strike now generates Solar Nadi and grants Formless Fist when executed, even when missing a target.
• Rising Phoenix now generates Solar Nadi and grants Formless Fist even when missing a target.

Patch 6.06 changes

• The damage potency of Phantom Rush has been increased from 1,000 to 1,150.

Patch 6.1 changes

• Perfect Balance can no longer be activated while under the effects of any Beast Chakra.

Samurai

• Merciful Eyes and Hissatsu Seigan have been removed. As a result, the effects of Third Eye have been changed. It will no longer grant the Eyes Open effect; instead the user will generate 10 Kenki Gauge points when they get attacked during Third Eye's three-second duration.
• The 13% damage increase buff granted by Jinpu is now called Fugetsu. In addition, Mangestsu now grants Fugestu instead of only extending the duration.
• Shifu's buff that grants the user a 13% reduction to auto-attack delay, recast timers, spell cast timers, and weaponskill cast timers is now called Fuka. In addition, Oka now grants Fuka instead of only extending the duration.
• The combo potency of Mangetsu and Oka has been reduced to 110.
• When under the effects of Meikyo Shisui, Gekko will grant the user Fugetsu, and Kasha will grant Oka when both skills successfully hit the target.
• Hissatsu: Guren now has a damage potency of 500, deals 50% less damage to all remaining enemies after the first target hit, and now only costs 25 Kenki points to use.
• Shoha's Meditation stacks gained from Tsubame-gaeshi are instead gained from the new weaponskill, Ogi Namikiri.

• At. 82, Samurai learn Shoha II, which is an AOE version of Shoha. This attack targets all nearby enemies with a damage potency of 200 for all targets hit. It can only be performed after accumulating three stacks of Meditation by executing Iaijutsu, Meditate, or Ogi Namikiri during combat. It also shares a recast timer with Shoha.
• At Lv. 84, Tsubame-gaeshi gains two charges for consecutive usage with a charge timer of 60 seconds thanks to the Enhanced Tsubame-gaeshi trait.
• At Lv. 86, Samurai gain the Fugo Mastery trait, which upgrades Fugo into Fuko. This attack damages all nearby enemies with a damage potency of 100 for all enemies hit and generates 10 Kenki Gauge points.
• At Lv. 88, Meikyo Shisui gains two charges for consecutive usage with a charge timer of 55 seconds thanks to the Enhanced Meikyo Shisui trait.

• Ikishoten's recast timer has been increased to 120 seconds. As a trade-off, Ikishoten gains a new effect at. Lv. 90 thanks to the Enhanced Ikishoten trait. Upon landing Ikishoten, the user is granted the Ogi Namikiri Ready buff, which will allow them to perform the new Lv. 90 abilities, Ogi Namikiri and Kaeshi: Namikiri.
• Ogi Namikiri is an AOE attack that damages enemies in a cone in front of the user with a damage potency of 800 for the first enemy hit, and 75% less for all remaining nearby enemies. In addition, this attack generates a stack of Meditation upon landing, up to a max limit of three. Ogi Namikiri can only be performed while under the effects of Ogi Namikiri.
• After successfully landing Ogi Namikiri, this attack changes into Kaeshi: Namikiri. This AOE attack damages enemies in a cone in front of the user with a damage potency of 1,200 for the first enemy hit, and 75% less for all remaining nearby enemies. Do note that Kaeshi: Namikiri triggers the cooldown of weaponskills upon casting, and it cannot be performed during the cooldown of weaponskills.

Patch 6.05 changes

• The range of Higanbana, Kaeshi: Higanbana, Midare Setsugekka, Kaeshi: Setsugekka has been increased from 3 yalms to 6 yalms.

Patch 6.08 changes

• The damage potency of Hakaze has been increased from 150 to 180.
• The combo damage potency of Jinpu has been increased from 250 to 280.
• The combo damage potency of Shifu has been increased from 250 to 280.
• The damage potency of Ogi Namikiri has been increased from 800 to 900.
• The damage potency of Kaeshi: Namikiri has been increased from 1,200 to 1,350.

Patch 6.1 changes

• The damage potency of Hakaze has been increased from 180 to 200.
• The damage potency of Jinpu has been increased from 100 to 120.
• The effect duration of Third Eye has been increased from 3 to 4 seconds.
• The damage potency of Shifu has been increased from 100 to 120.
• The damage potency of Gekko has been increased from 100 to 120, its combo damage potency has been increased from 320 to 330, and its rear combo damage potency has been increased from 370 to 380.
• The damage over time potency of Higanbana has been increased from 30 to 45.
• The combo damage potency of Mangetsu has been increased from 110 to 120.
• The damage potency of Kasha has been increased from 100 to 120, its combo damage potency has been increased from 320 to 330, and its flank combo damage potency has been increased from 370 to 380.
• The AOE range for Tenka Goken has been changed from a cone to a centred AOE attack that hits all nearby enemies.
• The combo damage potency of Oka has been increased from 110 to 120.
• The damage potency of Yukikaze has been increased from 100 to 120, and its combo damage potency has been increased from 280 to 300.
• The damage potency of Midare Setsugekka has been reduced from 660 to 600, and the attack is now guaranteed to land a critical hit.
• Ranged weaponskills no longer count toward the effects of Meikyo Shisui.
• Hissatsu: Shinten is now acquired at level 52 instead of level 62 and its damage potency has been reduced from 270 to 250.
• The activation time for Hissatsu: Yaten has been adjusted to match that of other backstep actions.
• Hissatsu: Kyuten is now acquired at Level 62 instead of Level 64.
• The damage potency of Kaeshi: Higanbana has been reduced from 300 to 200.
• The damage potency of Kaeshi: Goken has been reduced from 420 to 280, and its AOE range has been changed from a cone to a centered AOE attack that hits all nearby enemies.
• The damage potency of Kaeshi: Setsugekka has been reduced from 990 to 600, and the attack is now guaranteed to land a critical hit.
• The damage potency of Shoha has been reduced from 580 to 500.
• The damage potency of Ogi Namikiri has been reduced from 900 to 800, and the attack is now guaranteed to land a critical hit.
• The damage potency of Kaeshi: Namikiri has been reduced from 1,350 to 800, and the attack is now guaranteed to land a critical hit.
• At Level 66, the Samurai gain the Way of the Samurai trait, which increases the damage potency of Hakaze to 200, Jinpu to 120, and Shifu to 120.
• At Level 84, the Samurai gain the Way of the Samurai II trait, which increases the damage potency of Gekko, Kasha, and Yukikaze to 120.
• Hissatsu: Kaiten has been removed from the game.

Patch 6.11 changes

• The damage potency of Midare Setsugekka has been increased from 600 to 640.
• The damage potency of Kaeshi: Setsugekka has been increased from 600 to 640.
• The damage potency of Shohahas been increased from 500 to 520.

Patch 6.2 changes

• The damage potency of Tenka Goken has increased from 280 to 300.
• The damage potency of Hissatsu: Kyuten has increased from 110 to 120.
• The damage potency reduction of Hissatsu: Guren after the first target has been changed from 50% to 25%.
• The damage potency of Kaeshi: Goken has increased from 280 to 300.

Ninja

• The Shadowfang ability has been removed.
• The Huton Gauge's max duration has been reduced to 60 seconds.
• At Lv. 60, Ninjas gain a new weaponskill, Huraijin. It deals damage to a single target with a damage potency of 200 and grants the user the Huton buff for 60 seconds.
• Assassinate is now learnt at Lv. 40 and upgrades into Dream Within a Dream at Lv. 56, essentially combining the once-separate skills into one. Also, they no longer require the Assassinate Ready buff to be executed and can be performed whenever you want, so long as their 60-second recast timer is complete.

• At Lv. 82, Ninjas gain the Phantom Kamaitachi ability, which can only be activated while under the effects of Phantom Kamaitachi Ready, granted by Bunshin. This ability commands your shadow clone to execute an AOE attack dealing wind damage to a targeted enemy and all enemies near it. It has a damage potency of 550 to the main target and deals 50% less damage to all the remaining enemies. In addition, it extends the Huton buff's duration by 30 seconds up to a maximum of 60, and generates five Ninki points.
• At Lv. 84, Ninjas gain the Melee Mastery trait, which increases damage potency of Spinning Edge to 200, Gust Slash to 140, Aeolian Edge to 120, and Armor Crush to 120.
• Ninjas gain another trait at Lv. 84 called Shukiho III. Upon completing a combo with Aeolian Edge or Armor Crush, you generate 15 points towards the Ninki Gauge.
• At Lv. 86, the Doton Ninjutsu gets augmented with the Hollow Nozuchi ability. Whenever you place a Doton patch and finish a combo with Hakke Mujinsatsu, all enemies standing within it take extra damage. Hollow Nozuchi has a damage potency of 50.
• At Lv. 88, Ninjas gain the Enhanced Muisui trait. While under the effects of Muisui, the damage potency of Bhavacakra is increased to 500.

• At. Lv. 90, Raiton gets upgraded with a three-part combo thanks to the Enhanced Raiton trait. When executing Raiton, it will grant a stack of the Forked Raiju Ready buff for 15 seconds up to a maximum of three stacks. These stacks convert Raiton into a new attack called Forked Raiju. Be warned performing any melee weaponskill will cancel the Forked Raiju Ready buff.
• Forked Raiju has the user rush towards an enemy within a range of 20 yalms to deal lightning damage with a damage potency of 400 and generates five Ninki Gauge points. After executing Forked Raiju, the user will be granted the Fleeting Raiju buff for 15 seconds, which will allow them to perform Fleeting Raiju.
• Fleeting Raiju is a more powerful version of Forked Raiju with a damage potency of 450. Except the only extra effect Fleeting Raiju grants is five points towards the Ninki Gauge. Do note that both Forked Raiju and Fleeting Raiju cannot be cast while bound.

Patch 6.05 changes

• The status effect granted upon executing Raiton has been changed from "Forked Raiju Ready" to "Raiju Ready," and its duration has been increased from 15 to 30 seconds.
• The "Phantom Kamaitachi Ready" status effect granted by Bunshin no longer expires when the effect of Bunshin ends. This action now changes to Phantom Kamaitachi upon execution and the "Phantom Kamaitachi Ready" status effect now has a duration of 45 seconds.
• Executing Phantom Kamaitachi no longer consumes a stack of Bunshin and the increase to the Ninki Gauge has been changed from 5 to 10. Prior to Patch 6.05, both the execution of Phantom Kamaitachi and the effect of Bunshin increased the Ninki Gauge by 5, resulting in a total increase of 10. The above adjustment ensures this increase to the Ninki Gauge remains unchanged when executing Phantom Kamaitachi.
• The damage potency of Forked Raijuhas been increased from 400 to 560. The additional effect "Grants Fleeting Raiju Ready" has been removed. The requirement for execution has been changed from "while under the effect of Forked Raiju Ready" to "while under the effect of Raiju Ready."
• Players will no longer rush to the target upon executing Fleeting Raiju. Its range has been reduced from 20 yalms to 3 yalms and its damage potency has been increased from 450 to 560. The requirement for execution has been changed from "while under the effect of Fleeting Raiju Ready" to "while under the effect of Raiju Ready."

Patch 6.08 changes

• The damage potency of Spinning Edge has been increased from 200 to 210.
• The damage potency of Gust Slash has been increased from 140 to 160, and its combo damage potency has been increased from 300 to 320.
• The damage potency of Aeolian Edge has been increased from 120 to 140, and its rear damage potency has been increased from 180 to 200. The combo damage potency has also been increased from 340 to 360 along with its rear combo damage potency increase of 400 to 420.
• The damage potency of Armor Crush has been increased from 120 to 140, and its flank damage potency has been increased from 180 to 200. The combo damage potency has also been increased from 320 to 340 along with its flank combo damage potency increase of 380 to 400.
• The damage potency of Hyosho Ranryu has been increased from 1,200 to 1,300.

Patch 6.1 changes

• Executing Hide now dispels the effects of Doton.
• Mug now has an additional effect that increases the amount of damage a target takes by 5% for 20 seconds.
• Trick Attack's additional effect, which increases the amount of damage a target takes by 5%, has been replaced with an effect where the user deals to 10% more damage to their target for 15 seconds.
• The damage potency Aeolian Edge has been increased from 360 to 380, and its rear combo damage potency has been increased from 420 to 440.
• The action animation of Shukuchi has been shortened.
• The damage potency Doton has been increased from 70 to 80, and the duration of its effects has been reduced from 24 to 18 seconds.
• The combo damage potency Hakke Mujinsatsu has been increased from 120 to 130.
• The combo damage potency Armor Crush has been increased from 340 to 360, and its flank damage combo potency has been increased from 400 to 420.
• The damage potency of Bhavacakra has been reduced from 400 to 350.
• The damage potency of Phantom Kamaitachi has been increased from 550 to 600.
• Melee Mastery is now acquired at Level 74 instead of Level 84.
• At Level 84, Ninjas gain the Melee Mastery II trait, which increases the damage potency of Spinning Edge to 220 and Gust Slash to 160.

Final Fantasy XIV Job changes: Physical Ranged DPS

All Physical Ranged DPS Jobs

• Weapons of the same item level will have parity between their physical and magical attributes. Action potencies will change to accommodate this adjustment to the weapons.
• The cooldown of party-wide defensive abilities will be changed to 90 seconds.

Bard

• The recast timer for Mage's Ballad, Army's Paeon, and The Wanderer's Minuet is now 120 seconds, and the duration of their respective effects now lasts for 45 seconds. They now have an 80% chance to the Reportoire buff and no longer require the damage over time of Caustic Bite or Stormbite to trigger it. In addition, their effects now apply to the Bard who performed each respective song.
• The damage over time effects for Caustic Bite and Stormbite now lasts 45 seconds.
• The duration for the Straight Shot Ready buff now lasts for 30 seconds.
• Raging Strikes' recast timer is now 120 seconds and grants a 15% damage increase to the user.
• Barrage's recast timer has increased to 120 seconds, and it increases the damage potency of Shadowbite to 270.
• The recast timer for Battle Voice has been reduced to 120 seconds, the duration has been reduced to 15 seconds, its effects now apply to the user.
• Shadowbite is now a weaponskill and its recast timer has been reduced to 2.5 seconds.
• Sidewinder no longer gains a damage boost when attacking a target under the damage over time effects of Caustic Bite and Stormbite. It now has a simple damage potency of 300.

• The Enhanced Quick Nock trait is now learnt at Lv. 72 and its effects have completely changed. It now grants Quick Nock a 35% chance of granting the Shadowbite Ready buff.
• At Lv. 82, Quick Knock upgrades into Ladonsbite thanks to the Quick Nock Mastery trait. This weaponskill attacks all enemies in a 12-yalm cone in front of the user with a damage potency of 130. It also has a 35% chance to grant the Shadowbite Ready Buff.
• At Lv. 84, Bloodletter and Rain of Death gain a third charge for consecutive usage with a charge time of 15 seconds thanks to the Enhanced Bloodletter trait.
• At Lv. 86, Bards obtain the Enhanced Apex Arrow trait. After performing Apex Arrow while having 80 Soul Voice Gauge points saved up, the user will be granted the Blast Arrow Ready buff for 30 seconds.
• The Blast Arrow Ready buff will allow the Bard to fire a new AOE attack called Blast Arrow. This damages enemies in a straight line of 25 yalms in front of the user. It has a damage potency of 600 for the first enemy hit and deals 60% less damage for all remaining enemies.

• At Lv. 88, Troubadour's recast timer is reduced to 90 seconds thanks to the Enhanced Troubadour trait.
• At Lv. 90, Bards obtain the Minstrel's Coda trait. Performing Mage's Ballad, Army's Paeon, and The Wanderer's Minuet will grant the user the Mage's Coda, Army's Coda, and Wanderer's Coda buffs respectively. These Codas are required to trigger a new ability called Radiant Finale.
• Radiant Finale grants all nearby party members a damage bonus based on the number of different active Codas in the Song Gauge. One Coda, increases damage dealt by 2%, two Codas adds 4%, and three Codas add 5%. This ability can be activated with at least one Coda stored up.

