Seize your swimsuits and make amends for MSQ; Closing Fantasy 14 is taking us oceanside but once more with model 7.0, Dawntrail. The fifth growth to the MMO kicks off a model new arc after Endwalker wrapped up a few of its most important plot threads.
We’re a great distance out, however director and producer Naoki Yoshida already has a lot to speak about, and the fan base is, in fact, at all times prepared to take a position. For those who’re working out of jobs to degree or simply antsy for brand new companions, there’s hope on the horizon—this is all the things we learn about Dawntrail, together with just a few of our greatest guesses on the way forward for FF14.
When is the FF14 Dawntrail growth launch date?
It is not a precise date, however Sq. Enix confirmed FF14 Dawntrail will launch in Summer time 2024. Yoshida talked about he’d like to get the growth out “as early as potential” within the keynote however needs followers to keep in mind that it is summer season “usually,” simply in case the MMO wants slightly extra time to cook dinner.
The sport’s historical past tells us delays aren’t out of the query however are sometimes shorter waits. FF14’s first three expansions all launched in June or July, whereas Endwalker pushed its unique November date again by two weeks, the place it launched on December 3, 2021.
How a lot will Dawntrail price?
In all probability, FF14 Dawntrail will price $59.99 at launch. That retains it in step with earlier additions, however Sq. Enix hasn’t mentioned something formally. You may nonetheless must pay the $12.99 month-to-month subscription price and buy the Shadowbringers and Endwalker expansions.
Along with the bottom recreation, Sq. Enix has at all times provided a digital and bodily collector’s version, so the identical will doubtless stay true for Dawntrail. For these interested by a headstart, the early entry weekend is at all times gated behind a preorder—although you may most likely have that with simply the bottom model. No must fork over the money for a plastic statue.
Right here’s the FF14 Dawntrail reveal trailer
On July 28, 2023, Sq. Enix revealed Dawntrail with this brilliant and sunny trailer at FF14 Fan Competition in Las Vegas. Usually, Yoshida shares one thing like this on the North American occasion and an prolonged minimize of the CG debuts at both the Japan or Europe exhibits.
FF14 Fan Competition’s Dawntrail announcement keynote
As the primary of three deliberate between now and January 2024, Yoshida’s keynote in Vegas gave us a broad have a look at the upcoming growth and the way FF14 will change in patch 6.5. I’ve timestamped the start, however this goes on for about an hour and a half, so you might need to get comfortable with slightly Realm Reborn Crimson earlier than hitting play.
What is the story and setting for Dawntrail?
The Zodiark and Hydaelyn period is over, however a lot stays unexplored on this planet (people who’ve completed Endwalker—bear in mind Emet-Selch’s speech). Within the spirit of starting anew, Yoshida joked he needs to deliver “the perfect summer season trip a hero might have” with this growth. A few of us are nonetheless dealing with ugly crying over Endwalker, so it is appreciated.
For Dawntrail, our subsequent vacation spot is now set for what gamers might know as “the New World,” really known as Tural by its folks. The Warrior of Gentle will assist with the land’s Ceremony of Succession, figuring out the following ruler with acquainted pals Alphinaud, Alisaie, and Erenville. Different scions like Estinien, Thancred, Y’shtola, Graha, and Urianger additionally come alongside, and Yoshida teased they’re all concerned in a contest for the throne–with a few of them competing in opposition to you.
You may journey throughout the Indigo Deep into locations we have by no means seen in FF14 so far, trying to find the land’s “fabled gates of a metropolis of gold.” Whether or not that is an precise place or a metaphor for one thing extra stays unclear.
All the pieces revealed at FF14 Fan Competition 2023
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New Hub Metropolis
Tuliyollal, positioned in northern Yok Tural, is the seat of energy on the continent and your new base of operation. Consider it like key cities from earlier expansions (Radz-at-Han, The Crystarium, and so on). Up to now, we solely know just a few fundamentals about Tuliyollal. It is dominated by a two-headed Mamool Ja, Gulool Ja Ja–he appears to be like like the identical large dude who fought the Warrior of Gentle within the trailer. Yoshida described him as “robust and clever,” and his throne will play an enormous half within the new story course.
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Area Areas
The keynote presentation launched new areas like Urqopacha, dwelling to “peoples each exceedingly giant and unusually small in stature.” It is a mountainous area, initially the capital of Yok Tural, however traces of the previous empire now sit in ruins.
Dawntrail additionally takes the Warrior of Gentle to Yak T’el, a thick forest accessible from Tuliyollal. It appears primarily impressed by rainforests in South America, and is dwelling to each the Hrothgar and Mamool Ja.
