The subsequent FF14 Dawntrail patch has loads driving on it. The most recent enlargement for Sq. Enix’s critically acclaimed MMORPG break up opinion with its low-key begin to a brand new story arc, however the precise gameplay and battle content material has been a few of its finest but. The FF14 7.2 patch guarantees so as to add much more of precisely that – with the Dawntrail MSQ within the rear-view mirror, there’s a deal with extra long-form content material that can preserve us coming again every week with new issues to do. In in the present day’s FF14 Dwell Letter 85, recreation director Naoki Yoshida and neighborhood producer Toshio Murouchi unveil the complete complement of actions within the new replace.
Closing Fantasy 14 patch 7.2 is titled ‘Seekers of Eternity,’ and it’s at present scheduled to reach in “late March.” Whereas there’s no actual date given, FF14 is usually a really well-scheduled MMORPG, and meaning we’d single out Tuesday March 25 because the most definitely suspect for the FF14 7.2 launch date.
Earlier than we dig into the remainder of the small print, Yoshida and Murouchi take a second to deal with the controversy round a latest FF14 mod that gave gamers entry to lots of person data. Yoshida reiterates his request for gamers to not use plugins, and says, “I’m very disenchanted that this type of instrument exists, however we might be enhancing the system going ahead,” explaining that Sq. Enix is “taking steps” to deal with it.
Yoshida kicks issues off with the common roundup of upcoming story and battle content material. The brand new replace will after all proceed the principle story arc from the Dawntrail conclusion and the occasions of patch 7.1. I received’t get into these in an excessive amount of element but in case you’ve but to play the earlier replace, which included some fairly massive revelations, however I’m actually very curious to see how issues will play out.
Alongside that would be the return of Inspector Hildibrand, which is able to dig into the principle story following its introductory chapter in patch 7.1. The Mamool Ja are the brand new allied society, and can provide quests for gatherer jobs. Dawntrail’s finest facet quest can also be making its comeback with a brand new Cornservant journey. Should you haven’t performed the unique chain, you can begin it in Tuliyollal, and it’s an absolute pleasure.
Our new tomestones are Allagan Tomestones of Arithmetic. As ever, these might be your key to getting a number of the new endgame gear. Yoshida notes that this title has been one the workforce has wished to make use of for a very long time, and jokes: “They are going to ask you for prime numbers once you wish to commerce them in, and in case your reply is wrong all of your tomes might be gone!” The continued rollout of NPC Obligation Help for non-obligatory dungeons continues with The Sunken Temple of Qarn – the primary dungeon within the recreation to introduce some minor puzzle mechanics.
Subsequent, we check out the battle content material. Our new dungeon is The Underkeep, and, as you may count on given its place in FF14’s Alexandria, its design may be very straight impressed by Closing Fantasy 9. The brand new trial is called Recollection, and can are available regular and excessive variants. Our opponent resembles an enormous, robotic model of FF9’s Beatrix, and if it follows in her footsteps we will count on a very difficult battle. Certainly, Yoshida says preliminary testing of the traditional mode “was too tough,” and the workforce needed to take out some mechanics – count on these to characteristic within the excessive model, nonetheless.
The subsequent a part of the Arcadion raid sequence returns, and there’s no surprises in its title. The Cruiserweight Tier will see us step as much as tackle a brand new set of challengers, and our first area tease is a classy disco dancefloor. “These panels may fall down,” Yoshida muses, “Or the lights shoot lasers.” He additionally says to count on not less than one very “excessive tempo” battle, and confirms that the Arcadion’s commentator will return to name out our successes and failures.
In true wrestling style, the raid additionally seems to characteristic a face flip for the villainous Brute Bomber, and we’ll nearly actually see each Black Cat and Depraved Thunder again. I’m quietly hopeful meaning we haven’t seen the final of fan favourite Honey B. Beautiful – even when Yoshi-P isn’t a fan of her cutesy antics.
Alongside the story trial comes our subsequent unreal trial, Hells’ Kier (Unreal). Meaning we’ll be going up towards one other of the 4 lords from Stormblood, Suzaku, in a battle designed to duplicate the unique problem of the battle at launch. Muroichi displays that “for its time, there have been lots of mechanics on this the place you wanted to concentrate to the map and the skin.”