6.1 changes

• The range Repelling Shot has been increased from 5 to 15 yalms, and its activation time has been adjusted to match that of other backstep actions.
• Battle Voice no longer requires the effect of Mage's Ballad, Army's Paeon, or the Wanderer's Minuet to be activated.
• The Wanderer's Minuet action now changes to Pitch Perfect upon execution.
• The sound effect that plays when a Bard's Soul Voice Gauge reaches 100 points will now also play when the gauge reaches 80 points. In addition, a new visual indicator has been added when the Soul Voice Gauge reaches 80 points.

Patch 6.28 changes

• The damage potency of Empyreal Arrow has been increased from 200 to 230.

Machinist

• At Lv. 82, Scattershot gets upgraded into Scattergun due to the Spread Shot Mastery trait. It has a damage potency increase of 150, and it generates 10 Heat Gauge points now.
• At Lv. 84, the Machinist gains the Marksman's Mastery trait. This increases the damage potency of Heated Split Shot to 200, Heated Slug Shot to 120, and Heated Clean Shot to 110.
• At Lv. 84, Reassembled gains two charges for consecutive usage with a charge timer of 55 seconds thanks to the Enhanced Reassembled trait.

• At. Lv. 86, the Automation Queen gets a new attack called Crowned Collider, thanks to the Queen's Gambit trait. After performing Pile Bunker, the Automation Queen will follow up with Crowned Collider. It has a base damage potency of 750, and it can be increased depending on the amount of Battery Gauge used to summon the Automation Queen beyond the required amount. The Automation Queen will shut down after performing Crowned Collider. If Crowned Collider is not activated manually before the end of the Automation Queen's duration, it will perform the attack automatically before shutting down.
• At Lv. 88, the recast timer on Tactician will be reduced to 90 seconds thanks to the Enhanced Tactician trait.
• At Lv. 90, the Machinist gains a new AOE attack called Chainsaw. This attacks enemies in a 25-yalm line in front of the user. It has a damage potency of 550 for the first enemy hit and deals 65% less damage for all remaining enemies. Chainsaw also generates 20 Battery Gauge points upon being successfully landed. It has a recast timer of 58.56 seconds, and it is not shared with any other actions.

6.08 changes

• The damage potency of Drill has been increased from 550 to 570.
• The damage potency of Air Anchor has been increased from 550 to 570.
• The damage potency of Chain Saw has been increased from 550 to 570.

6.1 changes

• The damage potency of Heat Blast has been increased from 170 to 180.
• The damage potency increase per weaponskill landed for Wildfire has been increased from 150 to 200.
• The damage potency of Drill has been increased from 570 to 580.
• The damage potency of Air Anchor has been increased from 570 to 580.
• The damage potency of Pile Bunker has been increased from 650 to 680.
• The damage potency of Crowned Collider has been increased from 750 to 780.
• The damage potency of Chain Saw has been increased from 570 to 580.

Patch 6.11 changes

The damage potency increase per weaponskill landed prior to the detonation of Wildfire has been increased from 200 to 220.

Patch 6.2 changes

• The Rook Autoturret's duration no longer increases to a maximum of 15 seconds and is now fixed at 9 seconds. Its base damage potency has been reduced from 70 to 35. The Rook Autoturret's damage potency now increases as the Battery Gauge exceeds the required cost when deployed, up to a max potency of 75.
• Rook Overdrive's base damage potency has been reduced from 320 to 160. The Rook Overdrive's damage potency now increases as the Battery Gauge exceeds the required cost when deploying the Rook Autoturret, up to a max potency of 320.
• Rook Overload's base damage potency has been reduced from 320 to 160. The Rook Overload's damage potency now increases as the Battery Gauge exceeds the required cost when deploying the Rook Autoturret, up to a max potency of 320.
• The Automation Queen will now always attack the first target the player attacks when deployed. Its duration no longer increases to a maximum of 20 seconds and is now fixed at 12. The damage potency of the Automation Queen's actions now as the Battery gauge exceeds the required when deployed.
• Roller Dash's damage potency now increases as the Battery gauge exceeds the required when deploying the Automation Queen, from a minimum of 240 to max limit of 480.
• Arm Punch's damage potency now increases as the Battery gauge exceeds the required when deploying the Automation Queen, from a minimum of 120 to max limit of 240.

Patch 6.28 changes

• The damage potency of Heat Blast has been increased from 180 to 200.
• The damage potency of Drill has been increased from 580 to 600.
• The damage potency of Air Anchor has been increased from 580 to 600.
• Wildfire
• The damage potency of Wildfire when successfully landing weaponskills during its duration has been increased from 220 to 240.
• The damage potency of Chain Saw has been increased from 580 to 600.

Dancer

• Windmill will change into Emboite while dancing.
• The effects of the Espirit trait have been completely changed. It now grants the Esprit buff to yourself and nearby party members when performing Standard Finish or Technical Finish. Whenever you successfully land Cascade, Reverse Cascade, Fountain, Fountainfall, Windmill, Rising Windmill, Bladeshower, or Bloodshower, you gain five Esprit Gauge points. When party members perform a weaponskill or cast a spell, they have a chance of giving you 10 Espirit Gauge points. The chances of each party member giving your Espirit depends on their Job.
• When executing Standard Step or Technical Step, your AOE attacks will now turn into Steps alongside single-target attacks.
• The requirements for executing certain attacks following single-target and AOE combos have been changed. For example, after performing either Cascade or Windmill, they have a 50% chance of granting the user the new Flourishing Symmetry buff. This will allow you to perform either Reverse Cascade or Rising Windmill.
• This change is also applied for Fountain and Bladeshower, both of which have a 50% of granting the user the Flourishing Flow buff. This will allow you to execute either Fountainfall or Bloodshower. These changes will allow the Dancer to freely mix and match different attacks without being forced into certain AOE or single-target combos for the desired attack.
• As a result of these changes, Flourishing Symmetry has replaced the Flourishing Cascade and Flourishing Fountain buffs, and Flourishing Flow has replaced the Flourishing Windmill, Flourishing Shower buffs.
• The Flourish ability has been tweaked to accommodate these changes. It will now grant the user Flourishing Symmetry, Flourishing Flow, and Threefold Fan Dance for 30 seconds. At Lv. 86, Flourish will also grant the user Fourfold Fan Dance for 30 seconds thanks to the Enhanced Flourish trait.

• The Improvision ability has received significant changes to its effects. Improvision will grant the user the Rising Rhythm buff. For 15 seconds, you will heal all nearby party members over time with a healing potency of 100. In addition, you will generate Rising Rhythm stacks every three seconds, up to a max limit of four stacks. Improvision ends when the duration ends or if you perform an action or move during the dance. Auto-attacks are cancelled during the duration of Improvision.
• While Improvision is active, you gain access to a new ability called Improvised Finish. This ability creates a barrier on all nearby party members, which absorbs damage based on the amount of Rising Rhythm Stacks you have saved up. At zero stacks, the barrier absorbs damage up to 5% max HP, one stack absorbs 6%, two stacks absorb 7%, three stacks absorb 8%, and four stacks absorb 10%.
• At Lv. 82, executing Technical Finish will grant the user Flourishing Finish thanks to the Enhanced Technical Finish trait. Flourishing Finish will allow Dancers to perform the new Tillana attack.

• Tillana is an AOE attack that damages all nearby enemies with a damage potency of 360 for the first enemy hit and deals 50% less damage for all remaining enemies. Tillana also grants the user and a party member designated as their Dance Partner with the Standard Finish and Esprit buffs. Standard Finish increases the damage you deal by 5% for 30 seconds. Do note that Tillana will trigger the cooldowns of weaponskills, step actions, and finish actions when activated. Also, Tillana cannot be used during the cooldown of weaponskills, step actions, and finish actions.
• At. Lv. 84, performing Reverse Cascade, Fountainfall, Rising Windmill, or Bloodshower will generate 10 Esprit Gauge points thanks to the Enhanced Esprit trait.
• At Lv. 86, Dancers gain a new attack called Fan Dance IV. Fan Dance IV damages in a 15-yalm cone in front of the user with a damage potency of 300 for the first enemy hit and deals 50% less damage for all remaining enemies. This attack can only be performed while under the effects of Fourfold Fan Dance.

• At Lv. 88, Shield Samba's recast timer gets reduced to 90 seconds thanks to the Enhanced Shield Samba buff.
• At Lv. 90, Dancers gain the Enhanced Devilment trait. After performing Devilment, the user will be granted the Flourishing Starfall buff for 30 seconds, allowing them to perform a new attack called Starfall Dance.
• Starfall Dance is an AOE attack that deals a guaranteed critical direct hit to all enemies in a 25-yalm line in front of the user. The damage potency is 600 for the first enemy hit, and all remaining enemies take 75% less damage.

Patch 6.05 changes

The action category for Standard Finish, Technical Finish, and Tillana has been changed from "ability" to "weaponskill."

6.08 changes

• The damage potency of Cascade has been increased from 180 to 220.
• The combo damage potency of Fountain has been increased from 240 to 280.
• The damage potency of Reverse Cascade has been increased from 240 to 280.
• The damage potency of Fountainfall has been increased from 300 to 340.
• The 4 Steps damage potency of Technical Finish has been increased from 1,080 to 1,200.

6.1 changes

• Standard Step, Emboite Action, Entrechat, Jete, Pirouette, and Technical Step are now categorized as weaponskills.
• Cascade's additional of granting Flourishing Symmetry on a 50% chance has been replaced with granting Silken Symmetry on a 50% chance.
• Fountain's additional effect of granting Flourishing Flow on a 50% chance has been replaced with granting Silken Flow on a 50% chance.
• Windmill's additional effect of granting Flourishing Symmetry on a 50% chance has been replaced with granting Silken Flow on a 50% chance.
• Reverse Cascade can now only be executed while under the effects of Silken Symmetry or Flourishing Symmetry.
• Bladeshower's additional effect of granting Flourishing Flow on a 50% chance has been replaced with granting Silken Flow on a 50% chance.
• Rising Windmill can now only be performed while under the effects of Silken Symmetry or Flourishing Symmetry.
• Fountainfall can now only be performed while under the effects of Silken Flow or Flourishing Flow.
• Bloodshower can now only be performed while under the effects of Silken Flow or Flourishing Flow.

Final Fantasy XIV Job changes: Magical Ranged DPS

All Magical Ranged DPS Jobs

• The Addle ability now reduces magic damage dealt by an enemy by 10% and their physical damage by 5%.
• Sleep is no longer a Thaumaturge/Black Mage spell, it is now a role action that all Magical Ranged DPS Jobs can perform.

Black Mage

• The Aspect Mastery trait is now learnt at Lv. 1 instead of Lv. 72 and its effects have changed. Casting certain fire or ice spells will grant the user a stack of the Astral Fire or Umbral Ice buffs respectively for 15 seconds. While under the effects of either of these buffs, casting a spell of the opposite element will cost no MP. This effect does not apply to Flare.
• At Lv. 20, Black Mages gain the Aspect Master II trait, which will allow them to accumulate a second stack of Astral Fire and Umbral Ice.
• At Lv. 35, Blizzard II will now grant Umbral Ice III, and Fire II will grant Astral Fire III thanks to the Aspect Master III trait. In addition, this trait will allow a third stack of Umbral Ice and Astral Fire.
• To accommodate these changes, the Main and Mend traits have their Astral Fire and Umbral Ice stack granting effects removed. They will only now grant the damage and HP restoration increases as before.
• Blizzard III is now learnt at Lv. 35, and Freeze is learnt at Lv. 40.
• Enhanced Freeze is now learnt at Lv. 58 and grants three Umbral Hearts instead of one Umbral Heart upon casting Freeze.
• Enochian is now a passive trait instead of an ability you activate manually. It increases the user's mage damage by 5% while under the effects of Umbral Ice or Astral Fire. In addition, this trait now grants the user the Enhanced Flare buff after performing Fire II while under the effects of Astral Fire. The Enhanced Flare buff ends when the Astral Fire buff ends.

• At. Lv. 80, Black Mages gain the Enhanced Foul trait, which turns the Foul spell into an instant cast spell.
• At. Lv. 82, Fire II will upgrade into High Fire II. This will deal fire damage to all enemies near it with a damage potency of 140, grant Astral Fire III for 15 seconds and remove Umbral Ice. In addition, it will grant two charges of Enhanced Flare for 30 seconds. This buff will increase the damage of the next Flare you cast.
• At. Lv. 82, Blizzard II will upgrade into High Blizzard II. This will deal ice damage to all enemies near it with a damage potency of 140, grant Umbral Ice III for 15 seconds and remove Astral Fire.
• At Lv. 84, Manafont will have its recast reduced to 120 seconds thanks to the Enhanced Manafont trait.
• At Lv. 86, Black Mage will learn the Amplifier ability. This ability grants a Polyglot stack and can only be cast while under the effects of Umbral Ice or Astral Fire.

• At. Lv. 86, Black Mage will gain the Enhanced Enochian III trait, which increases Enochian's magic damage buff to 20%.
• At Lv. 88, Swiftcast will gain two charges for consecutive uses thanks to the Enhanced Sharpcast II trait.
• At Lv. 90, Black Mage learns a new spell called Paradox and is accompanied by Aspect Mastery V trait. Aspect Mastery V adds Paradox marker to the Elemental Gauge. Whenever you reach Astral Fire III then switch to Umbral Ice III or switching from Umbral Ice III while stocking three Umbral Hearts into Astral Fire III, the Paradox marker becomes active and allows you to cast Paradox.
• The Paradox spell deals unaspected damage to a single target with a damage potency of 500. While under the effects of Astral Fire, Paradox refreshes Astral Fire's duration and has a 40% chance to grant Firestarter. For 30 seconds, the Firestarter buff ensures that the next Fire III cast will cost no MP and is cast instantly. Conversely, if Paradox is used while under the effects of Umbral Ice, it will cost no MP to cast and refreshes the duration of Umbral Ice.

6.08 changes

• The damage potency of Fire III has been increased from 240 to 280.
• The damage potency of Blizzard III has been increased from 240 to 260.
• The damage potency of Blizzard IV has been increased from 300 to 310.
• The damage potency of Fire IV has been increased from 300 to 310.
• The damage potency of Xenoglossy has been increased from 660 to 760.

Patch 6.28 changes

• The damage potency of Foul has been increased from 560 to 600.
• The damage potency of Xenoglossy has been increased from 760 to 800.
• Improvement to the magic damage increase from Enochian has been increased from 20% to 21%.

Red Mage

• Manafication has received changes in its effects. It will now add 50 Black and White Mana points instead of doubling what amount you currently had. Manafication will grant six stacks of the Manafication buff thanks to the Enhanced Manafication trait learnt at Lv. 90. This will increase the Red Mage's magic damage by 5% for 15 seconds. Do note that all combos will be cancelled when activating Manafication.
• The Red Mage's full melee combos now cost 50 Mana points instead of 80 points.
• Engagement is now learnt at Lv. 40 instead of Lv. 72.
• Engagement, Displacement, and Acceleration gain a second charge for consecutive usage. The charge timer for Displacement and Engagement is 35 seconds and Acceleration's charge timer is 55 seconds.
• Engagement and Displacement now share the same damage potency of 180 at Lv. 72 thanks to the Enhanced Displacement trait.

• Embolden will now increase all damage dealt by nearby party members by 5% and your magic damage by 5%.
• Enhanced Contra Forte has been renamed into Red Magic Mastery and is learnt at Lv. 74 instead of Lv. 78.
• Enhanced Manafication is now learnt at Lv. 78 instead of Lv. 74.
• Verholy, Verflare, and Scorch are now AOE attack spells instead of single-target spells. These deal unaspected damage to all enemies near those spells. Verflare and Verholy will have a damage potency of 580 and 60% less to all remaining enemies. Whereas Scorch's damage potency will be 680 and 60% less to all remaining enemies.

