Final Fantasy XIV Announces New Expansion: Dawntrail
Square Enix and Creative Business Unit III have unveiled the upcoming expansion for Final Fantasy XIV, titled Dawntrail. The announcement was made during the Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival 2023, and fans were treated to a new cinematic trailer that sets the stage for this new chapter.
A Bright and Exciting New Beginning
Dawntrail marks a fresh start for Final Fantasy XIV, as the game moves away from the dark and apocalyptic themes of its previous expansion, Endwalker. According to director Naoki Yoshida, the expansion will bring a brighter and lighter tone to the game. He described it as a “journey of discovery” and emphasized that it represents the first step into a new story for Final Fantasy XIV.
Exploring New Worlds and Meeting New Characters
The Warriors of Light will find themselves in the New World, where they will encounter a special guest who seeks their aid in a rite of succession. This quest will take them across the Indigo Deep and potentially lead them to a legendary city of gold. Along the way, they will discover new allies and rivals, with the scions being divided in this contest.
New Locations to Explore
Dawntrail introduces several new locations for players to explore:
- Yok Tural: A tropical paradise in the New World, west of Eorzea. It is a place where nature and cities coexist, offering a unique and less industrialized experience.
- Tuliyollal: The major city of the Dawntrail expansion, located in Yok Tural. Its ruler is Gulool Ja Ja, a two-headed Mamool Ja, and it is the center of the contest to determine the next successor.
- Urqopacha: A mountainous region in Yok Tural, known for its diverse inhabitants and the remnants of the ancient Giant’s Empire.
- Yak Tel: A dense forest region accessible from Tuliyollal, home to settlements of Tural’s Hrothgar and Mamool Ja.
Exciting Additions Coming to Final Fantasy XIV
Alongside the new expansion, Final Fantasy XIV will receive a range of new additions:
- Level cap increase from 90 to 100
- Two new jobs: melee DPS and ranged magical DPS
- New dungeons
- New gear and recipes for crafters and gatherers
- New variant dungeons
- New Alliance Raid
- New 8-Player Raid
- New Ultimate Raid
- New race: the Pelupelu
- Continued PvP updates
- Blue Mage update
- New plans for Deep Dungeons
- Gold Saucer update
- Addition of equippable eyeglasses
- Two dyes per gear piece
- Furnishing limit increase
- “Strategy Board” for planning duties and raid strategies
Graphical Updates and Xbox Series X/S Version
In addition to the expansion and new additions, Final Fantasy XIV will also receive graphical updates. These updates will enhance the overall visual appeal of the game and include higher-resolution textures and shadows. The updates will be rolled out gradually, so players can expect to see improvements over time. Additionally, an Xbox Series X/S version of Final Fantasy XIV has been announced, set to launch in the spring of 2024.
With all these exciting updates on the horizon, fans of Final Fantasy XIV have plenty to look forward to. The Dawntrail expansion is set to release in the summer of 2024, promising a new beginning and thrilling adventures for the Warriors of Light.