Tribe Quests
Up to now, we all know FF14’s subsequent chapter will embrace The Pelupelu, a tribe Yoshida acknowledged is from an “older Closing Fantasy.” For the unfamiliar, they’re in Closing Fantasy 10 and 10-2, however are most likely extra recognizable from the sequel. Usually, FF14 has three Tribes per growth, so we’ll doubtless see two extra launched earlier than Dawntrail’s launch.
Further 7.0 and past reveals:
- Stage cap enhance from 90 to 100
- Battle Content material (Hunts, Fates, Maps, Sidequests, Commonplace Dungeons)
- Variant Dungeons, Alliance Raids, 8-Participant Raids, and Final Raids
- New Trials, together with Valigarmanda
- Plans for brand new Deep Dungeon, along with extra battle content material
- Blue Mage replace
- Obligation Assist replace
- Further gear and crafting recipes
- Life-style content material (options like Island Sanctuary)
- PVP updates to Crystalline Battle, Rival Wings, and Frontlines
- Extra Hildibrand adventures
- Gold Saucer, to which Yoshida scolded the gang with “no Blitzball.”
What’s going to the brand new FF14 Dawntrail jobs be?
Dawntrail will add two new jobs to the FF14 universe, however we do not know their identities but. Yoshida performed it coy at his North American Fan Fest reveal, refusing to indicate both of the brand new jobs this early, however he did give us a touch together with confirming their roles as a melee DPS and ranged caster DPS. When pressed for extra, he joked about how sizzling Vegas was and took off his shirt to indicate the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles graphic tee beneath. Good glam, Yoshi-P, however why’s that vital?
Effectively, he does this each growth cycle—no matter shirt he is received on at Fan Fest is a wink and a nod to approaching FF14 jobs. The TMNT match is not simply because he is an enormous Donatello fan, and the 4 preventing turtles doubtless share some similarities with one of many new DPS courses. The obvious selection, Ninja, is already within the recreation, however the Pictomancer from Closing Fantasy 6 has change into a preferred fan principle. The entire turtles-named-after-famous-dead-painters factor checks.
The second DPS might be Corsair—a job from Closing Fantasy 11 that has roots within the Gambler class (additionally in FF6). The Warrior of Gentle stand-in appears to be like awfully pirate-like within the new trailer, nevertheless it’s laborious to inform what he is received in his hand. We see him with a sword in a while, however that is half the inhabitants of Eorzea by this level. No matter it’s, we’ll doubtless see it within the subsequent minimize of FF14’s CG trailer.
Dawntrail’s large graphics replace
FF14 has already began updating textures right here and there, however Yoshida mentioned they’ve large plans for 7.0 and past. At Fan Fest, he defined Dawntrail would usher in a brand new period of high-resolution textures and shadows, improved materials high quality, and higher shadows and lighting—all of this achieved “whereas preserving the general look that you realize and love.”
In Dawntrail, you may anticipate small modifications that make a big distinction. Shiny textures, like metallic, will obtain a layer of polish that offers them precise depth—so no extra indistinguishable flat greys. Character textures add extra outlined lashes, wrinkles, hair, and eyes, whereas new lighting and different materials updates breathe new life into places round FF14’s world. Yoshida additionally reminded people this can be a lengthy, ongoing course of, so you will not see all the things magically change in a single day.
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What else can we anticipate from FF14 7.0 and onward?
Theorizing in regards to the subsequent large unhealthy in FF14 is entertaining sufficient, however there’s a lot to cheer about that will get slightly extra within the weeds. System updates coming to FF14 embrace tons of recent goodies, like:
- Dye modifications (utilizing two dyes on one gear piece as an alternative of 1)
- Eyeglasses (strictly glamour tools slot that can be utilized with headgear)
- Much more housing slots
- Technique Board (whiteboard characteristic for discussing and combat mechanics)
These new shadow and lighting upgrades demand slightly extra energy, too. As of FF14 7.0, you may must double-check your PC specs with new system necessities:
Minimal System Necessities:
OS: Home windows 10 64-bit, Home windows 11 64-bit
CPU: Intel Core i7-6700
Reminiscence: 8GB
HDD/SSD House: 140 GB or extra
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970, AMD Radeon RX 480
Decision: 1280×720
Beneficial System Necessities:
OS: Home windows 10 64-bit, Home windows 11 64-bit
CPU: Intel Core i7-9700 or increased
Reminiscence: 16GB
HDD/SSD House: 140 GB or extra
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060, AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT
Decision: 1920×1080
When will we discover out extra about FF14’s subsequent growth?
The await extra FF14 Dawntrail information should not be a protracted one. Sq. Enix nonetheless has two extra Fan Festivals for debuting extra content material on the way in which in model 7.0. You’ll be able to examine again right here for the rundown or tune into the livestreams for Europe’s occasion on October 21, 2023, and Japan’s on January 7, 2024.