• Red Mages learn the new Mana Stack trait at Lv. 68. Whenever you land an Enchanted weaponskill, it will add a Mana Stack to the Balance Gauge up to a maximum of three stacks. Once you have three Mana Stacks, Verthunder and Verthunder II will become Verflare and Veraero, and Veraero II will turn into Verholy (once you learn both Verholy and Verflare).
• At Lv. 82, Red Mages gain the Red Magic Mastery II trait. This upgrades Verthunder into Verthunder III and Veraero into Veraero III. Verthunder III deals lightning damage with a damage potency of 380, increases Black Mana by six points, and has a 50% chance of granting Verfire Ready for 30 seconds. Veraero III deals wind damage with a damage potency of 380, increases White Mana by six points, and has a 50% chance of granting Verstone Ready for 30 seconds. In addition, Verthunder III will turn into Verflare, and Veraero III will turn into Verholy after gaining three Mana Stacks.

• At Lv. 84, Red Mages receive the Red Mastery III trait. This increases the damage potency of Verthunder II to 140, Veraero II to 140, Verfire to 330, Verstone to 330, Jolt II to 310, Impact to 210, and Enchanted Reprise to 310.
• At Lv. 86, Red Mage learns a new utility spell called Magick Barrier. This reduces magic damage taken by the user and nearby party members by 10% and increases the amount of HP recovered through healing actions by 5% for 15 seconds. It has a recast timer of 120 seconds.
• At Lv. 90, Red Mage obtains a new attack spell called Resolution, which can only be executed after landing Scorch. This attack deals unaspected damage to all enemies in a straight line in front of the user with a damage potency of 750 for the first enemy hit, and 60% less damage for all remaining enemies. It also accumulates four Black and White Mana points.

Patch 6.1 changes

• The action animation for Displacement has been shortened.

Patch 6.28 changes

• The Red Mastery III trait will increase the damage potency of Enchanted Riposte, Enchanted Zwercchau, and Enchanted Redoublement.
• As a result of the improved Red Mastery III trait, the damage potency of Enchanted Riposte has been increased from 220 to 280.
• As a result of the improved Red Mastery III trait, the damage potency of Enchanted Zwerchhau has been increased from 100 to 150 and its combo damage potency has been increased from 290 to 340.
• As a result of the improved Red Mastery III trait, the damage potency of Enchanted Redoublement has been increased from 100 to 130 and its combo damage potency has been increased from 470 to 500.

Summoner

• The Summoner has received an overhaul so extensive that it could be considered a new Job entirely. For starters, Bio, Bio II, Bio III, Miasma, Miasma II, Egi Assault, Bane, Aetherpact, and all Egi-pet actions have been removed.
• Fester has been changed into an attack spell that costs one Aetherflow Gauge point and has a damage potency of 300 without reliance on Bio or Miasma for extra damage anymore. It is also now learnt at Lv. 10 instead of Lv. 18.
• Tri-Disaster also no longer relies on Bio or Miasma and has flat damage potency of 120. Its lower-level incarnation, Outburst is now learnt at Lv. 26 as an Arcanist.
• Painflare is now learnt at Lv. 40, it has an increased damage potency of 150, and its recast has been reduced to one second.
• Energy Siphon and Energy Drain now grant the Summoner the Further Ruin buff, allowing them to use Ruin IV. Energy Drain is now learnt at Lv. 10 and has an increased damage potency of 200.
• Ruin IV is now an instant AOE spell that deals unaspected damage to all enemies near it with a damage potency of 430 for the first enemy hit and 60% less damage for all remaining nearby enemies.

• At Lv. 6, Summoners will learn the new Aethercharge ability. This ability will grant the user the Aethercharge buff, which will increase the damage potency of Ruin and Ruin II by 50 and the Outburst by 20 for 15 seconds. At Lv. 15, this ability grants access to the Ruby Arcanum, Topaz Arcanum, and Emerald Arcanum, which will allow you to activate the elemental summons. This ability can only be used during combat and only while Carbuncle is summoned.
• At Lv. 6, Summoners will learn Precious Brilliance and Gemshine. These abilities will allow you to execute single-target (Gemshine) or AOE attacks (Precious Brilliance) based on your currently active elemental attunement.
• While Fire Attunement is active at Lv. 6, Gemshine will become Ruby Ruin, which has a damage potency of 300 and costs one Fire Attunement point. At Lv. 30 Ruby Ruin upgrades into Ruby Ruin II with a damage potency of 340. At Lv. 36, Ruby Ruin II upgrades into Ruby Ruin III with a damage potency of 360. At Lv. 72 Ruby Ruin III upgrades into its final form, Ruby Rite, which has a damage potency of 430.
• At Lv. 26, Precious Brilliance becomes Ruby Outburst, which has a damage potency of 140 to all enemies near the main target and costs one Fire Attunement point. At Lv. 72, Ruby Outburst upgrades into Ruby Disaster with a damage potency increase of 170. Then at Lv. 82, Ruby Disaster upgrades into its final form, Ruby Catastrophe with a damage potency of 180.
• While Earth Attunement is active at Lv. 15, Gemshine will become Topaz Ruin, which has a damage potency of 240 and costs one Earth Attunement point. At Lv. 30, Topaz Ruin upgrades into Topaz Ruin II with a damage potency of 270. At Lv. 36, Topaz Ruin II upgrades into Topaz Ruin III with a damage potency of 300. At Lv. 72, Topaz Ruin III upgrades into its final form, Topaz Rite, which has a damage potency of 330.
• At Lv. 26, Precious Brilliance becomes Topaz Outburst, which has a damage potency of 110 to all enemies near the main target and costs one Earth Attunement point. At Lv. 72, Topaz Outburst upgrades into Topaz Disaster with a damage potency increase of 130. Then at Lv. 82, Topaz Disaster upgrades into its final form, Topaz Catastrophe, which has a damage potency of 140.
• At Lv. 86, casting either Topaz Rite or Topaz Catastrophe will grant the user Titan's Favor.
• While Wind Attunement is active at Lv. 22, Gemshine will become Emerald Ruin, which has a damage potency of 160 and costs one Earth Attunement point. At Lv. 30 Topaz Ruin upgrades into Emerald Ruin II with a damage potency of 170. At Lv. 36, Emerald Ruin II upgrades into Emerald Ruin III with a damage potency of 180. Then finally at Lv. 72, Emerald Ruin III will become Emerald Rite, which has a damage potency of 230.
• At Lv. 26, Precious Brilliance becomes Emerald Outburst, which has a damage potency of 70 to all enemies near the main target and costs one Wind Attunement point. At Lv. 72, Emerald Outburst upgrades into Emerald Disaster with a damage potency increase of 90. Then at Lv. 82, Emerald Disaster will become Emerald Catastrophe with a damage potency increase of 100.

• The Summoner's pets (the Gem Carbuncles, Egis, and later Ifrit, Titan, and Garuda) are now reworked into summon spells that grant the user elemental attunement upon activation. These summon spells are Summon Ruby (Lv. 6), Summon Topaz (Lv. 15), and Summon Emerald (Lv. 22). Summon Ruby upgrades into Summon Ifrit at Lv. 30, Summon Topaz upgrades into Summon Titan at Lv. 35, and Summon Emerald upgrades into Summon Garuda at Lv. 45. You can summon any of these three summons in any order you wish.
• Summon Ruby summons forth Ruby Carbuncle and executes Glittering Ruby upon its entry. Glittering Ruby has Ruby Carbuncle rush forward and deal fire damage to all nearby enemies with a damage potency of 300 for the first enemy hit and 60% less for all remaining enemies. It grants two stacks of Fire Attunement for 30 seconds. This spell can only cast while Fire Arcanum is active and cannot be cast while the other two elemental attunements are active. Also, it can only be cast while Carbuncle is summoned.
• Summon Topaz summons forth Topaz Carbuncle and executes Glittering Topaz upon its entry. Glittering Topaz has Topaz Carbuncle rush forward and deal Earth damage to all nearby enemies a damage potency of 300 for the first enemy hit and 60% less for all remaining enemies. It grants four stacks of Earth Attunement for 30 seconds. This spell can only cast while Earth Arcanum is active and cannot be cast while the other two elemental attunements are active. Also, it can only be cast while Carbuncle is summoned.
• Summon Emerald summons forth Emerald Carbuncle and executes Glittering Emerald upon its entry. Aerial deals wind damage to all enemies near it with a damage potency of 300 for the first enemy hit and 60% less for the remaining enemies. It grants four stacks of Wind Attunement for 30 seconds. This spell can only cast while Wind Arcanum is active and cannot be cast while the other two elemental attunements are active. Also, it can only be cast while Carbuncle is summoned.

• Summon Ifrit summons forth Ifrit-Egi and executes Inferno upon its entry. Inferno has Ifrit-Egi rush forward and deal fire damage to all enemies in a frontal cone with a damage potency of 600 for the first enemy hit and 60% less for the remaining enemies. It grants two stacks of Fire Attunement for 30 seconds. This spell can only cast while under Fire Arcanum is active and cannot be cast while the other two elemental attunements are active. Also, it can only be cast while Carbuncle is summoned.
• Summon Titan summons forth Titan-Egi and executes Earthen Fury upon its entry. Earthen Fury has Titan-Egi rush forward and deal earth damage to all enemies with a damage potency of 600 for the first enemy hit and 60% less for all remaining enemies. It grants four stacks of Earth Attunement for 30 seconds. This spell can only cast while Earth Arcanum is active and cannot be cast while the other two elemental attunements are active. Also, it can only be cast while Carbuncle is summoned.
• Summon Garuda summons forth Garuda-Egi and executes Aerial Blast upon its entry. Aerial deals wind damage to all nearby enemies with a damage potency of 600 for the first enemy hit and 60% less for all remaining enemies. It grants four stacks of Wind Attunement for 30 seconds. This spell can only cast while Wind Arcanum is active and cannot be cast while the other two elemental attunements are active. Also, it can only be cast while Carbuncle is summoned.

• At Lv. 2, Carbuncle learns a utility ability called Radiant Aegis. Radiant Aegis creates a barrier around the user that absorbs damage up to 20% of their max HP for 30 seconds. It has two charges for consecutive uses with a charge timer of 60 seconds at Lv. 88 thanks to the Enhanced Radiant Aegis trait.
• At Lv. 66, Carbuncle gains another utility ability called Searling Light. Searing Light increases damage of the user and nearby party members by 3% for 30 seconds.
• Aethercharge will upgrade into Dreadwyrm Trance at Lv. 58 thanks to the Aethercharge Mastery trait. During a 20-second duration, Ruin III changes into Astral Impulse and Tri-Disaster changes into Astral Flare. Astral Impulse has an increased damage potency of 430 and Astral Impulse deals unaspected damage to all enemies near it with a damage potency of 180.
• At Lv. 60, Summoners will learn Astral Flow, which changes into a special attack based on the user's active trance or elemental attunement. Dreadwyrm Trance turns it into Deathflare, Firebird Trance turns it into Rekindle, Ifrit's Favor turns it into Crimson Cyclone, Titan's Favor turns it into Mountain Buster, and Garuda's Favor turns it into Slipstream.
• Dreadwyrm Trance will upgrade into Summon Bahamut at Lv. 70 thanks to the Enhanced Dreadwyrm Trance trait, and Dreadwyrm Trance's effects will become a trait while Demi-Bahamut is summoned. Demi-Bahamut will attack the target on its own with Wyrmwave without following the Summoner around anymore.

• At Lv. 80, Summon Bahamut will change into Summon Phoenix after the Demi-Bahamut summon duration is expired thanks to the Enhanced Summon Bahamut trait. Summon Phoenix will have the Summoner enter Firebird Trance and summon Demi-Phoenix to battle for 20 seconds. During Firebird Trance, Ruin III will turn into Fountain of Fire and Tri-Disaster will turn into Brand of Purgatory. Both of these abilities have the same damage potency increases as Astral Impulse and Astral Flare.
• At Lv. 82, Summoners gain the Outburst Mastery II trait, which enhances Precious Brilliance to grant Ruby Catastrophe, Topaz, Catastrophe, and Emerald Catastrophe.
• At Lv. 84, Summoners gain the Ruin Mastery IV trait, which increases the damage potency of Ruin III to 310, Ruby Rite to 430, Topaz Rite to 330, and Emerald Rite to 230.
• At Lv. 88, Summoners learn the Elemental Mastery trait, which grants Ifrit's Favor when summoning Ifrit, Titan's Favor when casting Topaz Rite or Topaz Catastrophe, and Garuda's Favor when summoning Garuda.
• At Lv. 90, Summoners will gain the Ascended Summoning trait, which upgrades Summon Ifrit to Summon Ifrit II, Summon Titan to Summon Titan II, and Summon Garuda to Summon Garuda II.

• Summon Ifrit II summons forth Ruby Ifrit and executes Inferno upon its entry. Inferno deals fire damage to all enemies near it with a damage potency of 700 for the first enemy hit and 60% less for the remaining enemies. It grants two stacks of Fire Attunement for 30 seconds and grants Ifrit's Favor. This spell can only cast while Fire Arcanum is active and cannot be cast while the other two elemental attunements are active. Also, it can only be cast while Carbuncle is summoned. Ifrit's Favor ends when executing certain actions.
• When under Ifrit's Favor, Astral Flow becomes Crimson Cyclone, which has the user charge towards an enemy within 25 yalms to deliver a melee fire attack with a damage potency of 430 and deals 65% less damage to any nearby enemies. After Crimson Cyclone ends, it turns into a combo follow-up called Crimson Strike, which deals a melee fire attack with a damage potency of 430 and to the main target and 65% less damage to all nearby enemies.

• Summon Titan II summons forth Topaz Titan and executes Earthen Fury upon its entry. Earthen Fury deals earth damage to all enemies near it with a damage potency of 700 for the first enemy hit and 60% less for the remaining enemies. It grants four stacks of Earth Attunement for 30 seconds. This spell can only cast while Earth Arcanum is active and cannot be cast while the other two elemental attunements are active. Also, it can only be cast while Carbuncle is summoned.
• When under Titan's Favor, Astral Flow becomes Mountain Buster, which deals earth damage to all enemies near it with a damage potency of 150 to the main target and deal 70% less damage to all remaining enemies. Titan's Favor ends when executing certain actions.

• Summon Garuda II summons forth Emerald Garuda and executes Aerial Blast upon its entry. Aerial deals wind damage to all enemies near it with a damage potency of 700 for the first enemy hit and 60% less for the remaining enemies. It grants four stacks of Wind Attunement for 30 seconds and grants Garuda's Favor. This spell can only cast while Wind Arcanum is active and cannot be cast while the other two elemental attunements are active. Also, it can only be cast while Carbuncle is summoned. Garuda's Favor ends when executing certain actions.
• When under Garuda's Favor, Astral Flow will turn into Slipstream, which deals wind damage to all enemies near it with a damage potency of 430 to the main target and deals 65% less damage to all remaining enemies. This attack leaves a small tornado centered around the main target, damaging any enemies standing within it. It has a damage potency of 30 and lasts for 12 seconds.

Patch 6.05 changes

• The damage potency of Fountain of Fire has been increased from 430 to 520.
• The damage potency of Brand of Purgatory has been increased from 180 to 240.

Patch 6.08 changes

• The damage potency of Astral Impulse has been increased from 430 to 440.
• The damage potency of Ruby Rite has been increased from 430 to 450.
• The damage potency of Fountain of Fire has been increased from 520 to 540.

Patch 6.1 changes

• The recast timer for Ruby Ruin has been increased from 2.5 to 3 seconds, and its damage potency has been increased from 300 to 340.
• The recast timer for Ruby Outburst has been increased from 2.5 to 3 seconds, and its damage potency has been increased from 140 to 160.
• The recast timer for Ruby Ruin II has been increased from 2.5 to 3 seconds, and its damage potency has been increased from 340 to 380.
• The recast timer for Ruby Ruin III has been increased from 2.5 to 3 seconds, and its damage potency has been increased from 360 to 410.
• The recast timer for Ruby Rite has been increased from 2.5 to 3 seconds, and its damage potency has been increased from 450 to 510.
• Searing Light is now cast directly from the user instead of the Carbuncle.
• The recast timer for Ruby Disaster has been increased from 2.5 to 3 seconds, and its damage potency has been increased from 170 to 190.
• The recast timer for Ruby Catastrophe has been increased from 2.5 to 3 seconds, and its damage potency has been increased from 180 to 210.
• The damage potency increase from the Ruin Master IV trait for Ruby Rite has been changed from 450 to 510.

