With FFXIV Dawntrail on the horizon, we’ve been given one other huge glimpse into the way forward for Last Fantasy 14 courtesy of FFXIV Fanfest London 2023. To open the present, producer and director Naoki Yoshida, in any other case often known as Yoshi-P, and localization supervisor Michael-Christopher Koji Fox took to the stage for his or her FFXIV Fanfest keynote, and PCGamesN had the pleasure of attending the occasion stay in individual to carry you all the small print straight from the present flooring.
Whereas the FFXIV Dawntrail launch date nonetheless appears a way off in Summer time 2024, we’re already eagerly anticipating what’s subsequent for our Warriors of Gentle and the Scions of the Seventh Daybreak within the critically acclaimed MMORPG. As we head off throughout the water to pastures new, the ‘new world’ of Tural guarantees a calming summer season trip after Endwalker’s dramatic conclusion to the primary decade-long arc of the FFXIV story. Based mostly on the gorgeous debut Dawntrail trailer (which I’ve watched a great dozen-plus occasions by now), I’m certain it’ll be all enjoyable and video games, and that nothing unhealthy will occur!
The FFXIV Fanfest London present opens with a brand new, prolonged model of stated trailer, which provides us our first take a look at one in all our new courses – which we then see for actual, courtesy of an in-person cosplay from Yoshida himself. We’d been questioning what the 2 new FFXIV Dawntrail jobs would appear to be ever since Fanfest Las Vegas earlier this 12 months, the place Yoshi-P teased us with the mysterious reveal of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles t-shirt. Now we all know one in all them.
That is the FFXIV Viper, a “Last Fantasy XIV authentic” that wields twin shortswords, which could be linked on the deal with to type a twinblade that’s considerably harking back to Bloodborne’s signature Rakuyo, wielded by Girl Maria. It was “designed to cater to gamers who’ve been asking for a brand new dual-wield job that’s totally different from Ninja. Whereas I play numerous jobs, the Ninja has been my favourite because it arrived early in A Realm Reborn, so I can’t wait to get hands-on with the Viper for my journey into Dawntrail.
You’ll want one class at stage 80 to seize the Viper, which “alternates between pressuring enemies with swift strikes by their twin blades, and dealing mighty blows with their joined weapon.” So long as you personal the FFXIV Dawntrail enlargement, you may decide up the job in Ul’dah, that means you’ll be capable of use it the entire means via the brand new enlargement’s story if you wish to – and I completely do!
We’ll have to attend till Fanfest Tokyo for the opposite job, which we already know shall be a ranged magical DPS, however as a giant Pink Mage and Black Mage enjoyer, I’m trying ahead to that as nicely. Placing down his twinblade (on the behest of Koji Fox to cease swinging it round), Yoshi-P picks up “his true weapon” – the presentation clicker – and guides us via a fast recap of the journey we’ll be taking to Tural, the place the Scions will turn into embroiled in a management contest that can see them on opposing sides. Who shall be your allies? That bears to be seen…
The competition, which sees competing factions going toe-to-toe to succeed Gulool Ja Ja, additionally guarantees to guide the Warrior of Gentle to a fabled metropolis of gold – Yoshida guarantees that, as a lot as we loved our time within the Hydaelyn arc, the journey to the west will give us one thing “even higher.” Our new most important hub metropolis is Tuliyollal, discovered within the Yok Tural area. We get a correct in-game look this time, and it’s trying attractive.
Seemingly positioned proper on the shoreline, it is a mix of sun-drenched seashores, picket huts, and high-rise stone structure. We get a particular message from lead composer Masayoshi Soken, who says that the music we hear – already sounding quite glorious – is “only a mock-up,” and “will sound significantly better” in its closing iteration.
Ranging from this multicultural metropolis, which we all know has established commerce routes with Outdated Sharlayan, we’ll journey out to the assorted Dawntrail areas. We get some in-game footage of the forest area of Yak T’el and the mountainous open-plain vistas of Urqopacha, each of which have been beforehand revealed on the LA Fanfest occasion. Yoshida reminds us that these will all profit from the FFXIV graphics replace.
We additionally see some new locales. Kozama’Uka is a tropical area south of Tuliyollal, divided into an higher and decrease area with attractive waterfalls connecting the rivers and streams of each. We’ll meet a number of totally different teams there, together with the Moblins. Carefully resembling the Goblins of Eorzea, with whom they share a typical ancestry, the Moblins are skilled gatherers, able to procuring “any helpful materials, irrespective of how uncommon.”
Our second space, in distinction, is a quite arid area known as Shaaloani. Whereas its rain-starved land makes vegetation development sparse, the invention of Ceruleum deposits has helped the area to burgeoning prosperity. We see a large shot of Shaaloani’s plains with a tantalizing “SECRET” plastered throughout a big a part of the display “Oh… it’s a mistake,” Yoshida laughs. He explains that it is a vastly pivotal story level that the group doesn’t need to reveal but, in order to not spoil the shock.
There may be, in fact, rather more to Dawntrail than simply our journey to Tural. First up, as beforehand famous, the extent cap shall be going as much as 100 for all jobs, together with crafting and gathering. “How excessive do you need to go?” Yoshida asks the group, laughing at a loud suggestion of 2000. Koji Fox queries simply how a lot the UI must be tailored for such a preposterous quantity.
