At the much-awaited Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival in Tokyo, fans of the beloved MMORPG were treated to a plethora of exciting announcements. The festival’s keynote, led by director Naoki Yoshida, unveiled a host of new features for the upcoming “Dawntrail” expansion, set to launch in Summer 2024. The array of additions promises to enrich the Final Fantasy XIV universe with fresh content and gameplay experiences.
“Dawntrail” is poised to usher players into an exhilarating new chapter of the game. Although a specific release date wasn’t announced, the expansion is slated for a summer release. It promises to be the “very best summer vacation a hero could possibly have,” as per the nearly six-minute trailer. “Dawntrail” will introduce adventurers to Tural, a mysterious land across the ocean from Eorzea, marking the beginning of a brand-new storyline.
One of the most anticipated features of “Dawntrail” is the introduction of new jobs, including the Pictomancer and the previously revealed Viper. The Pictomancer, a magical ranged DPS class, offers a unique playstyle involving a paintbrush and a palette of colors to battle foes. This creative job allows players to paint landscapes and shapes that function as skills, enabling them to deal damage, create weapons, summon creatures, and more.
Alongside these job additions, “Dawntrail” requires players to purchase the expansion to access these new roles. However, for those not ready to dive into the new content, the game will still offer major graphical updates, system enhancements, and improvements to the Gold Saucer.
Another significant update is the introduction of the Female Hrothgar as a new playable race. This addition, available to players who have the Shadowbringers expansion, complements the Male Hrothgar introduced in the same expansion.
The Female Hrothgar are characterized by their strong, agile builds and a natural inclination for leadership. Director Yoshida has hinted that this may be the final race addition to the game, although the possibility of future changes remains.
The keynote also shed light on new locations in the “Dawntrail” expansion. Players will explore Tural, with the key character, a Female Hrothgar, guiding them through this new world. One intriguing aspect is a contest in Tuliyollal, a prominent city in Tural, where players vie for rulership.
This contest could potentially cause rifts within the player’s team of Scions. Additionally, the expansion introduces Solution Nine, a city built by a distinct civilization, and Heritage Found, a region bathed in lightning energy.
The expansion will challenge players with new enemies like Valigarmanda, The Eliminator, and the Barreltender. Raids such as The Arcadion and the Echoes of Vana’Diel, a crossover with Final Fantasy XI, will test players’ skills. The Ultimate Raid, Eden – Futures Rewritten, will revisit Eden with alternate scenarios featuring characters Ryne and Gaia.
Furthermore, fans of Island Sanctuary can look forward to Cosmic Exploration, a new lifestyle content addition that allows players to visit other planets. This feature is set to release post-Dawntrail.
“Dawntrail” promises a multitude of smaller updates and enhancements, ensuring a continually evolving and engaging experience for Final Fantasy XIV players.