Patch 6.28 changes

• The damage potency of Fester has been increased from 300 to 340.
• The damage potency of Inferno has been increased from 700 to 750.
• The damage potency of Earthen Fury has been increased from 700 to 750.
• The damage potency of Aerial Blast has been increased from 700 to 750.

Final Fantasy XIV Job changes: Healers

All Healer Jobs

• The casting time for offensive spells will now be shortened to approximately 1.5 seconds.
• The range of their limit breaks' AOE will be extended by 50 yalms.

Patch 6.1 changes

• Lucid Dreaming is now acquired at Level 14 instead of Level 24.

White Mage

• Fluid Aura has been removed.
• Thin Air's charge timer has been reduced to 60 seconds and has two charges to spend. It also no longer grants zero MP costs to all spells within a 12-second duration. Instead, it only grants the next spell used zero MP cost.
• At Lv. 82, Glare gets upgraded into Glare III thanks to the Glare Mastery trait. Its damage potency gets increased to 310.
• At Lv. 82, Holy gets upgraded into Holy III thanks to the Holy Mastery trait. Its damage potency gets increased to 150.

• At Lv. 85, White Mages gains the Enhanced Healing trait. This increases healing potencies of Cure is to 500, Medica to 400, Cure II to 800, Regen to 250, Cure III to 600, Medica II to 250, Medica II's HP Regen to 150, Afflatus Solace to 800, and Afflatus Rapture to 400.
• At Lv. 86, White Mages gain the Aquaveil ability. This reduces damage taken by the user or a targeted party member by 15% for eight seconds and has a recast timer of 60 seconds.
• At Lv. 88, Divine Benison will receive two charges for consecutive usage with a charge timer of 30 seconds thanks to the Enhanced Divine Benison trait.

• At Lv. 90, White Mage will learn how to conjure the LIturgy of the Bell spell. You place a healing blossom at the desired location and gain five stacks of the LIturgy of the Bell buff for 15 seconds. Every time you take damage, the healing blossom with spend one Lillybell stack to heal every party member within a 20-yalm radius. The healing potency of each stack is 400 and can only be triggered once per second. The healing blossom will vanish when the duration ends or when every Lillybell stack is used up. If the duration ends before every Lillybell stack is spent, the healing blossom will consume all remaining stacks for a big AOE healing effect with a healing potency of 200 for every stack used.

Patch 6.1 changes

• The MP cost for Stone has been reduced from 400 to 200.
• The MP cost for Aero has been reduced from 400 to 200, and the duration for its effects has been increased from 18 seconds to 30 seconds.
• The MP cost for Stone II has been reduced from 400 to 200.
• The MP cost for Regen has been reduced from 500 to 400.
• The AOE radius for Cure III has been increased from 6 to 10 yalms.
• The MP cost for Aero II has been reduced from 400 to 200, and the duration for its effects has been increased from 18 seconds to 30 seconds.
• The range for Asylum has been increased from 8 to 10 yalms.
• When activating the Secret of the Lily ability, the time before a Lily is added to the Healing Gauge has been reduced from once every 30 seconds to once every 20 seconds.
• The damage potency for Stone III has been reduced from 230 to 220, and its MP cost for Regen has been reduced from 400 to 300.
• The damage potency for Stone IV has been reduced from 270 to 260.
• The damage potency of Afflatus Misery has been increased from 900 to 1,240, and its damage potency reduction after hitting the first enemy has been increased from 25% to 50%.
• When casting Liturgy of the Bell, the additional healing effect from remaining stacks of Liturgy of the Bell will now be triggered when time expires or upon executing Liturgy of the Bell a second time.

Patch 6.2 changes

• The effect duration of Liturgy of the Bell has been increased from 15 to 20 seconds.

Astrologian

• Nocturnal Sect and Diurnal Sect has been removed in Endwalker. As a result, many of the Astrologian's abilities have reworked from the ground up to compensate for the removal of Sects.
• Aspected Benefic now heals a target with a healing potency of 250 and grants an additional HP Regen effect with healing potency of 250 for 15 seconds.
• Aspected Helios will now heal yourself and all nearby party members with a healing potency of 250. It will also grant a HP Regen effect to all affected party members with a healing potency of 150 for 15 seconds.
• Celestial Opposition now heal the user and all nearby party members with a healing potency of 200. In addition, it will grant a HP Regen effect to all affected party members with a healing potency of 100 for 15 seconds. This HP Regen effect cannot be stacked.

• The effects of Collective Unconsciousness have also been reworked. This ability erects a giant magic sphere around the user and reduces incoming damage by 10% for any party member standing within the barrier. This ability also grants the Wheel of Fortune effect to all affected party members, which regenerates HP with a healing potency of 100 for 15 seconds. Collective Unconsciousness ends upon the end of the duration or if you take another action or moving. This ability also cancels auto-attacking for the duration of the spell.
• Celestial Intersection's Sect bonus effect can now be triggered by any additional Sect. In addition, it gains a second charge for consecutive usage with a charge timer of 30 seconds at Lv. 88 thanks to the Enhanced Celestial Intersection trait.
• Neutral Sect has been tweaked to grant Aspected Helios and Aspected Benefic the ability to erect shields while under its effects. Aspected Helios' barrier will nullify damage equal to 250% the amount of restored HP, and Aspected Benefic's barrier will nullify damage equal to 125%.

• The Astrologian's card system has received major retooling as well. For starters, the Draw ability now restores 5% MP and has two charges for consecutive usage with a charge timer of 30 seconds. Also, whenever you use Draw, it will grant the Clarifying Draw buff that allows the one-time use of Redraw, which consumes the buff upon activation.
• Redraw can now only be used while under the effects of Clarifying Draw.
• Divination no longer requires cards to activate and grants a flat 6% damage increase to the user and all nearby party members for 15 seconds.
• The level requirement to learn Minor Arcana has been moved from Lv. 50 to Lv. 70. Instead of converting one of your cards into the Lady of Crowns or Lord of Crowns, Minor Arcana will draw either card at random from your deck and store it. That card can then be activated with the new Crown Play ability learnt at Lv. 70.
• The Lady of Crowns and Lord of Crowns cards have received new effects. Lady of Crowns will now restore HP of the user and nearby party members with healing potency of 400. While Lord of Crowns will deal unaspected damage to all enemies near it with a damage potency of 250.

• To fill the spot once taken up by Minor Arcana, Astrologians will gain a new ability called Astrodyne at Lv. 50. Astrodyne grants the user buffs based on the astrosigns read from your cards. This ability can only be activated after accumulating three astrosigns and the buffs gained will depend on the amount of different astrosigns read.
• One astrosign type grants Harmony of Spirit, two astrosign types grants Harmony of Spirit and Harmony of Body, and three astrosign types grants Harmony of Spirit, Harmony of Body, and Harmony of Mind.
• Harmony of Spirit gradually restores MP with a healing potency of 60. Harmony of Body which reduces spell-cast, recast time, and auto-attack delay by 10%. Harmony of Mind increases the user's damage and healing potency by 5%. Each of these buffs last for 15 seconds and can be stacked on top of each other.
• At Lv. 50, Draw will grant a Solar Sign, Lunar Sign, or a Celestial Sign according to the cards you Play thanks to the Enhanced Draw II trait.

• At Lv. 82, Malefic gets upgraded into Fall Malefic with a damage potency increase to 250 thanks to the Malefic Mastery IV trait.
• At Lv. 82, Gravity gets upgraded into Gravity II with a damage potency increase to 130 thanks to the Gravity Mastery trait.
• At Lv. 86, Astrologians learn a new ability called Exaltation. This reduces damage dealt to you or a targeted party member by 10% for eight seconds. By the end of the spell's duration, it will restore the target's HP with a healing potency of 500. It also has a recast timer of 60 seconds.
• At Lv. 90, Astrologians gain the Macrocosmos ability. This is an AOE attack that deals unaspected damage to all enemies near it with a damage potency of 250 to the first enemy hit and 40% less to all the remaining enemies. It all also grants the Macrocosmos effect to yourself and nearby party members for 15 seconds. During this duration of this effect, the Macrocosmos button is replaced by Microcosmos and 50% of all damage taken is compiled. By the end of the buff's duration or activating Microcosmos, all effected party members will have their HP restored equal to compiled amount of damage taken. The amount of restored HP cannot exceed the target's maximum HP.

Patch 6.1 changes

• The effect duration of Combust has been increased from 18 seconds to 30 seconds.

Patch 6.2 changes

• When using Redraw, you will no longer draw a card with the Astrosign as the card currently held.
• The action of Minor Arcana how changes to the drawn arcanum.
• Crown Play has been removed from the game.

Scholar

• Aetherflow restores 20% maximum MP instead of 10%.
• Fey Blessing no longer costs Fairy Gauge.
• Energy drain no longer restores MP.
• At Lv. 82, Art of War gets upgraded into Art of War II with an increased damage potency of 180 thanks to the Art of War Mastery trait.

• At Lv. 82, Scholars gain the Broil Mastery II trait. This trait upgrades Broil III into Broil IV, increasing its damage potency to 295 and increases the damage potency of Ruin II to 220.
• Lv. 85 sees the Scholar gain the Enhanced Healing Magic trait, which increases the healing potencies of Physick to 450, Embrace to 180, and Seraphic Veil to 180. In addition, the barrier potency of Adloquium has been increased to 180% the amount of restored HP and Succor's barrier potency increased to 160% the amount of restored HP.
• At Lv. 86, the Scholar gains the Protraction ability. This spell that can be cast on the user or a party member to restore their HP and increase their max HP by 10% for 10 seconds. It also increases HP recovery via healing actions by 10% for 10 seconds.

• At Lv. 88, Deployment Tactics' recast timer gets reduced to 90 seconds thanks to the Enhanced Deployment Tactics trait.
• At Lv. 90, the Scholar learns the Expedient ability, which grants the Expedience and Desperate Measures buffs to all nearby party members for 20 seconds. Expedience boosts movement speed and Desperate Measures reduces incoming damage by 10%.

Patch 6.05 changes

• The range of Fey Union has been increased from 15 yalms to 30 yalms.
• The range which players must stay within Fey Union has been increased from 15 yalms to 30 yalms.

Patch 6.1 changes

• The MP cost for Ruin has been reduced from 400 to 300.
• The range from which party members can be targeted by Embrace has been increased.
• The MP cost for Bio has been reduced from 400 to 300.
• The MP cost for Bio II has been reduced from 400 to 300.
• The AOE radius of Sacred Soil has been increased from 8 yalms to 10 yalms.
• The effect duration of Expedient's Expedience effect has been reduced from 20 seconds to 10 seconds.

Patch 6.2 changes

• Embrace and Seraphic Veil no longer generate enmity.
• Fey Union no longer generates enmity when activating its HP restoration effects.

Sage

Patch 6.1 changes

• The MP cost for Dosis has been reduced from 400 to 300.
• Soteria now grants four stacks of the Soteria effect, and its effect potency of increasing Kardion's effects has been increased from 50% to 70%.
• The user now gains the maximum amount of Addersting stacks upon entering an instance or restarting an instance battle.

Patch 6.2 changes

• Kardia no longer generates enmity when activating its HP restoration effects.
• Holo has a new additional effect where it erects a magicked barrier that nullifies damage equal to the amount of HP restored with a duration of 30 seconds.

Patch 6.28 changes

• The damage potency of Phlegma III has been increased from 510 to 600.

What Job changes are you most excited for?

As you can see, there are a lot of changes to adapt to for your favorite Job in Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker. The rework to Summoners might be among the more intriguing Job changes. Being able to call summon and command the true forms of Ifrit, Titan, and Garuda on top of Demi-Bahamut and Demi-Phoenix looks and sounds truly epic. And it makes the Job's gameplay feel more faithful to the classic Summoner Class from previous Final Fantasy titles.

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker is now available for purchase on PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5, after initially launching on Dec. 7, 2021.

We wish to give a special shoutout to YouTubers Larryzaur, Mrhappy1227, and Shenpai for information regarding the Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker Job changes at the Endwalker Media Tour.

What you need to know

• Square Enix’s popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, has undergone a massive update with Patch 6.2.
• This patch includes new Main Scenario Quests, sidequests, revisions to old quests, the 2nd chapter of the Pandaemonium raid series, and the much-anticipated Island Sanctuary.
• The patch also stows bug fixes, new mounts, new minions, PVP balances, the returning Rival Wings PVP game mode, and more.

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, the latest expansion of Square Enix’s critically acclaimed MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV, has just received a monumental update in the form of Patch 6.2. This update brings a variety of new content for players to explore, including new quests, a raid, and the new Island Sanctuary, among other features.

Here are some of the major highlights you can expect in this update.

New and revamped quests 

The storyline of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker continues with new Main Scenario Quests, venturing into a ruined world known as the Void in search of Azdaja, the long-lost sister of one of your allies, Vrtra. It looks to be a perilous adventure featuring a new dungeon called The Fell Court of Troia, including battles with horrifying creatures and a Trial to overcome a new foe.

There will also be new sidequests in the "Tataru's Grand Endeavor" questline, where Tataru's business ventures will take her to the lands of Ishgard and have players reunite with old friends from Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward.

In addition to new quests, Patch 6.2 also revised several old quests. For example, the Steps of Faith Trial/Main Scenario Quest has been removed. It is now a single-player-only instance battle and drastically altered compared to its original incarnation.

The Duty Support feature has now been implemented into the following dungeons, so you can now tackle them by yourself with a party of NPCs, some of which are key figures in the main storyline:

A Realm Reborn: Snowcloak, The Keeper of the Lake

Heavensward: Sohm Al, The Aery, The Vault

These dungeons and the Thornmarch (Hard) Trial have also been adjusted to fit in line with the design sensibilities of modern expansions and to provide newer players with a smoother experience.

The Pandaemonium: Abyssos Raid

Patch 6.2 introduces the second chapter of the 8-man Pandaemonium Raid series, Pandaemonium: Abyssos. After restoring order to the first set of floors of Pandaemonium, the Warrior of Light descends deeper into the macabre prison to find out what has freed its imprisoned monsters and search for the missing wardens.

The Island Sanctuary

After much anticipation, Final Fantasy XIV’s Island Sanctuary feature has finally been added to the game. This is a side activity reminiscent of farming life simulators like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley. You can retreat to an island paradise, create your own farmland, and have all your minions frolic and run free in the gorgeous landscape.

New Unreal Trial: Containment Bay S1T7 (Unreal)

A new Unreal Trial has been prepared to challenge hardcore players in the form of Containment Bay S1T7 (Unreal). This Trial will pit you against Sephirot, a member of the Warring Triad bosses from Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward, that has returned stronger than ever to enact his vengeance. Do note that Containment Bay S1T7 (Unreal) will replace Ultima's Bane (Unreal).

PVP

The second series and third season of the Crystalline Conflict will begin, complete with new rewards to collect.

The Rival Wings PVP game mode will return with the Hidden Gorge campaign. There will also be PVP Job changes to accompany this mode which, according to the patch notes, are the following:

• Mount speed has been increased.
• The tank, monk, samurai, and reaper modifier for damage taken has been changed from -20% to -30%.
• The dragoon and ninja modifier for damage taken has been changed from -15% to -30%.
• The physical ranged DPS, healer, black mage, and summoner modifier for damage taken has been changed from -10% to -15%.
• The red mage modifier for damage taken has been changed from -10% to -15%.
• The potency of the Flying High status has been adjusted.
• The HP and actions of warmachina have been adjusted.
• The HP and actions of mammets, gobtanks, and goblin mercenaries have been adjusted.
• The HP of towers and cores has been adjusted.
• The actions of steam cannons have been adjusted.
• The potency of the HP over time effect granted by the Tower Defense effect has been adjusted.
• The damage over time effect of magitek fields has been adjusted.
• The damage threshold required to obtain goblin mercenaries has been adjusted.

