As people who listen to the Spectator Mode podcast would know, since my underwhelming review of the World of Warcraft Shadowlands expansion, I’m trying to either kick the Online MMO habit, or at least change to something different, with the frontrunner being Final Fantasy XIV Online. Well, I’m going to have to check for listening devices in my office because Square-Enix did a huge showcase via both Youtube and Twitch announcing a whole new expansion, extended features to their free trial edition, a PlayStation 5 version of the game, and much more ideas.
Obviously, the first thing Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida presented a stunning new trailer which set the stage for this next chapter in the Final Fantasy XIV Online epic, called Endwalker. Scheduled to release Autumn 2021 for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Mac, Endwalker features the climax of the Hydaelyn and Zodiark story, in which Warriors of Light will encounter an even greater calamity than ever before as they travel to the far reaches of Hydaelyn and even to the moon. In addition to bringing the long-running story arc that began with A Realm Reborn to its conclusion, Endwalker will mark a new beginning for the MMO, setting the stage for new adventures that longtime fans and new players can enjoy together. You can see the trailer by clicking the banner image at the top of this story.
The new expansion will bring an abundance of new features, including multiple new jobs, an increased level cap, vast new areas, adjustments to the battle system, a variety of new challenges to overcome, as well as crafter and gatherer content. At the showcase, details on much of the new content and features were announced for Endwalker:
- Journey to Thavnair, the imperial capital of Garlemald, and even the Moon!
- New Jobs: Sage and more
- Level Cap Increase from 80 to 90
- Expansive new areas, including Garlemald, Thavnair, and the city of Radz-at-Han.
- A New Beast Tribe: the Arkasodara
- New threats, including Anima.
- New Dungeons
- New High-Difficulty Raid: Pandæmonium
- Secrets Revealed in a New Alliance Raid Series
- New Small-scale PvP Content
- An Additional “Trust” System ally: Estinien Wyrmblood
- A New Residential District: Ishgard
- Updates to the Gold Saucer
- Relaxing Fun in Island Sanctuary
- New Gear and Crating Recipes
- Expanded Horizons via the Data Center Travel System
Fans can look forward to more information on Endwalker at the Final Fantasy XIV Digital Fan Festival 2021, scheduled for 15th – 16th May 2021. This fully digital Fan Festival event will be streamed free of charge on the official Final Fantasy XIV channels.
During the showcase, Yoshida also revealed the upcoming PlayStation 5 console version of Final Fantasy XIV Online, scheduled to launch into open beta on 13th April 2021. The PlayStation 5 version will feature numerous upgrades from the PlayStation 4 version, including significantly improved frame rates, faster load times, 4K resolution support, and more. Players whose FFXIV service account has a registered license for the PlayStation 4 version may download and play the PlayStation 5 Upgrade Version at no extra cost at the start of the open beta period, while new players can experience the game on the PlayStation 5 through the Free Trial. The full version of the game will be available on PlayStation 5 following the conclusion of the open beta.
Having recently announced 20 million total registered players, there has never been a better time for newcomers (like myself) to begin their adventures in the critically acclaimed Final Fantasy XIV Online saga. The recently expanded Free Trial now includes all content from A Realm Reborn and the Heavensward expansion (and updates through Patch 3.56), as well as an additional playable race (Au Ra), and three additional playable jobs (Dark Knight, Astrologian, and Machinist). Free Trial players can enjoy hundreds of hours of the award-winning gameplay and story experiences equivalent to two full Final Fantasy titles, without limit on playtime.
In addition to all of this, Square-Enix announced the next patch in the current version of Final Fantasy XIV Online titled “Death Unto Dawn,” Patch 5.5 will be split into two parts and set the stage for the Endwalker expansion. Part one is headlined by the third chapter of YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse—the NieR-inspired alliance raid featuring the work of guest creators Yosuke Saito and YOKO TARO—alongside an abundance of new story and battle content, system updates, and more.
- New Main Scenario Quests – The story update—split into two parts—will pave the way for the Endwalker storyline.
- New Alliance Raid – The third chapter of the NieR-inspired YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse alliance raid series.
- “Sorrow of Werlyt” Questline Update – The thrilling conclusion of the Warrior of Light and Gaius’ quest to thwart the Empire’s warmachina development project.
- New Trial: The Cloud Deck – Players can face off against the fearsome Diamond Weapon in this latest trial, which will be available in both Normal and Extreme difficulties.
- New Dungeon: Paglth’an – Players can tackle this new story dungeon alongside fellow adventurers or a party of non-player characters via Trust System compatibility.
- “Save the Queen” Questline Update – Alongside the addition of a new field area, “Zadnor,” players can further upgrade their Resistance Weapons to their final and most powerful stage.
- New Unreal Trial – The next powered-up version of an existing primal will be unleashed upon level 80 heroes, providing players with a new challenge and a chance to collect unique prizes.
- Crafter Updates – High-level crafters can look forward to new content in Patch 5.5 that will earn them special achievements and unique crafting tools.
- Ishgard Restoration Update – Locals of The Firmament will periodically hold Fêtes to celebrate the completion of the restoration.
- “Explorer Mode” Update – The Explorer Mode feature will be expanded to all Level 70 dungeons. Explorer Mode allows players to explore dungeons free from danger to capture striking and fun screenshots while enabling the use of mounts and minions. Players will also now be able to use performance actions while in dungeons, such as playing musical instruments.
- Performance Action Updates – Players will now be able to change instruments at any time while performing, and a new instrument will be added.
- Gameplay Extras – Job Adjustments for PvE and PvP Actions, New Custom Deliveries, Ocean Fishing Update, New Mounts, and more.
Now is looking like the best time to be jumping into Final Fantasy XIV Online, which I have started to do through the game’s free trial edition (available for free on the Final Fantasy XIV Online website). As time goes on, that free trial might become a paid version that will take up my spare time like World of Warcraft once did. If it does, then expect reviews of both the free and paid versions over the coming months, then even more coverage when Endwalker releases.
