The new FFXIV expansion brings quite a bit of new content that players are already raving about, including a new healer, housing, and non-combat modes.
The Final Fantasy 14 Announcement Showcase delivered exactly the level of expected news that the team has been referring to for months. The main thing brought us the teaser trailer End runner, the latest expansion representing patch 6.0 of the MMORPG.
But of course they couldn’t stop there. Normally announcements of this magnitude are made at “Fan Festivals”, which are two-day conferences for FFXIV fans. This means that beloved director Naoki Yoshida, with lore lead and English translation lead Koji Fox, had plenty to present instead of a typical Fan Fest keynote.
Many of the main features of End runner were revealed during this presentation. We’ve rounded up some of the most interesting changes and new features coming up.
As for a release date – all we know is “Fall 2021”. But given the past year, as a wise man once said, “Let the expansive contract become aeon immediately.” In other words, who knows how long that will really feel like?
New FFXIV Expansion: Endwalker, The End Of The Hydaelyn / Zodiark Storyline
Since 1.0, players have been watching the silent simmering war between Hydaelyn and Zodiark. And although the importance of this has been hushed from time to time, Shadowbringers brought this massive story to the fore in ways that affect the FFXIV universe. We already know that Hydaelyn is manifesting as the Mother Crystal, and some stories strongly suggest that Zodiark has a manifestation related to the Moon.
Now it seems FFXIV team is doing everything it can to finally give this story the attention that deserves its importance. Players who invested in the lore will finally be rewarded, as explicitly stated End runner examines the explosive implications of what we have learned about Hydaelyn and Zodiark. After the events of Shadowbringerswe know that this relationship – and ours to any entity – is more complicated than we initially knew.
Now our journey to understanding includes a journey to the moon! Because apparently multiplayer games can’t escape the moon, I guess. But we’ll also see Garlemand, those… hm, spoilers. Actually, there are just a lot of spoilers going on, so I’ll just leave it out completely.
If you’re worried about this packing FFXIV yourself, don’t worry! Yoshida and Fox do everything they can to assure us that this will not end FFXIV self. They even claim that a new arc will be introduced immediately after the 6.0 storyline. After all, they say that the end is often just the beginning – ‘them’ here in a general sense, and also from Yoshida and Fox themselves.
New FFXIV Healer: Sage
It turns out that we get two new roles again End runner‘s release: a healer and a melee DPS. During the Announcement Showcase we heard about the Sage, the new healer. Sage has a pretty cool design, with four floating sword-like devices. It’s pretty clearly inspired by Gundam and other modern weapon styles, like stream jokes. Alphinaud will be the representative NPC as shown in the End runner trailer.
What we now know is that this will be just as useful as Scholar, who is a “barrier healer,” as it was described. Players will be able to provide barriers and healings as well as buffs for their own combat and healing magic.
You have to buy the expansion to access this class; but once you have that squared, you can pick it up in Limsa Lominsa once one of your classes reaches level 70. And if you want to know more now, at MMORPG.com we talked a bit more about what’s to come with Sage, so check it out!
Island reserve
If you’re looking for more casual endgame content, it looks like Endwalker has plenty to do with its new Island Sanctuary. Seemingly located on the new island of Thavnair, you get your own island to rejuvenate and get your hands dirty!
Island Sanctuary has been described as a potentially “fun and relaxing” experience with a few new features. You will be able to conquer a barren island land and turn it into something fertile (maybe literally?). While it may seem like it’s focused on crafting and collecting, the developers assure those without non-craft jobs can also take advantage of it.
We haven’t gotten the full details on what gameplay will be introduced yet, but we have some hints. We are told that we will be able to raise and sell items to others, and that we can release our followers to hang out. Brief speculation here, but maybe this will finally be the answer to the fact that the growing and gardening of Chocobo is locked behind housing. Who knows? Either way, it seems as exciting as it is relaxing!
Ishgard Housing
Yes, it is here. It’s confirmed. It finally comes. It’s Ishgardian Housing.
With the completion of the Ishgardian Restoration, it sounds like we now have the opportunity to occupy the mandatory regional adventure residence in Ishgard. This is obviously sought after, given the praise for it Heavensward’s region with an imaginative theme. It will be the second residential area outside a start city, after Shirogane, located in and themed around the Stormblood region of the Far East.
As for logistics, as soon as 6.0 starts, we will be able to see the new areas before the enclosure actually falls. As with Stormblood’s Shirogane release, the option to buy comes with 6.1. It will have the same number of wards as any other residential area.
I personally know a LOT of role-players who will be making the home exodus to Ishgard – even non-Ishgardian ones. It’s a pretty exciting prospect as the city in the game keeps its gates open to new economies. Plus, of course, there are a lot of Ishgardian role-players. Will you be part of the Ishgard Housing (Savage) rush?
No more belts
They just remove the belt slot. That is it. That’s the news. They almost explicitly explained that this is not just for statistical purposes, but largely because they don’t show up, so you can’t even go glam with them. (In contrast, rings largely persist for cosmetic needs.) It seems this is also part of a plan to rescale combat stats.
Once it hits 6.0, your belt is no longer fitted. With the Calamity Salvager, you CAN get back any belt you have equipped in case you want to sell it or something. (You can always sell it in the Doman Enclave.) But what’s the point in this being a Final Fantasy game without the seat belts? Tragic.
But then again, some of the pants in this game are actually belts and a piece of fabric for your personal belongings. Or, in Square Enix, a not-quite-high-fantasy tradition, some clothes are essentially a bunch of belts held together by sheer stylistic daring. Take that however you want.
Will you miss belts? Or will you be too busy picking out Ishgardian homes to notice?