In addition, there will also be PVP balance changes that will apply across all PVP game modes which according to the patch notes include:

• The effects of Heavy and Bind will now be applied more quickly.
• The grace period for executing combo actions has been increased from 10 seconds to 15 seconds.
• Warrior: The portion of damage absorbed as HP from Bloodwhetting has been increased from 75% to 100%.
• Gunbreaker: the recast timer for Draw and Junction has been reduced from 30 to 20 seconds.
• Monk: The time required to fill the limit gauge and activate Meteodrive has been increased.
• Dragoon: The portion of damage absorbed as HP from Chaotic Spring has been increased from 100% to 150%. The recast timer for Horrid Roar has been reduced from 30 to 25 seconds.
• Samurai: The recast timer for Hissatsu: Chiten has been reduced from 30 to 25 seconds.
• Ninja: The duration of Seiton Tenchu's effect "Unsealed Seiton Tenchu" is now reduced by 1 second each time it is applied to a target with a minimum duration of 4 seconds.
• Machinist: The additional damage dealt by Chain Saw when under the effects of Analysis has been reduced from 100% of target's HP to 95% of target's HP.
• Summoner: Slipstream now grants enhanced movement speed to party members standing within it.
• White Mage:  The damage potency of Afflatus Misery has been increased from 10,000 to 12,000. Aquaveil's barrier strength has been increased from a heal potency of 6,000 to 8,000. Miracle of Nature's range has been reduced from 25 to 15 yalms. Seraph Strike's damage potency has been increased from 6,000 to 8,000. Cure III's cure potency has been increased from 12,000 to 16,000.
• Scholar: Adloquium and Biolysis' increase to potency has been changed from 10% to 8%.
• Astrologian: The Ewer and The Spire have been removed and are replaced with two new abilities called The Bole and The Arrow. The Bole reduces damage taken by self or target and nearby party members by 10% for 15 seconds. The Arrow reduces weaponskill cast time and recast time, as well as spell cast time and recast time for self or target and nearby party members by 10%, while also increasing movement speed.

Miscellaneous additions

• The Adventure Plates feature where you can create and send out personalized calling cards of your character is now available.
• The glamour dresser can now fit up to 800 pieces of gear.
• New fashion accessories are available, complete with new special effects and actions for all accessories.
• New mounts, chocobo bardings, orchestration rolls, and minions have been added.
• New crafting recipes are available.
• Allagan Tomestones of Causality have been added.

Bug fixes

The following is a list of bugs that have been addressed in Patch 6.2, as stated in the patch notes:

• An issue when undertaking duties via Duty Support or the Trust system wherein NPCs in the healing role did not cast Esuna on themselves when afflicted with status ailments.
• An issue wherein chocobo companions were not recalled when their HP reached 0 under certain circumstances.
• An issue in the duties Alexander - The Burden of the Father (Savage) and Emanation wherein damage of certain attacks was not downscaled.
• An issue when playing as warrior in PvE wherein the action icons for Chaotic Cyclone and Inner Chaos were illuminated despite not being ready under certain conditions.
• An issue when playing as dragoon in PvE wherein the action Spineshatter Dive could not be executed after Dragonfire Dive under certain conditions.
• An issue when playing as Astrologian in PvE wherein the limit gauge did not fill when using the actions Lady of Crowns or Celestial Opposition on party members close to death.
• An issue when playing as Sage in PvE wherein queueing the action Zoe while casting Pneuma caused the effect of Zoe to be applied and immediately end when Pneuma was executed. * To address this issue, the character motions when executing Pneuma have also been adjusted.
• An issue when playing in PvP duties wherein party members under the effect of Hide cannot be targeted by actions executed via macros under certain conditions.
• An issue when playing as Paladin in PvP wherein the healing effect of Confiteor was affected by the opponent's status effects.
• An issue when playing in PvP duties wherein the counter effect of the Gunbreaker action Nebula and the Samurai action Hissatsu: Chiten was affected by the opponent's status effects.
• An issue when playing in PvP duties wherein the counter effect of the Gunbreaker action Nebula and the Samurai action Hissatsu: Chiten could not be triggered under certain conditions.
• An issue when playing in PvP duties wherein the additional damage of the Monk action Meteodrive was not reduced by barrier effects.
• An issue when playing in PvP duties wherein Dragoons under the effect of Sky High could still be afflicted with Heavy, Bind, or Half-asleep under certain conditions.
• An issue when playing as Ninja in PvP wherein the status effect Unsealed Seiton Tenchu could not be applied to opponents under certain conditions.
• An issue when playing as Ninja in PvP wherein the action Meisui was not affected by status effects that increase or decrease healing potency.
• An issue when playing as Black mage in PvP wherein the Heavy effect applied by the action Superflare could be overwritten by other Heavy effects with a shorter duration.
• An issue when playing as Black mage in PvP wherein using the action Paradox did not refresh the duration of Astral Warmth or Umbral Freeze applied to a target.
• An issue wherein certain PvP and PvE action text descriptions were incorrect. * The effects of these actions have not been changed.
• An issue wherein the graphics for a certain female Lalafell face type did not display correctly under certain conditions.
• An issue wherein the graphics of the Far Eastern Officer's Hat did not display correctly when worn by Au Ra characters.
• An issue wherein the graphics of certain gear did not display properly.
• An issue wherein certain indoor and outdoor furnishings were categorized incorrectly.
• An issue when viewing portraits wherein the visual effects of weapons were prioritized over character models. * As a result of addressing this issue, the camera for portraits will now appear slightly closer to character models, which may cause portraits created prior to Patch 6.2 to display incorrectly. Players who experience issues with camera positioning in their portraits will need to edit and readjust them.
• An issue when viewing portraits wherein characters' breathing is visible under certain conditions.
• An issue wherein the music played in certain residential areas is incorrect.
• An issue wherein certain active help descriptions were incorrect.
• Other minor text issues have also been addressed.

For more information regarding Patch 6.2 of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, check out the full patch notes on the Final Fantasy XIV Lodestone website.

What you need to know

• The Patch 6.15 update for popular MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker has gone live.
• This update includes several new sidequests including the Arkasodara Tribe Quests, Tataru's Grand Endeavor, Omega: Beyond the Rift, new custom delivery quests, and Somehow Further Hildibrand Adventures Quests.
• There are also PVP Job changes, bug fixes, new minions, and mounts included within Patch 6.15.

Square Enix continued to provide its best-selling MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, with a plentiful amount of post-launch content in its latest patch, Patch 6.15 today. In contrast to the previous update, Patch 6.11, which was focused on introducing the challenging multiplayer Ultimate Raid, Dragonsong's Reprise, Patch 6.15 is much more light-hearted in scope, implementing several new sidequests that are primarily narrative-focused and can be accomplished by solo players.

This update also includes minor player Jobs in PVP, new minions and mounts to collect, and several bug fixes.

New sidequests

Omega: Beyond the Rift — A post-game questline where you get to go on an adventure with Alpha and Omega, characters heavily involved in the story arc of Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood's Omega Raids.

Tataru's Grand Endeavor — This is a sidequest series starring Tataru, a longtime NPC ally who is requesting the aid of the Warrior of Light to help her fulfill her latest business ventures.

Somehow Further Hildibrand Adventures — A comedic storyline that continues the misadventures of fan-favorite inspector extraordinaire Hilidibrand Manderville and his assistant Nashu. Hildibrand Manderville and Nashu have been a part of Final Fantasy XIV since its launch in 2012 and have gotten all sorts of hijinks in nearly every expansion with the player along for the ride. 

Amelience Custom Deliveries — Custom Deliveries are Crafter- and Gatherer-focused quests where you scour the land for items and hand them over to specific clients for exclusive rewards. Endwalker's Custom Deliveries will have you completing requests for Amelience Leveilleur, the mother of Alisaie and Alphinaud Leveilleur.

Arkasodara Tribe Quests — Tribe Quests are Daily Quests that can only be completed a few times per day and are adjusted to the player's level beyond Level 80. The Tribal quests of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker will involve the Arkasodara, a race of peaceful humanoid elephants that reside on the continent of Thavnair. Completing Arkasodara Tribe quests will reward players with a miniature Arkasodara minion and a hippo mount that carries you around in a carriage.

PVP Job changes

Patch 6.15 will include minor Job changes for the Ninja and Black Mage player Jobs in PVP content such as the Crystalline Conflict and Frontlines.

Ninja

• The Hidden effect of Shukuchi will now end even when using Sprint.
• The base healing potency of Meisui has been reduced from 10,000 to 8,000.

Black Mage

• Paradox no longer has charges.
• The half-asleep effect of Night Wing no longer reduces the target's movement speed.
• Soul Resonance's damage reduction from its Apocatastasis effect has been decreased from 20% to 10%.

Bug fixes

The following is a list of bugs that have been fixed, according to the Patch 6.15 patch notes:

• An issue when undertaking the Myths of the Realm quest series wherein the symbols for Menphina and Halone in the Omphalos were incorrect.
• An issue wherein graphics did not display properly in certain areas.
• An issue wherein the cursor would reset to its default position each time a monk PvP action was set to the hotbar using a gamepad.
• An issue wherein the additional effect listed in the help text of the ninja PvP action Meisui was incorrect. * This issue did not affect the functionality of this action.
• An issue wherein effect duration listed in help text for the PvP red mage action Resolution was incorrect. * This issue did not affect the functionality of this action.
• An issue wherein Zodiac Weapons did not gain light upon completion of the Praetorium or the Minstrel's Ballad: Ultima's Bane.
• An issue wherein item level sync disabled itself upon entering the duty the Minstrel's Ballad: Ultima's Bane with Minimum IL enabled.
• An issue in Crystalline Conflict on the Cloud Nine map wherein the tactical crystal would travel in the wrong direction despite your team having control of it.
• An issue in Crystalline Conflict wherein teams were not declared the winner despite reaching 100% progress.
• An issue in Crystalline Conflict wherein matches that entered overtime mistakenly resulted in a draw under certain circumstances.
• An issue wherein the hot water and steam graphics of the Alpine Open-air Bath furnishing did not display correctly.
• An issue when summoning retainers wherein error messages for sale items would display even when retainers were not in possession of the indicated items.
• An issue wherein switching to a gear set linked to a portrait caused instant portraits to display default images under certain circumstances.
• An issue where company crests displayed in the portrait editing window.
• An issue wherein motions for the ninja PvP action Fleeting Raiju would not replay in the group pose mode.
• Other minor text issues have also been addressed.

Miscellaneous additions

• New Triple Triad cards to obtain and new Triple Triad NPCs to battle at the Manderville Gold Saucer.
• New orchestration rolls
• Furnishings from the FFXIV Furnishing Design Contest 2019 are now available to obtain.

What you need to know

• The popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, has just received a new update called Patch 6.11.
• Patch 6.11 includes the Dragonsong's Reprise, an Ultimate Raid where players will be tasked to take on a gauntlet of bosses from Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward.
• The update also includes various balance changes for player Jobs in both PvE and PvP content and various bug fixes.

Square Enix's popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV, has recently received the new Patch 6.11 update. This patch includes the highly anticipated Ultimate Raid titled Dragonsong's Reprise. Ultimate Raids (or simply known as Ultimates) are some of the most demanding and brutal post-game challenges in Final Fantasy XIV. They require a party of eight players to fight a gauntlet of numerous bosses they have encountered in previous expansions, but they have been completely remade with new mechanics and new forms to catch players off guard.

The Dragonsong's Reprisal in particular, has players fight several bosses from Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward. This includes the corrupt archbishop Thordan VII, his elite guard known as the Heavens' Ward, and a black dragon fueled by vengeance named Nidhogg. There is also Nidhogg's brother, the white dragon Hraesvelgr, who was an ally to the player in the main story of Heavensward. However, in this "What If" scenario, he's been forced to fight alongside his evil brother Nidhogg, as evidenced by the shackles located on his body.

Like previous Ultimates, if players manage to complete Dragonsong's Reprise, they will be rewarded with new Ultimate weapons. These extravagant weapons are not powerful, but they also prove that you managed to overcome the most challenging content in Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker and show the world you are one of the best players.

Patch 6.11 also includes balance changes to player Jobs for both PvE content and for the revamped PvP content like the new Crystalline Conflict mode. There are also a plethora of bug fixes implemented in this patch. The full changelog from the Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker Patch 6.11 patch notes regarding these changes are as follows:

Job changes in PvE

Gunbreaker

• Gnashing Fang — Potency has been increased from 360 to 380.
• Savage Claw — Potency has been increased from 440 to 460.
• Wicked Talon — Potency has been increased from 520 to 540.
• Jugular Rip — Potency has been increased from 180 to 200.
• Abdomen Tear — Potency has been increased from 220 to 240.
• Eye Gouge — Potency has been increased from 260 to 280.

Dragoon

• Jump — When Jump changes to Mirage Dive, there will now be a small input delay to prevent the unintended execution of Mirage Dive.
• High Jump — When High Jump changes to Mirage Dive, there will now be a small input delay to prevent the unintended execution of Mirage Dive.

Samurai

• Midare Setsugekka — Potency has been increased from 600 to 640.
• Kaeshi: Setsugekka — Potency has been increased from 600 to 640.
• Shoha — Potency has been increased from 500 to 520.

Machinist

• Wildfire — Potency increase per weaponskill landed has been increased from 200 to 220.

Job changes in PvP

Paladin

• Holy Sheltron — Reduction to damage taken has been changed from 10% to 20%.
• Atonement — Potency has been increased from 6,000 to 8,000.

Warrior

• Bloodwhetting — Damage converted into HP has been reduced from 100% to 75%. Barrier strength has been reduced from 20% to 10% of maximum HP.

Dark Knight

• Shadowbringer — Potency has been increased from 4,000 to 6,000.
• The Blackest Night — Recast time has been reduced from 20 to 15 seconds.

Gunbreaker

• Double Down — Potency has been increased from 10,000 to 12,000.
• Rough Divide — The additional effect "Increases movement speed" has been added.
• Draw and Junction — The status effects Junction Tank, Junction DPS, and Junction Healer no longer expire upon being incapacitated.
• Relentless Rush — Potency has been increased from 3,000 to 4,000. Increase to target's damage taken has been changed from 3% to 4%.
• Nebula — Effect duration has been increased from 6 to 10 seconds.
• Aurora — Potency has been increased from 6,000 to 8,000.

Monk

• Enlightenment — Additional damage from the Pressure Point effect has been increased from 8,000 to 12,000.

Ninja

• Bunshin — Effect duration has been increased from 15 to 30 seconds.

Samurai

• Hissatsu: Chiten — Reduction to damage taken has been changed from 50% to 25%.
• Mineuchi — Stun duration has been reduced from 3 to 2 seconds.

Reaper

• Arcane Crest — Barrier strength has been increased from a heal potency of 8,000 to 12,000. Cure potency from Crest of Time Returned effect has been increased from 4,000 to 6,000.
• Tenebrae Lemurum — Time required to fill the limit gauge to maximum has been reduced.

Bard

• Final Fantasia — Increase to damage dealt for nearby party members has been changed from 5% to 10%.

Machinist

• Scattergun — Potency has been increased from 4,000 to 6,000.
• Aether Mortar — Barrier strength has been increased from a heal potency of 2,000 to 4,000.

Dancer

• Starfall Dance — Potency has been increased from 8,000 to 10,000.
• Honing Dance — Potency has been increased from 2,000 to 3,000.
• Curing Waltz — Recast time has been reduced from 30 to 20 seconds.
• Saber Dance — Potency has been increased from 8,000 to 10,000.