With all that out of the best way, it’s lastly time to dig into FF14 patch 7.2’s massive headline options. First up is Cosmic Exploration, which sees gamers working collectively throughout the entire server to discover the cosmos searching for new stars. That is designed for crafters and gatherers, might be supported by the Loporrits, and you’ll consider it slightly like a brand new, intergalactic spin on Ishgard Restoration and the Diadem. Seeing the photographs, it truly jogs my memory slightly of sandbox video games resembling Astroneer and Passable.
Yoshida notes that gamers can construct methods to get across the slightly massive zones, resembling zip strains. He emphasizes that he desires Cosmic Exploration “to have a robust feeling of ‘doing it collectively,’ to provide that MMO feeling,” though he says you’ll nonetheless be capable of get pleasure from it solo. He additionally provides that, not like Ishgard Restoration, he desires individuals to have the ability to “look again” on the progress over time even when they don’t get to the mode till a later stage in its growth. Teasing one of many new mounts, a strolling mech swimsuit, Yoshida laughs. “What recreation is that this?”
Subsequent is the brand new battle content material, Occult Crescent, which options large-scale multiplayer zones and is actually the successor to Eureka and Bozja. It takes place in FF14’s equal to the real-world Bermuda Triangle. “Within the treacherous waters of Shades’ Triangle lies the Occult Crescent, an isle shrouded in thriller. Must you want to unveil its secrets and techniques, you have to discover the unmapped terrain, and battle towards the isle’s inhabitants.”
You’ll want a fight job at stage 100 to journey to the Occult Crescent, the place you’ll discover and regularly improve your ‘Data Degree’ over time. This data will “tremendously affect the result of battles” on the isle, which vary from open-world encounters to particular zoned-off, large-scale boss battles that resemble Bozja’s crucial engagements. There will even be a full raid that helps a bunch of as much as 48 gamers.
Supplementing your lively job are a sequence of ‘Phantom Jobs’ based mostly on FF5 courses. These will grant you extra actions that can be utilized alongside your important job’s abilities. We get a glimpse at Freelancer, Monk, Bard, Geomancer, Ranger, Berserker, Time Mage, Chemist, and Cannoneer, though extra are promised.
Very like in Shadowbringers, you’ll have two choices for weapon enhancement when patch 7.2 arrives. You may both do it by exploring the Occult Crescent, or by way of sure different present actions in the event you don’t fancy the brand new mode. Yoshida says the workforce isn’t able to reveal fairly what it appears like, however teases that every one media tour suggestions all over the world informed him “that individuals wished one thing extra partaking and memorable.”
To spherical out the reveals, we dip into aggressive multiplayer. PvP Season 8 arrives in 7.2, and you’ll count on a number of new PvP actions in addition to changes for present ones. Frontline’s least-popular map, the ‘Safe’ marketing campaign, is making its return, having been reworked and improved.
Forward of the replace comes a collaboration with instax, a brand new digicam from Fujifilm. A themed digicam emote is being launched with patch 7.18 (scheduled for Tuesday February 25), though there’s no particulars but on how we’ll unlock it. Moreover, an Echoes of Vana’diel low cost marketing campaign will give FF14 subscribers a 30-day low cost on an FF11 subscription. Yoshida says extra particulars about that provide will arrive quickly.
FF14 patch 7.2 is about to launch in late March – based mostly on the MMO’s typical schedule, we count on it to reach on Tuesday March 25. That’s all for Dwell Letter 85 – thanks as ever to ‘Miuna’ and ‘iluna minori’ on the FF14 Discord for his or her exhausting work stay translating the present – you possibly can be a part of right here [Discord link opens in a new window].
Keep watch over the FF14 servers and upkeep occasions within the runup to the launch, so that you aren’t caught off-guard by any downtime. You’ll additionally wish to make sure you’ve obtained your FF14 free Fantasia – there’s one out there in Gridania that should be claimed by the point patch 7.1 involves a detailed.
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