With FFXIV Dawntrail on the horizon, we’ve been given one other huge glimpse into the way forward for Closing Fantasy 14 courtesy of FFXIV Fanfest London 2023. To open the present, producer and director Naoki Yoshida, in any other case generally 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 reside in individual to convey you all the main points immediately from the present flooring.
Whereas the FFXIV Dawntrail release date nonetheless appears a way off in Summer season 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 soothing summer time vacaction after Endwalker’s dramatic conclusion to the primary decade-long arc of the FFXIV story. Primarily based on the completely gorgeous debut Dawntrail trailer (which I’ve positively watched a very good dozen-plus occasions by now), I’m positive it’ll be all enjoyable and video games, and that completely nothing dangerous will occur!
The FFXIV Fanfest London present opens with a brand new, prolonged model of stated trailer, which supplies us our first have a look at one among our new lessons – 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 like ever since Fanfest Las Vegas earlier this yr, the place Yoshi-P teased us with the mysterious reveal of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles t-shirt. Now we all know one among them.
That is the FFXIV Viper, a “Closing Fantasy XIV authentic” that wields twin shortswords, which will 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 plenty of 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 growth, you possibly can choose up the job in Ul’dah, which means you’ll be capable to use it the entire means via the brand new growth’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 might be a ranged magical DPS, however as a giant Purple Mage and Black Mage enjoyer I’m wanting 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 change into embroiled in a management contest that can see them on opposing sides. Who might 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 steer 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 essential hub metropolis is Tuliyollal, discovered within the Yok Tural area. We get a correct in-game look this time, and it’s wanting completely gorgous.
Seemingly positioned proper on the shoreline, this can be a mix of attractive sun-dreched 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 reasonably glorious – is “only a mock-up,” and “will sound significantly better” in its last iteration.
Ranging from this multicultural metropolis, which we all know has established commerce routes with Outdated Sharlayan, we’ll journey out to the varied 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 update.
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. Intently resembling the Goblins of Eorzea, with whom they share widespread ancestry, the Moblins are skilled gatherers, able to procuring “any helpful materials, regardless of how uncommon.”
Our second space, in distinction, is a reasonably arid area known as Shaaloani. Whereas it’s rain-starved land makes vegetation development sparse, the invention of Ceruleum deposits have helped the area to burgeoning prosperity. We see a large shot of Shaaloani’s plains with a tantalising “SECRET” plastered throughout a big a part of the display screen “Oh… it’s a msitake,” Yoshida laughs. He explains that this can be a massively pivotal story level that the workforce doesn’t need to reveal but, in order to not spoil the shock.
There’s, after all, rather more to Dawntrail than simply our journey to Tural. First up, as beforehand famous, the extent cap might be going as much as 100 for all jobs, together with crafting and gathering. “How excessive do you need to go?” Yoshida asks the gang, 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 after all get all the standard vary of actions together with new FATEs, facet quests, and extra, together with “no less than 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 stuffed with 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 reasonably 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 large, glowing chambers. That is one thing rather more clearly high-tech, and undoubtedly fairly harmful. Koji Fox asks, “Summer season trip?” “Sure,” Yoshida chuckles, “Summer season trip.” It’s actually imposing, and we meet an enormous creature clad in golden armor with glowing purple options. “It seems like Dawntrail goes to be a bit of bit greater than your conventional summer time trip, Yoshida admits.
The Responsibility Help system might be getting loads of up to date AI routines that can assist you navigate these dungeons with story-relevant companions, must you select. We additionally see a choice of reasonably modern new gear, with plenty of extra formal however nonetheless ornamental style. “As an alternative of designing all our gear to match the theme of Tural, we determined to take a extra simple strategy to the design,” Yoshida notes.
Additionally deliberate for Dawntrail is “Expansive new life-style content material.” “The plan was to point out you that right here,” Yoshida says, “however the workforce felt it wanted a bit of 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 strategy, he guarantees that this new life-style content material is “one thing you possibly can get pleasure from with lots of people.”
In fact, 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, Closing 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 can even be getting an replace. Very similar to the Blue Mage, you possibly can count on one thing a bit of 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, which means we’ll see it in one of many extra post-launch updates; Yoshida says to count on it a bit of in a while.
Returning to the FFXIV graphics replace, there’s 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 remains to be in improvement, with much more work to return. A few of this even attracts inspiration from the excessive manufacturing values of the orignal, deserted FFXIV 1.0. As beforehand revealed, you’ll additionally be capable to put on glasses independently from different headgear, as they’re rightfully given their very own beauty gear slot.
There might 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 heart is at present deliberate for November 21-27, 2023, the place gamers can have an opportunity to check out the brand new server possibility that ought to allow simpler future server growth 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 fairly spectacular, incorporating lots of the greatest minigames from the colourful get together battle royale. There’s even particular gear to earn, with some reasonably daring pink and purple colours to sport. It’s designed for twenty-four gamers, and can after all provide random matching for these of you who don’t have a ready-made squad. It received’t be obtainable on a regular basis, Yoshida notes, however it is going to come again repeatedly.
Final however actually not least, additionally coming in 7.5x is that FFXVI crossover, bringing Clive Rosfield and associates to the MMO in some unspecified time in the future within the subsequent few months, with ‘The Path Infernal.’ It seems as if a particular showdown with FF16’s Ifrit is so as, and also you’ll be capable to get your palms 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 might be up for grabs as nicely.
That’s all for immediately’s opening Fanfest London keynote, however PCGamesN might be on the present all weekend, so we’ll remember to convey you loads extra juicy particulars within the days to return! Within the meantime, we’ve received every part it is advisable to make sure that your FFXIV Island Sanctuary is updated forward of Dawntrail. On the lookout for one thing else to fill the opening in your coronary heart till then? The perfect story games ought to assist ease the wait.
Comments are closed.