Black Mage

• Fire — Potency has been increased from 3,000 to 4,000.
• Blizzard — Potency has been increased from 3,000 to 4,000.
• Night Wing — Potency of additional damage dealt to enemies under the effect of sleep has been increased from 6,000 to 8,000.
• Superflare — Targets within the radius of the attack will now be afflicted with the effects of this action even when the caster does not have direct line of sight.
• Flare — Potency has been increased from 6,000 to 8,000.
• Freeze — Potency has been increased from 6,000 to 8,000.
• Soul Resonance — Effect duration of Polyglot has been increased from 30 to 60 seconds.

Red Mage

• Enchanted Riposte — Damage over time potency while under the effect of Black Shift has been reduced from 4,000 to 3,000.
• Enchanted Zwerchhau — Damage over time potency while under the effect of Black Shift has been reduced from 4,000 to 3,000.
• Enchanted Redoublement — Damage over time potency while under the effect of Black Shift has been reduced from 4,000 to 3,000.
• Resolution — Silence duration while under the effect of White Shift has been reduced from 3 to 2 seconds.

White Mage

• Afflatus Misery — Potency has been reduced from 12,000 to 10,000.
• Afflatus Purgation — Stun duration has been reduced from 3 to 2 seconds.

Scholar

• Adloquium — Effect duration of damage increase has been changed from 10 to 15 seconds.
• Biolysis — Effect duration of reduced damage dealt has been changed from 10 to 15 seconds.

Astrologian

• Macrocosmos — Potency has been increased from 8,000 to 12,000.

Bugs that have been fixed

• An issue wherein players could not advance the healer role quest "A New Battleground" under certain conditions.
• An issue when using the monk PvP action Enlightenment wherein enemies afflicted with the Pressure Point status effect did not take additional damage from the monk who applied it.
• An issue when multiple bards are in a party wherein the PvE action the Wanderer's Minuet would change to Pitch Perfect when another bard in the party executed the Wanderer's Minuet.
• An issue wherein execution of the bard PvP action Powerful Shot rendered the user unable to run under certain conditions (PlayStation 4).
• An issue wherein the description for the machinist PvE action Queen Overdrive was incorrect.
• An issue wherein the machinist PvP action Wildfire counted the damage over time effect of Bioblaster as attack actions required for detonation.
• An issue wherein the machinist PvP action Wildfire dealt more damage than intended under certain conditions.
• An issue during Crystalline Conflict matches wherein certain ground targeted actions were canceled when under the effect of the white mage PvP action Miracle of Nature.
• An issue wherein the white mage PvP action Cure II had no recast time under certain conditions.
• An issue wherein the conjurer/white mage PvE action Aero II base potency and damage over time potency were set higher than intended.
• An issue during Crystalline Conflict matches wherein the Kardia and Kardion effects granted by the sage PvP action Kardia were dispelled when incapacitated.
• An issue wherein execution of the PvP action Guard together with other damage reducing actions prevented all incoming damage.
• An issue during Frontline campaigns wherein the increased movement speed effect of certain actions could also be applied when riding a mount.
• An issue wherein the gunbreaker, dancer, reaper, and sage weapons newly added to the trial the Minstrel's Ballad: Thordan's Reign could not be purchased in exchange for Heavens' Ward Helm Fragments.
• An issue wherein the secondary attributes of Panthean gear obtained from the alliance raid Aglaia were incorrect.
• An issue wherein the secondary attributes of augmented classical gear obtained in exchange for crafted item level 580 gear were incorrect.
• An issue wherein dyeing the head gear Replica Dreadwyrm Barbut of Maiming had no effect on its coloring.
• An issue when playing as a Viera male wherein the /visor command could not be used when equipping Endless Summer Glasses.
• An issue when using the market board wherein enabling the Unobtained/Unregistered Only filter, purchasing an item, then viewing the listing for said item displayed an incorrect number of items for sale.

Do you have what it takes to conquer the Dragonsong's Reprise Ultimate in one of the best PC multiplayer games? Grab your friends, form a party, and challenge Thordan and Nidhogg once more to find out.

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.

What you need to know

• The first major post-launch update of Square Enix's popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker has been released.
• This update contains tons of new content like new quests, a new raid, a PVP mode, job changes, etc.
• This update is also revamping dungeons from previous expansions and implementing a system that will allow you to challenge them with a party of NPCs.

In February 2022, Square Enix revealed the roadmap for Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, the latest for their popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV. The roadmap involved plans of implementing new content and updating older content from Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. The first major update of this roadmap, Patch 6.1 "Newfound Adventure," has now been released for subscribers to download.

Patch 6.1 contains a mountain of new content for returning players, including new quests, dungeons, trials, a new raid, new mounts, new Job changes, and so much more. There are also reworks to the PvP game modes and a new system where players can bring NPCs along to tackle PvE duties from previous expansions. Here are some of the biggest highlights you can expect to find in Patch 6.1

New Quests

Patch 6.1 will feature new Main Scenario Quests that take place after the events of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker. After saving the world from an apocalyptic event known as the "Final Days," the Warrior of Light (aka the player's character) returns to their roots to embark on a new journey as a simple adventurer.

There will also be new Role Quests to complete, and all of Endwalker's Main Scenario Quests and Role Quests will be added to the New Game Plus mode.

The Ameliance custom delivery quests, Arkasodara sidequests, Tataru's Grand Endeavor sidequests, and the Somehow Further Hildibrand Adventures sidequests are scheduled to be implemented in Patch 6.15.

Myths of the Realm Alliance Raid

The first installment of the Myths of the Realm 24-man Alliance Raid series, titled "Aglaia," will debut in Patch 6.1. This raid will take players on an adventure where they will discover the truth behind Eorzea's mythical gods, collectively known as "The Twelve."

New Trials

There will be two new challenging Trials to undertake in Patch 6.1. These are the Minstrel's Balled: Endsinger's Aria, where you must defeat a far more dangerous version of the Endsinger, the physical embodiment of despair. And Ultima's Bane (Unreal), where you must fight the Ultima Weapon from A Realm Reborn, but this time its power has been upgraded to match the full might of the Warrior of Light.

The Ultimate Trial "Dragonsong's Reprise" is scheduled to be implemented in Patch 6.11.

New PvP mode: Crystalline Conflict

There will be a new PvP game mode called Crystalline Conflict in Patch 6.1. This game mode involves two teams of five players fighting for control of a crystal, and the goal is to move it toward their enemy's goalpost within the time limit to win.

However, gaining control of the crystal will be no simple task. There are three maps where you can play Crystalline Conflict, and each of them features environmental traps and items that can turn the tide of battle. In addition, players will gain access to new PvP-exclusive Job abilities and Limit Breaks they can use to fight back against the enemy team.

New PvP reward system

Patch 6.1 will feature a new PvP reward system that will be applied to all PvP game modes called Series Malmstones. This system will reward players who participate in PvP games during a "Series," which is the length of time between major patch updates (e.g., Series 1 will last from Patch 6.1 to Patch 6.2).

Every time you play PvP, you will gain EXP towards earning a Series Level, and every level will gift you with various rewards like items, armor, and more. The rewards also include Trophy Crystals, a new form of currency that can be exchanged for items.

The GARO collaboration has returned

To top off all the updates for PvP, Patch 6.1 will be bringing back the PvP-exclusive GARO collaboration armor sets and mounts. These items are based on GARO, a popular TV show in Japan that tells the story of warriors called "Makai Knights," protecting humanity from terrifying monsters known as "Horrors."

These items were created as part of a collaboration between Final Fantasy XIV and GARO back in Patch 5.1 of Shadowbringers for a limited time. By popular demand, they will return in Patch 6.1 for new players who missed out on them the first time and old players looking to complete their GARO item collection.

New residential district: Empyreum

After many years of hard work, Ishgard's Firmament has been restored with new facilities and has opened a new residential district called the Empyreum. Players can buy new plots of land in this district through a lottery system during the first round of sales. So, if you ever wanted to own a house within the marvelous, snow-covered architecture of Ishgard, now is your chance.

Duty Support

Patch 6.1 will introduce a new system called Duty Support, and it will allow players to tackle main scenario duties solo with a party of NPC allies. As of this update, this system will support the main scenario duties of A Realm Reborn, Shadowbringers, and Endwalker. In future updates, Duty Support will be implemented for duties found within A Realm Reborn's 2.x patches, Heavensward, and Stormblood.

Revamped Realm Reborn content

New dungeons, trials, and raids aren't the only highlight of this update. Patch 6.1 will also be revamping the old dungeons, trials, and quest duties of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.

For example, "Cape Westwind, " initially an 8-man Trial, has been changed into a main scenario quest instanced boss fight that players will have to overcome solo. Another significant change is that the battle with Ultima Weapon at the end of "The Praetorium" dungeon has been removed and made into a separate Trial named "The Porta Decumana."

Miscellaneous

• The Adventurer Plates is a new system where you can create a personalized calling card of your player character and show them off to other players.
• The Unending Codex is a new compendium containing crucial information on Final Fantasy XIV's characters, in-game terminology, and lore. The Unending Codex will be unlocked as you progress through Patch 6.1's new main scenario quests, and new entries will be made available as you advance further into the story.
• There will be a feature called Dreamfitting, and it will allow players to try on outfits, items, and accessories from the FFXIV Online Store before purchasing them.
• Every Job will be receiving new changes to their PvE abilities.
• There will be new mounts, minions, emotes, fashion accessories, Chocobo bardings, hairstyles for the Hrothgar and Viera races, bug fixes, and more in Patch 6.1.

New adventures await you

Needless to say, there is a lot of content in store for returning players coming in Patch 6.1 and beyond. And we haven't even mentioned all the smaller quality-of-life improvements coming in this update. If you wish to peruse through minute detail, the lengthy patch notes for Patch 6.1 are available on the Final Fantasy XIV Lodestone website.

The developers are going beyond the call of duty in this patch. Not only are they creating a plethora of new content, but they are going back and updating old content so that it stays relevant for new players and veterans alike. This is one of the reasons Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker is one of the best PC multiplayer games and how it became the most profitable entry in the Final Fantasy franchise.

What you need to know

• Square Enix has announced a new security process for their MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV.
• Starting this early March, Steam players will be required to link their Steam account to a Square Enix account in order to play the game.

To bolster their ongoing efforts to protect consumers from online fraud and hackers, Square Enix has recently announced a new security precaution for the critically acclaimed MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV), specifically the Steam version. Starting from early March, players who play FFXIV via Steam will need to link their accounts to their Square Enix accounts.

This process is done by performing a one-time link between the user's Steam and Square Enix when they launch Final Fantasy XIV from their Steam library. To link accounts, the user's Steam account must contain a Final Fantasy XIV license that matches the one found in their Square Enix account, whether its the Free Trial version ot the full game.

They can check the verification of their FFXIV licenses by logging onto the Mog Station website and selecting the "Service Account Status" menu to see if the "(Steam)" notation is there for Steam users. They can also verify the licenses on their Steam account by clicking on their Steam display name, selecting the "Account details" option, and click on "View licenses and product key activations", which is found under "Store & Purchase History".

Once the account link is complete, players will need to use the new launcher layout introduced in Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker. If players are using the original launcher layout, they will need to switch the new one by using the launcher's Config menu. If a Steam player no longer has a Final Fantasy XIV license or cannot access their Steam account, they will need to contact Steam directly for support.

We will likely hear more details on this new security feature later this month when Square Enix airs the next Letter from the Producer livestream on Feb. 18, along with news on the upcoming Patch 6.1.

What you need to know

• The "Letter from the Producer" is a Final Fantasy XIV-centric news livestream hosted by game director and producer Naoki Yoshida.
• This livestream provides news updates on Square Enix's popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV, and showcases previews of upcoming content for the game.
• Square Enix has announced the next Letter From the Producer livestream will be broadcast on YouTube, Niconico, and Twitch on Feb 19, 2022.

A few weeks ago, Final Fantasy XIV game director, Naoki Yoshida, stated that the next news update live stream for Square Enix's critically-acclaimed MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV, will arrive sometime in February. Square Enix has now confirmed a slated date and time for the broadcast, with the next Letter from the Producer livestream scheduled for Feb 18, 2022 at 6 p.m. (PST) / Feb 18, 2022 at 9 p.m. (ET) / Feb. 19, 2022 at 2 a.m. (GMT) / Feb 19, 2022 at 1 p.m. (AEDT). The broadcast will air on Final Fantasy XIV's official YouTube, Niconico, and Twitch channels, complete with live interpretations between Japanese to English.

The Letter from the Producer is a video podcast where the developers of Final Fantasy XIV announce news for the MMORPG, show off previews of future content updates, and acknowledge feedback from fans. According to Square Enix, this episode promises to discuss plans for the next ten years of Final Fantasy XIV and host a Q&A session where they will answer questions from the FFXIV forums regarding Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker.

What burning questions from the fanbase will Naoki Yoshida and his team have to answer and will there be any sneak peeks at Endwalker's upcoming Patch 6.1 update during this live stream, such as the next part of the Pandaemonium Raid? We'll find out later this month as the next big chapter of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker fast approaches.

What you need to know

• Square Enix's popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker has received the new 6.08 patch update.
• This update contains numerous damage potency increases to various player Jobs and a slight adjustment to the Dragoon Job.
• The Oceania Data Center and its servers are also now operational for players to create their characters on and ensure stable play for players living in places like Australia and New Zealand.
• FFXIV has also recently gone back on sale, after being delisted to ease server congestion.

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, the latest iteration of Square Enix's well-received MMORPG, received a new the patch 6.08 update on Tuesday. According to Square Enix, this update brings bug fixes, adjustments to several player Jobs and marks the grand opening of the Oceania Data Center, along with its new servers.

The changes to player Jobs are mainly damage potency increases for some attacks. The Paladin, Marauder/Warrior, Monk, Dragoon, Rogue/Ninja, Samurai, Machinist, Dancer, Thaumaturge/Black Mage, and Summoner Jobs have received these buffs. However, the Dragoon Job also got a slight rework to one of its abilities, Dragon Sight, to increase its range to 30 yalms. Also, the targeted ally no longer needs to stay within 12 yalms to receive its effects, and the channeling animation for the ability has been removed.

The most significant addition is the launch of the Oceania Data Center. The Oceania Data Center has one Logical Data Server called "Materia" and it houses five new servers (a.k.a Worlds) named after the Primals of FFXIV: Heavensward — Bismarck, Ravana, Sephirot, Sophia, and Zurvan. These new servers promise to provide players living in the Oceania region, such as Australia and New Zealand, more stable connectivity and reduce latency issues, although we'll see if it'll help with ongoing server congestion issues that have plagued the title since it launched in December.

As a bonus, when transferring or creating a character on a server classified as a "New World," players will receive various rewards, including double EXP gains up until Lv. 80, free Home World Transfer services, and special Chocobo Feathers that can be traded in for rare items such as mounts. More details regarding these rewards can be found on the FFXIV website. Note that the Home World Transfer service that allows you to transfer characters will resume operations on Jan 26, as stated by Square Enix earlier this month.

FFXIV has recently begun selling again on Steam, leading to fresh "congestion" issues on its server pages, which could lead to it being removed from sale once more, but we'll have to wait and see.

What you need to know

• Naoki Yoshida, the game director and producer of Final Fantasy XIV has announced new pieces of information for Square Enix's MMORPG.
• There will be a live stream in February detailing future content for FFXIV: Endwalker and Square Enix will show a preview of Patch 6.1 in March.
• Yoshida also says that he intends to work on Final Fantasy XIV for another 10 years.

After a taking part in Square Enix's annual livestream of playing Mahjong with fellow developers and voice actors for the popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV, its game director and producer Naoki Yoshida (a.k.a. "Yoshi-P") had a few announcements to make. From this previous live stream (translated by reddit), Yoshida has announced that there will be a "special edition" Live Letter from the Producer stream in February. It will contain information regarding the post-launch content roadmap for FFXIV's latest expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker and the future for Square Enix's beloved MMORPG as a whole.