We’ll in fact get all the standard vary of actions together with new FATEs, aspect quests, and extra, together with “a minimum of as many new dungeons as in earlier expansions.” We see teasers of a few of the ‘dungeons’ we’ll be exploring, which embody a raft cruising down a large river between the tropical forests. “On the finish of the cruise, that is what awaits,” Yoshida says, displaying a rocky cavern full of lush vegetation courtesy of daylight flooding in via gaps within the roof.
One other dungeon proven off is a rocky outcropping on the sting of a cliff. A construction constructed into the rock, with snow dripping from the rocks, misty clouds up excessive, and delightful blue and purple flowers sprouting out throughout the mountain. Our third location is a quite sturdy stone construction constructed inside a cavern. Seeing this extra conventional take care of the earlier entries, Yoshida exclaims, “It’s a dungeon!”
Subsequent up is one thing fairly totally different; an enormous community of extremely engineered platforms, pipes, and big, glowing chambers. That is one thing rather more high-tech, and undoubtedly fairly harmful. Koji Fox asks, “Summer time trip?” “Sure,” Yoshida chuckles, “Summer time trip.” It’s actually imposing, and we meet an enormous creature clad in golden armor with glowing purple options. “It seems to be like Dawntrail goes to be slightly bit greater than your conventional summer season trip, Yoshida admits.
The Obligation Assist system shall be getting loads of up to date AI routines that will help you navigate these dungeons with story-relevant companions, must you select. We additionally see a choice of quite modern new gear, with numerous extra formal however nonetheless ornamental trend. “As a substitute of designing all our gear to match the theme of Tural, we determined to take a extra simple method to the design,” Yoshida notes.
Additionally deliberate for Dawntrail is “Expansive new life-style content material.” “The plan was to indicate you that right here,” Yoshida says, “however the group felt it wanted slightly extra time – they’re laborious at work, so please forgive them.” We’ll get to see extra of that on the Tokyo Fanfest. Not like the Island Sanctuary’s extra solo method, he guarantees that this new life-style content material is “one thing you may get pleasure from with lots of people.”
After all, there’ll be loads of motion for the high-end gamers, together with new Variant Dungeons, an 8-man raid, and an final trial. The Dawntrail alliance raid is Echoes of Vana’diel, a crossover with Sq. Enix’s different huge MMORPG, Last Fantasy XI. “We’re turning to our MMO senpai,” Yoshida remarks. He says that he can’t but reveal what we’ll see, however that previous and current followers of FF11 will definitely be pleased.
The return of Hildibrand can be promised, together with extra Gold Saucer and Deep Dungeon content material. We’ll even be seeing the second restricted job, following within the footsteps of the Blue Mage, which may even be getting an replace. Very like the Blue Mage, you may anticipate one thing slightly out of the field that eschews typical class steadiness guidelines, however can’t be utilized in all the usual content material. That is loosely scheduled for 7.x, that means we’ll see it in one of many further post-launch updates; Yoshida says to anticipate it slightly afterward.
Returning to the FFXIV graphics replace, there are some slight enhancements to the horns and scales of Au Ra characters – one thing I’ll actually be profiting from as an Au Ra participant myself. “This goes for the opposite races as nicely,” Yoshida teases, noting that what we’ve seen of the replace thus far continues to be in improvement, with much more work to come back. A few of this even attracts inspiration from the excessive manufacturing values of the unique, deserted FFXIV 1.0. As beforehand revealed, you’ll additionally be capable of put on glasses independently from different headgear, as they’re rightfully given their beauty gear slot.
There shall be a slight enhance to the FFXIV system necessities – “It’s not very a lot, however please perceive.” The Xbox open beta will start someday in January or February 2024, bringing much more gamers into the world. A stress check of the brand new cloud knowledge middle is at present deliberate for November 21-27, 2023, the place gamers can have an opportunity to check out the brand new server choice that ought to allow simpler future server enlargement when wanted.
Coming a lot sooner on Tuesday, October 31 with FFXIV 6.51, we additionally get to see the Gold Saucer’s Fall Guys crossover, which seems to be fairly spectacular, incorporating most of the greatest minigames from the colourful social gathering battle royale. There’s even particular gear to earn, with some quite daring pink and purple colours to sport. It’s designed for twenty-four gamers, and can in fact provide random matching for these of you who don’t have a ready-made squad. It gained’t be out there on a regular basis, Yoshida notes, however it’ll come again repeatedly.
Final however actually not least, additionally coming in 7.5x is that FFXVI crossover, bringing Clive Rosfield and mates to the MMO sooner or later within the subsequent few months, with ‘The Path Infernal.’ It seems to be as if a particular showdown with FF16’s Ifrit is so as, and also you’ll be capable of get your fingers on each a mount model of grownup Torgal, Clive’s devoted companion, together with a minion of the pup in his super-cute youthful type, and Yoshida teases that themed gear shall be up for grabs as nicely.
That’s all for immediately’s opening Fanfest London keynote, however PCGamesN shall be on the present all weekend, so we’ll you should definitely carry you loads extra juicy particulars within the days to come back! Within the meantime, we’ve acquired the whole lot you should make certain your FFXIV Island Sanctuary is updated forward of Dawntrail. Searching for one thing else to fill the outlet in your coronary heart till then? The perfect story video games ought to assist ease the wait.