Yoshida then mentions that Square Enix will showcase a preview of Patch 6.1's content for Endwalker In March. The only piece of content that has been revealed for Patch 6.1 so far is that the Data Center Travel System will be implemented into the game as part of their plans to migitate server congestion. He also brings up that the upcoming Patch 6.08 will mostly feature numerical adjustments to player Jobs and that more major Jobs changes will be arriving in Patch 6.1.

Moving on from major announcements, Yoshida states that he's in good health and is willing to continue working on Final Fantasy XIV for another 10 years. Yoshida started working on Final Fantasy XIV all the way back in 2010 to help the, at the time, struggling MMORPG get back on track after a disasterous launch. Over the next decade, Yoshida and his team of development were able to help elevate Final Fantasy XIV into becoming the most profitable entry in the entire Final Fantasy franchise and one of the best multiplayer games on PC.

Will Patch 6.1 contain the next part of the 8-man Pandaemonium Raid, more job changes, more sidequests or even the first part of the 24-man Alliance Raid "Myths of the Realm"? Find out in February and March as we continue to provide news updates on Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker.

Last month, I began my journey through Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, the latest expansion of Square's Enix popular MMORPG. This expansion is the climactic finale of the Hydaelyn Vs. Zodiark saga that has been waging for ten years. It features a new race to play as (the male Viera), new Jobs, significant changes to existing Jobs, and more.

My early impressions of Endwalker were positive. The story's premise had me hooked, the new Reaper Job was a blast to play and the changes to Warrior and the Summoner Jobs made them more fun to play. Since then, I have completed the main storyline quests, delved into post-game content, and experimented with more job changes.

How does Endwalker fare a month after its release, and should you play Final Fantasy XIV in 2022? Let us find the answer together. This is our review of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker on PC.

Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker: Graphics, Sound and Performance

Let's start by discussing Endwalker's visuals and art. Square Enix games are known for putting in major effort towards the presentation of its games, and Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker is no different.

This game features a variety of unique locales you will explore over the course of your adventure. These include the idyllic, isolationist nation of Sharlayan, the war-torn winter fields of Garlemald, the cold, barren surface of the moon, and beyond. Every biome is rich with detail and atmosphere that is on par with modern games despite running on a game engine that is 10 years old now. The same could be said for the new dungeons you will be fighting in. Without going into spoilers, the new dungeons in Endwalker contain some of the most cinematic, beautiful (and sometimes disturbing) backdrops to date in Final Fantasy XIV.

The game's character designs are also top-notch. Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker's character designs manage to strike a solid balance between detailed realism and high-concept fantasy without coming across as jarring. Not to mention, the new armor sets you can acquire for your character are oozing with so much detail and personality, you'll feel good simply wearing them, even before considering the stats.

And what Final Fantasy game's presentation would be complete without a memorable soundtrack? Every expansion of Final Fantasy XIV features an incredible score that remixes classic tunes from the Final Fantasy franchise while creating whole new tracks that stand on their own merit. Endwalker's musical treatment continues that pedigree with some of the best overtures I've heard in a Final Fantasy game in years.

The new battle music for the dungeons and raids heightens the tension with bombastic orchestral scores and rock tunes that conveys the feeling that this could be your final battle. And when the story slows down for character development and plot revelations, the soundtrack cuts deep into your heartstrings with emotional melodies that will paint past expansions in a new light. Plus, there are soft, atmospheric hooks for when you are exploring new areas to get you immersed in the setting.

To round out Endwalker's presentation would be the sound design. The attacks for the new player Jobs have crisp and impactful effects that make them feel powerful and satisfying to use. And when enemies use their attacks on you, you really feel it as the crunching, and otherworldly distorted sounds cut deep.

The voice acting is also well-done as everyone brings their A-game in Endwalker. Backed up by a strong script filled with memorable lines, the actors give it all their all to add pathos and personality to characters they have been voicing for years.

As far as performance goes on the PC version, on my rig, it maintains a smooth 60fps frame rate with a 1080p resolution even in more intensive battles. My modest PC sports an Intel Core i5-9400 CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU, and makes short work of FFXIV, which has enjoyed ongoing optimizations over the years. This MMORPG is over ten years old, so you won't need to track down the latest, cutting-edge graphics card or processor to experience Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker at its optimal performance.

The only issue I have with Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker's presentation is a problem that's been a part of Final Fantasy XIV since day one — the color contrast. A lot of the areas in Final Fantasy XIV have a washed-out colour palette which makes exploring them feel a little dull at times. Granted the desaturated color scheme makes sense for some areas like the bureaucratic nation of Sharlayan and Endwalker's later areas do have brighter and more vibrant contrasts. Still, I wish there was an option in the graphics settings to increase the contrast to brighten up some areas. Players have actually built mods specifically to address this, but it would be nice if Square Enix provided options themselves.

Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker: Story

The story of Final Fantasy XIV has you assume the role of the Warrior of Light, a hero chosen by the Goddess of Light, Hydaelyn to defend the world from the forces of Darkness. Throughout your career, you have saved the world from tyrannical empires, rampaging demi-gods, and evil conspirators, among others. Now, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker pits you up against your greatest challenge yet — "The Final Days."

"The Final Days" is a cataclysm that almost destroyed the world eons ago and two villains are attempting to recreate it. Zenos, the bloodthirsty prince of the Garlean Empire who desires a rematch with you after his defeat at the end of Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood. And his cohort, Fandanial, a mad Ascian (villains who have plagued FFXIV since A Realm Reborn) who desires the end of the world.

As the Warrior of Light, it is your mission to defeat these foes, discover the truth behind "The Final Days," and prevent it from happening again. However, the plot starts relatively calm, all things considered, as it sets up the new areas and characters you will frequently revisit. Once the stage has been set, the plot becomes a rollercoaster of emotions and high stakes. It careens back and forth between methodical world-building and character introspection to action-packed set-pieces that had me on the edge of my seat.

Without going into spoiler territory, the story gradually builds to an epic climax of biblical proportions. Fan-favorite characters get a chance to show off how far they have grown. Questions that have been on the backs of fans' minds for years finally get answered. Endwalker explores themes of nihilism and finding the will to live in the face of world-ending despair.

My only major problem is with Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker's narrative is with one of the main villains, Zenos. Zenos was criticized in Stormblood for being a simplistic warmonger who kills for fun and, without revealing spoilery details, that sadly doesn't change much in Endwalker.

His single-minded obsession with fighting the main hero at the expense of the world gets old after a while, and it isn't as interesting compared to the madness of his partner-in-war crimes, Fandaniel. Fandaniel is a fantastic villain that commits atrocities with such maniacal and sadistic glee, that I couldn't help but be entertained by it. Not to mention, Fandaniel has tons of intriguing character development devoted to the mechanics of his insanity. By the time I learned all there was to know about him, I both pitied and despised Fandaniel and was fully motivated to lay all his plans to ruin.

That isn't to say Zeno was a bad villain. He does get some character growth and a few great moments that got under my skin. It's just unfortunate that Fandaniel stole the show and screentime that could've delved into Zeno's backstory — which to this day is only available through a book compilation of short stories called Final Fantasy XIV: Chronicles of Light, not the the game itself. As it stands, despite being built up as our hero's evil counterpart for years, Zenos still feels too underdeveloped to earn that right.

There are also some points in the story that I won't spoil that drag out for too long. I understand that these moments of downtime are needed to give the players a much-needed break after a climactic showdown. Yet, given the gravity of the situation, it would've helped the pacing if we could've sped these plot points along.

Nonetheless, these sticking points don't detract from the rest of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker's well-written story. It was a fun, heart-breaking, cathartic, and satisfying send-off to a storyline ten years in the making. Even the world-building had me intrigued enough to explore some of the optional side quests to find more lore about the new areas despite offering little experience points. That's a sign of a good story if I went out of my way to engage in the side-content out of curiosity instead of necessity.

Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker: Gameplay

The gameplay structure of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker follows the same routine as its predecessors. You progress through the story and unlock content by completing Main Scenario Quests and Role Quests. There are side quests between these Main Scenario Quests to complete, aether currents to attune to so you can fly with your mount, optional world events called "FATES," which offer experience points to level up your character and much more.

At specific points in the Main Scenario Quests, you will have to form a party with other players using the matchmaking systems known as the Duty Finder or Party Finder and fight through dungeons populated with hordes of enemies and bosses. On top of that, you will undertake Trials that involve joining a party of eight players to take on a massive boss with multiple phases. You can also tackle a few dungeons solo with NPC allies using the Trust system.

I enjoyed the gameplay of the main questline just as much as the story. The dungeons and Trials of Endwalker are an excellent culmination of every mechanic, and gimmick players have weathered throughout all the expansions. At the same time, FFXIV Endwalker tosses in new attacks to catch long-time players unawares.

The boss fights are particularly challenging in this regard. They will toss out tons of aoe (area of effect) attacks down on your friends, obfuscate their senses with status effects, and unleash mighty spells that can break the laws of physics. Learning how each boss fight works and determining which attacks are best avoided or mitigated to save the party feels rewarding for my efforts. Like a choreographed fight scene in a movie where if you follow the script to the letter, the scene in question can be majestic spectacle for both players and viewers watching online.

The Main Scenario Quests also feature some interesting quests to break the routine of Dungeons and Trials. Without getting into nitty, gritty spoilers, these include special solo dungeons where you have to fight unique bosses and enemies alongside NPCs. And some main quests are semi-escort missions where you must take NPCs on tours around hub areas.

These were fun missions that added variety to the main questline. Even the semi-escort missions were engaging, given that some of them aren't about protecting NPCs from enemies. They're more reminiscent of early Final Fantasy games where party members follow you around a town and offer extra character moments and lore when you interact with the environment.

However, there is one issue I had with the structure of the game. Remember when I said earlier that I enjoyed doing the side quests despite offering little experience points? Well, it doesn't change the fact that these quests offer little tangible rewards to warrant investment from most players. The EXP needed to level up beyond Lv.80 is in the million digits and sidequests barely offer a tenth of that. Running through a dungeon once was enough to level my character much faster than clearing out two areas worth of sidequests. There's a balance issue with regards to the value offered by questing when compared with other activities.

The only sidequests worth doing from a pure gameplay perspective are those that unlock new content, such as the Raids or Role Quests for example. It's a shame the regular sidequests offer little gameplay benefits to the player because they contain interesting side stories and lore about the world. If these quests rewarded more exp or other rewards, it could incentivize more players to pursue them. This way, they get more immersed in the story and have a good alternative way of leveling up their characters if they don't feel like queuing up for a dungeon/trial/raid or if the queue is taking too long.

Jobs

To help you overcome the new dungeons, Raids, and Trials of Endwalker, every Job (the character classes of Final Fantasy XIV) has been given new abilities and updates to old ones. There are also two Jobs to play as — the scythe-wielding Reaper and the laser-blasting Sage.

The new Reaper Job was a major highlight of my time in Endwalker. This is a DPS Job ("damage per second" for short, Jobs that focus on dealing damage) that summons an ominous creature known as a Voidsent Avatar to fight alongside you in battle. You mix scythe attack combos with attacks from the Voidsent Avatar to deal massive damage to the enemy.

At higher levels, you gain the ability to fuse together with your demonic companion to become Death itself. In this form, you can reap a whirlwind of destruction with enhanced scythe attacks and volatile dark magic. I absolutely adored playing as a Reaper. The multitude of attacks at your disposal coupled with mobility and party enhancing abilities made me feel like I was playing an action game half the time.

While I haven't been able to experience every Job change personally, the ones I have, for the most part, have made some Jobs more fun and accessible than before. For example, the Warrior Job has received new health regeneration and damage mitigation abilities so potent that they feel like a nigh-immortal berserker, and I love it. The quality-of-life improvements such as ranged attacks no longer breaking melee combos (which applies for all melee Jobs) and applying my attack buffs during crowd-focused melee combos immensely improved the flow of combat. And with the new brutal attacks learned at max level, Endwalker has sealed the deal on making Warrior my new favorite tank Job in Final Fantasy XIV.

The Summoner Job meanwhile has been reworked from the ground up to function more like a traditional Summoner from older Final Fantasy games. All of its damage-over-time spells and pets-based actions have been replaced with new attacks where you summon Ifrit, Titan, and Garuda in between summoning Demi-Bahumut and Demi-Phoenix to unleash explosive magic attacks. And at higher levels, you will be able to perform new attacks based on which creature you summoned. Even Carbuncle, your very first summon, has been given new utility abilities to assist the party with defense and attack buffs.

Endwalker's changes to Summoner have made this Job faster-paced and more mobile than the previous version. Not to mention, Summoner is more versatile in that it can choose which of three elemental summon spells in any order appropriate for the situation. Ifrit's spells for big damaging spells with long cast times, instant-cast Titan spells to keep attacking while avoid getting hit, and AoE (area of effect) Garuda spells for crowd control. You can even store these spells for moments when a boss has left the arena and use them when they come back, so your tools aren't wasted.

When I first played Summoner months before Endwalker's release, I thought it was slow and awkward. Having to constantly maintain damage-over-time effects and commanding my pet to get in position to deal damage was tedious work. Now, I'm having the time of my life blasting enemies to bits with my squadron of summons and I can't wait to reach to max level to be able to summon Ifrit, Titan and Garuda in their true Primal forms.

However there is one Job I have played that I feel the changes could use more fine-tuning — Monk. Monk has been given the Masterful Blitz ability, allowing them to perform powerful fighting techniques after completing melee combos under the effects of the Perfect Balance ability. I was intrigued at first because Masterful Blitz feels like a call-back to the Blitz mechanic used by Sabin from Final Fantasy VI on the Super Nintendo.

However, once the initial hype faded, I noticed this change made Monk too simplified for its own good. Namely, nearly all of Monk's Off-Global Cooldown attacks (Tornado Kick and Elixer Field for example) are now locked behind Masterful Blitz. For those unaware, in many MMORPGs, abilities often have two kinds of recharge timers — the Global Cooldown (or GCD for short) is a recharge timer shared amongst all abilities that have it. And the Off Global Cooldown (or OGCDs for short), is a timer that is only tied to one specific ability unless it specifically says it is shared with another.

Using OGCD abilities in between GCD abilities adds extra spice to the combat system and makes some Jobs exciting to play such as Reaper, which has a ton of OGCDs to use. Monk in Final Fantasy XIV on the other hand, is a Job that has always been been focused more on fast recharging GCDs melee combos with having a couple of OGCD attacks to mix things up. But now, they have been stripped of nearly all of them (except the ones related to the Chakra Gauge).

Having to wait 40 seconds after using both Perfect Balance charges and doing the required GCD melee combos to activate Masterful Blitz in order to use attacks that were once used freely in previous expansions makes Monk feel clunky and slow. It's like the equivalent of playing a beat 'em up but you're not allowed to use your regular heavy attacks in combination with light attacks unless the game says you can. If Monk had more OGCD attacks to mix in between the moments when you're waiting to use Masterful Blitz again, it would make the Job feel more exciting. In a way, it feels like Monk has stepped backward, rather than forwards in Endwalker.

Endgame

Once you have completed the Main Scenario Quests, a whole new world of content is waiting for you. These include Pandaemonium, an 8-man Raid series where you explore the depths of a gothic dungeon filled with magical experiments gone hideously wrong. The Excitatron 6000, a luck-based dungeon where you get to fight enemies with random modifiers in a bid to win special prizes. High-level gear to obtain from the new Allagan Tomestones of Aphorism and Astronomy currency. And a plethora of new mounts, minions, crafting materials, and housing items to collect, amongst others.

For those looking for a challenge, there's the Savage Raids and Extreme Trials. These are harder versions of Raids and Trials intended to push hardcore MMO players to their limits. The bosses in these modes hit harder, most of their regular attacks have indicators removed, and will feature brand new attacks and even new phases to the fight.

And if that's not enough, there will be even more content coming soon for Endwalker. Such as Myths of the Realm, a 24-man Alliance Raid series that will involve the patron gods of Eorzea known as the Twelve. There will also be more player Job adjustments, new dungeons, new storylines, and so much more. So, this game has no shortage of endgame content to keep subscribers playing long after completing the main story.

However, there is a caveat to some of the endgame content. There is a weekly limit on how many Tomestones of Astronomy you can acquire. And the tokens you acquire from the Pandaemonium Raid (both normal and Savage modes) that you need to trade for gear are limited to one token from each floor, per week. The Treasure Coffers that reward high-level gear in the Savage Raids can be obtained as many times as you want to depend on how many players there are in the party who haven't done them yet before the weekly reset.

Time gating is a double-edged sword, and hard to balance in MMOs. While it does artificially slow the pace of progression down, which may be frustrating for some players, it also allows more casual players to keep up with the pace of gearing. It contributes to a more level playing field in terms of gear power levels for postgame content, so no one gets left behind — at least in theory. Also, the gear will be made readily through other means in future patches once new raids get added into the game. Thankfully, there's a decent amount of content outside of raids even after you hit the weekly caps.

Final thoughts

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker was an amazing game filled with laughs, tragedy, triumphs, and ultimately, closure. It had an engaging story, tight gameplay, and a gargantuan amount of worthwhile content to keep players coming back for more. It has problems for sure but compared to the number of positives this game has, they're minor speedbumps in an otherwise fantastic adventure.

If you're a fan of MMORPGs or Final Fantasy fan looking for a good story and fun gameplay, then Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker is for you. And if you are a returning player of Final Fantasy XIV, then you will be in an epic welcoming home party.

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker is now available on PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. Not only has Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker secured Final Fantasy XIV's place as one of the best multiplayer games on PC, but it has also cemented itself as one of my favorite Final Fantasy games of all time.

What you need to know

• Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker is the newest expansion to Square Enix's popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV.
• Square Enix has announced that they plan to introduce new servers to the game over the course of 2022 and into 2023.
• It has also been announced that digital sales of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker are scheduled to resume on Jan. 25, 2022.

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, the latest expansion to Square Enix's critically acclaimed MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV, has been through difficult times when it launched on Dec. 7, 2021. The game's servers endured player congestion so massive that Square Enix had to suspend Endwalker's digital sales on Dec. 15, 2021, to keep player log-in queues and server stability under control. This is due to the wave of new players migrating to FFXIV during the summer of 2021, the launch of the new expansion, and the global shortage of semi-conductors needed to create new servers to accommodate these players.

Today, Square Enix has released a news post on the official Final Fantasy XIV website, announcing their plans on improving the game's online services. The first announcement is that the new Oceanian Data Center will be brought online on Jan. 25, 2022. This Data Center will contain five servers (or Worlds as FFXIV calls them) to provide enough space for people living in the Oceania region to transfer to. As a bonus, Square Enix will be waiving the transfer fee players can migrate to the new servers for free. More details on how this free transfer will work will be revealed at a later date.

The next announcement is that the Home World Transfer Service will be resuming operations one day after the launch of the Oceanian Data Center, on Jan. 26, 2022. This service allows players to create or transfer their characters onto servers, but it was temporarily suspended due to the congestion issues. Square Enix then announced that the Data Center Travel System will be implemented into Endwalker in the Patch 6.1 update. This service allows players to visit servers in other logical Data Centers within the same Data Centre.

The third statement from Square Enix is that it plans to add more servers to the Japanese, North American, and European Data Centers throughout 2022 and 2023. Square Enix seeks to accomplish this by adding a logical data center to each regional data center and adding new servers. The Japanese Data Center will be receiving this server expansion sometime in July 2022.

The North American and European Data Centers will be getting their server expansions in two-part operations. The first phase of North American server expansions will begin around August 2022 and the second phase will start sometime in the spring or summer of 2023. Whereas the European server expansions are scheduled to begin in July 2022, and the second phase of the server expansions will begin in the summer of 2023.

The final announcement from Square Enix is that digital sales of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker will resume for new players on Jan. 25, 2023 (5:00 p.m. JST, 3:00 a.m. EST, 4:00 p.m. PT). This is due to the fact that player log-ins are slowly returning to normal and with the planned implementation of the Oceanian Data Center allowing more room for players. However, if the servers become congested again, Square Enix will consider suspending digital sales of the game again.

Will these new servers provide enough room for new players and help them experience one of the best multiplayer games on PC? Only time will time tell. We will keep you informed upon future developments as Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker's lifecycle continues into 2022.

What you need to know

• Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker is the latest expansion to Square Enix's popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV.
• The game has been updated with Patch 6.05 and it brings a whole host of new content such as the Savage-tier versions of the Pandaemonium raid, the Excitatron 6000 dungeon, changes to player Jobs, and more.

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, the latest expansion to Square Enix's critically acclaimed and beloved MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV, has received a new update today called Patch 6.05. This is a huge update which, according to the FFXIV website, contains a ton of new content and various bug fixes to the game.

The biggest addition of this update is that the Savage mode for the first part of the Pandaemonium raid series is now available. For those unaware, Savage raids are harder versions of Final Fantasy XIV raids where enemies hit harder, their attacks have their indicators removed, and feature brand new mechanics that you must avoid to save the party from being killed in one hit. These fights require strict communication, teamwork, and memorization to achieve victory and obtain the new gear they hold.

Another big highlight is the introduction of the Excitatron 6000 treasure map dungeon. Treasure map dungeons are special dungeons that can only be accessed after acquiring a treasure coffer from treasure maps. In these dungeons, you fight through a gauntlet of enemies (some of which are unique to these dungeons) and receive special prizes depending on how lucky you are.

To help players conquer these new challenges, some player Jobs have received major changes including potency upgrades and quality of life improvements. The Jobs that have received these changes are Pugilist/Monk, Dragoon, Ninja, Samurai, Reaper, Dancer, Summoner, and Scholar. In addition, players can arm themselves with powerful gear that can only be bought with the new Tomestones of Astronomy currency

There are also new items to collect such as house furnishings, prizes at the Manderville Gold Saucer, mounts, minions, orchestration rolls, achievements, and titles. Plus, there are new Elite Mark monsters to hunt in the Guildship Mark sidequests.

As you can see, there is a lot of goodies for players to get their hands on in this patch. Substantial, post-launch updates like this is one of the many reasons why Final Fantasy XIV is considered one of the best multiplayer games on PC. Stay tuned for future news updates on Final Fantasy XIV as we head into 2022.

What you need to know

• Endwalker is the latest expansion to the critically acclaimed MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV.
• The first part of the eight-man raid series, Pandaemonium, has just been added to Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker alongside the 6.01 patch update.
• Subscribers will be receiving 14 days of free game time in the 6.01 patch to compensate for server issues that have been occurring since Endwalker's launch.

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, the latest expansion to Square Enix's popular MMORPG, has just received a significant update in the form of patch 6.01. According to the FFXIV's official website Lodestone, this update contains various bug fixes to mitigate log-in issues, new minions, orchestration scrolls, triple triad cards, and most importantly of all, the first part Endwalker's eight-man raid series, Pandaemonium.

Pandaemonium is Endwalker's first big post-game activity, which has the player investigating a macabre asylum filled with monsters that could pose a threat to the world should they escape. This raid features challenging boss fights and should players overcome them, they will be rewarded with powerful weapons and gear.

On top of getting a new raid, subscribers will also be receiving 14 extra days of game time added to their accounts in this patch. This is Square Enix's way of helping players deal with the congestion issues that have been hampering their experience since Endwalker's launch.

In addition to the Pandaemonium raid, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker is hosting a Christmas event called Starlight Celebration, where players can earn holiday-themed items up until Dec. 31 at 6:59 a.m. PST. As for upcoming content, there will be an in-game New Year's Day event called Heavensturn on Jan. 5, 2022. And on Jan. 4, the game will receive the 6.05 update, which contains the harder Savage-tier version of the Pandaemonium raid, the Excitatron 6000 treasure dungeon, and much more.

Square Enix has been hard at work making sure players get to participate in the biggest chapter of Final Fantasy XIV, even going as far as to suspend sales of the game entirely until this patch came along to help mitigate the server issues. It's easy to see why Square Enix would to go lengths, considering that Final Fantasy XIV is one of the best multiplayer games on PC, and is now the most profitable entry in the Final Fantasy series. Will the bug fixes in this patch solve Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker's congestion issues and get more players into the game? Only time will tell.

What you need to know

• Final Fantasy XIV's newest expansion, Endwalker, recently launched on PlayStation and PC.
• The game has been suffering from server issues due to limited server hardware and an influx of new players.
• Square Enix is suspending new sales of the game in response to these server issues.
• Additionally, Square Enix is extending the free game time of existing players by an additional 14 days.

Final Fantasy XIV sales are being suspended, due to ongoing server and queue issues following the launch of the Endwalker expansion, Square Enix announced on Thursday. While existing players are not affected, no newcomers can buy Final Fantasy XIV Starter Edition or Complete Edition for the time being. Upgrade packs such as the expansion packs and collector's edition upgrade are not being removed from sale, so existing players can purchase new content.

Square Enix is pulling new advertisements for the game and copies from retail stores, though Square Enix notes this will be a "gradual" process. For players encountering Error 2002, Square Enix investigated and found the cause to be a login bug dating all the way back to Final Fantasy XIV version 1.0. It'll be fixed in an upcoming patch for the game client that's scheduled to launch on Dec. 21, 2021.

Square Enix is also extending the free time being offered to existing players by an additional 14 days, for a total of 21 free days for anyone that owns the full game and has an active subscription as of Dec. 21, 2021. Final Fantasy XIV grew massively to over 24 million players in the months leading up to the launch of Endwalker. As such, it's become one of the most popular multiplayer games in the world.

Square Enix has been working to set up additional servers to increase capacity for the new players however, ongoing challenges caused the pandemic have limited the available hardware. Square Enix notes the team is hoping to provide a roadmap at some point in Jan. 2022. Patch 6.05 is currently scheduled to launch on Jan. 4, 2022 as originally planned. This patch is adding a new dungeon, recipes and more to the game.

What you need to know

• Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker recently launched worldwide on PC and PlayStation.
• As of Wednesday, players are having problems, reporting server errors and being disconnected.
• Square Enix is aware of the problem and is currently investigating to find a solution.

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker is here, helping one of the best multiplayer games available continue to grow and bringing with it the exciting conclusion to the story that first began years back with A Realm Reborn. Unfortunately, if you're having issues playing right now, you're not alone. Many players right now are reporting extreme server issues, including being completely disconnected or kicked out of dungeons.

Square Enix is aware of the problem, which seems primarily focused on the Ultros World server. Square Enix is currently investigating and working on a solution, but for now, any players on the server should be aware that they might experience disconnects at any moment.

Final Fantasy XIV's player count has swelled tremendously over the past couple of years. Earlier in 2021, Final Fantasy XIV crossed 24 million players ahead of the launch of Endwalker.

What you need to know

• Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker is the 4th major expansion to Square Enix's popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV.
• Square Enix has announced that players may experience congestion during FFXIV: Endwalker's early access and full release. Square Enix has also made plans on how it plans to ease these potential issues.

After being delayed by two weeks, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, the 4th major expansion to the popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV, will be arriving on its Dec. 7, 2021 release date, with no signs any further delays. Today, Final Fantasy XIV's developer and publisher, Square Enix, has released a statement on the FFXIV website warning players that there is a high chance congestion issues may crop up when they log in during the launch date and during early access period on Dec. 3, 2021.

Square Enix says that this is due to the unprecedented amount of new players Final Fantasy XIV has received during the summer, as well as the large amount of existing players logging in whenever a new expansion comes. In light of this predicament, Square Enix had this to say:

To compensate for the lack of new servers, Square Enix has replaced existing servers with brand new machines with higher processing speeds and optimizing processes that will allow for more simultaneous logins. Square Enix's post also has information regarding login wait times, wait times during instanced content, automatic logouts after 30 minutes, errors when logging in, character creation during peak congestions, and more.

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker has certainly received a lot of attention in recent months. From concluding storylines ten years in the making, hordes of new players subscribing and becoming the most profitable entry in the entire Final Fantasy series, this game has a lot to live up to. So, Square Enix is working around the clock to make sure Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker's launches as smoothly as possible.

Will Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker's improved servers be able to contain all these new players and help it become one of the best multiplayer games on PC? We will have to wait until December to find out.

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker is scheduled to release on PC on Dec. 7, 2021. This expansion promises to introduce new races and Jobs to play as, changes to existing Jobs, new mounts to collect, new areas to explore, and much more.

What you need to know

• Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker is the fourth and latest expansion for Square Enix's popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV.
• During a Letter from the Producer presentation, the developers have announced that the release for Final Fantasy: XIV has changed to Dec. 7, 2021.

Final Fantasy XIV is the 14th mainline installment in Square Enix's Final Fantasy franchise and its 2nd MMORPG entry. In this game, players become fabled Warriors of Light and are charged with saving the world from the evil machinations of the Garlean Empire.

On Friday, the director and producer of Final Fantasy XIV, Naoki Yoshida, and Global Community Producer, Toshio Murouchi, hosted a "Letter from the Producer" presentation. During this presentation, they revealed new details for Final Fantasy XIV's upcoming expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker. The biggest announcement is that Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker's release date has been slightly delayed from Nov. 23 to Dec. 7. Also, the Early Access release for players who pre-ordered the game has also been pushed back from Nov. 19 to Dec. 3.

According to Naoki Yoshida, the reasoning for this delay is that the development team wants to make sure that Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker is 100% polished and ready for launch. The story for Endwalker will bring about the end of the war between the forces of Hydaelyn and Zodiark, a saga that has lasted for over ten years since Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. Tying up all the loose plot threads, seeing all the character arcs reach their conclusion, as well building up an epic finale could prove a monumental task. They also want to make sure server congestion will not hamper Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker's launch, especially for the new influx of players that came in during last summer.

It's understandable why the developers delayed Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker to spend more time on polish. Final Fantasy XIV has recently become the most profitable game in the Final Fantasy series and has received so many new players, they had to temporarily halt selling the game digitally to make room on the servers. Expectations from new and old fans alike for Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker have never been higher, so Yoshida and his team made the difficult decision to delay the game to ensure they can deliver.

Will the extra Q&A time be enough to allow Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker to become one of the best games on PC of the year? We will find out later this year when Final Fantasy: Endwalker launches on December 7, 2021.

What you need to know

• Final Fantasy XIV is Final Fantasy's second MMORPG and the 14th entry in the mainline series.
• The game's director Naoki Yoshida has been discussing with Microsoft if Final Fantasy XIV will be ported onto Xbox consoles.
• He says the discussions are proceeding in a "positive tone" but doesn't have a further update.

Final Fantasy XIV is an MMORPG where you play as an adventurer, chosen by the goddess Hydaelyn to become a Warrior of Light and save the land of Eorzea from the forces of Darkness. In a recent interview conducted by Youtube channel Easy Allies, the game's director, Naoki Yoshida was asked about the status of an Xbox version.

In the interview (you can view his comments at around 3:40), Yoshida says, "we are still in discussions with Microsoft and I feel like our discussions are going in a positive-like tone. I don't want to say we do not have an Xbox version, but I'm hoping that the timing will be very soon that I will have some kind of update to the players."

Final Fantasy XIV has been enjoying a huge boom in popularity and financial success in the past few months. It has become the most profitable entry in the entire Final Fantasy franchise and has accumulated over 24 million players without any signs of slowing down.

Could this "positive tone" mean that Microsoft recognizes Final Fantasy XIV's recent surge in popularity and would be willing to capitalize on it by allowing the devs to make an Xbox Series X|S port in the foreseeable future? Obviously, if it was ported to the platform, it would only gain more players. Perhaps it can become one of the best games to grace the Xbox platforms? Only time will tell.

Final Fantasy XIV's fourth expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker will be released on Nov. 23, 2021 for PC and PlayStation systems. It will feature new playable races, Jobs, mounts, and much more content for players to indulge in as they explore the heart of the Garlean Empire for the first time, Garlemald.