Final Fantasy XIV
News, coverage and analysis tracking Final Fantasy XIV across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Final Fantasy 14 patch 7.5 teasers have fans hoping the MMO's next big expansion will "resolve" a fan-favorite plotline Square Enix hasn't touched in nearly 3 years
Teasers for Final Fantasy XIV patch 7.5, titled 'Trail to the Heavens,' have sparked fan speculation about the next expansion, 8.0, potentially resolving the long-standing plotline concerning the Thirteenth Shard, also known as the Void. Players are hopeful that Square Enix will address this narrative thread, which has not been significantly explored since 2023.
The FF14 patch 7.5 special site promises more of its best new double act, and a returning ally
Square Enix has released details for Final Fantasy XIV patch 7.5, titled 'Trail to the Heavens,' launching April 28. The update will feature the return of characters Halmarut and Calyx, a new dungeon in Garlemald, and a trial against Enuo from Final Fantasy V Advance. The patch also teases the upcoming Beastmaster job and further content updates leading up to the 8.0 expansion.
Final Fantasy XIV launches the special site for April 28’s Trail to the Heavens content patch
Square Enix has launched a special website for Final Fantasy XIV's upcoming patch 7.5, titled 'Trail to the Heavens,' set to release on April 28. The patch will include the final part of the Echoes of Vana’diel raid, the Beastmaster limited job, new dungeons and trials, and the next main scenario quest. Further details are expected during the April 17 live letter broadcast.
Final Fantasy 14 patch 7.5 site teases a potential return to the void for its next expansion
The patch 7.5 site for Final Fantasy XIV teases a potential return to the Void for the game's next expansion, with dungeon and raid names suggesting a focus on the Thirteenth reflection. This comes after the Dawntrail expansion arc began, though its initial story content has been largely self-contained. Future patches will further bridge the gap to the next major chapter.
Crimson Desert might have an enemy density problem, fans worry as they approach endgame
Players are expressing concerns about Crimson Desert's enemy density, particularly as they approach the endgame. The scarcity of combat encounters makes it difficult to complete challenges, farm Abyss Artifacts for skill progression, and upgrade gear. Fans suggest solutions like respawning enemies in camps or introducing random combat events to improve the player experience.
FFXIV 2026 Fan Festival Items Include FFVII Red XIII Minion, Hardy-Daytona Motorcycle Mount
Square Enix has released new virtual items for Final Fantasy XIV on its online store, inspired by the 2026 Fan Festival and Final Fantasy VII Remake. Notable additions include the Hardy-Daytona motorcycle mount and a Wind-up Red XIII minion, alongside new emotes and cosmetic outfits. These items are available for purchase on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X until patch 7.5 arrives on April 28, 2026.
Perfect Ten: Have official MMO websites improved in the last decade?
This analysis revisits the state of official MMORPG websites a decade after an initial assessment, finding that while some aspects like business model explanations have improved due to industry consolidation, others like news feeds and screenshot updates have significantly worsened. The article highlights the continued reliance on platforms like Discord and Steam for communication, often at the expense of dedicated, searchable official channels.
Final Fantasy XIV sets its next Live Letter for April 17 – here’s what we think will be in it
Final Fantasy XIV will host its next Letter from the Producer live stream on April 17th, previewing upcoming content for patch 7.5. The broadcast is expected to offer a look at the new Trial fight against Enuo, Beastmaster gameplay, gear previews, and the first Vana'diel raid encounter.
Wisdom of Nym: Is it time to bring elemental damage back to Final Fantasy XIV?
This article discusses the potential return of elemental damage types to Final Fantasy XIV, a system removed during the transition from 1.0 to 2.0. The author argues that reintroducing elemental weaknesses and resistances could add depth to combat mechanics and job differentiation, citing Blue Mage's use in the Masked Carnivale as a precedent. While acknowledging potential design challenges, the piece suggests that modern game design and player visibility make it more feasible now than in the past.
Interview: Getting Competitive With Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy
Square Enix Producer Naoya Matsumoto discusses Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy's shift to a 3v3 competitive mobile format, emphasizing its portrait mode design for casual, one-handed play and community features. He also touches on the possibility of a PC version and the character selection process, which prioritizes role diversity and highlighting lesser-known characters from the Final Fantasy series.
MMO Week in Review: Queen Devona
This week's MMO news roundup covers updates for Guild Wars Reforged, layoffs at MechWarrior studio Piranha Games, and a potential acquisition of Epic Games by Disney. The article also touches on political discussions surrounding game shutdowns in Europe and new early access dates for Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era.
One Shots: Call to order at Creepy Doll Con
This week's One Shots feature highlights community screenshots from various MMOs, including Secret World Legends, Crimson Desert, Final Fantasy XIV, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and Marvel Heroes. Players shared their most memorable or humorous in-game moments, ranging from spooky scenes to fashion contests and unique character customizations.
WoW Factor: World of Warcraft’s never told a big story well, but it does organic tales better
This article analyzes World of Warcraft's long-standing issues with delivering compelling main storylines, contrasting them with the game's success in creating memorable organic, player-driven narratives and engaging side quests. While the overarching plot is often criticized as disjointed, the game's world design and smaller quest arcs provide a more personal and captivating experience for players.
Final Fantasy 14's latest variant dungeon is so good, it deserves better—the MMO needs to figure out its rewards so all this great work isn't wasted
The latest variant dungeon in Final Fantasy 14, The Merchant's Tale, is praised for its stunning visuals and engaging boss fights, but criticized for its lackluster reward structure. The article argues that Square Enix needs to improve how rewards are distributed to keep older content relevant and to better honor the work of its designers. While the new 'advanced' difficulty is a success, the rewards like tradeable accessories and consumables do not justify the effort for many players, especially when compared to the gear progression typically locked behind Savage raids.
WRUP: Our Chicken Vindaloo Contains A Normal Amount Of Tungsten Edition
The Massively OP staff and community share their weekend gaming plans, including Lord of the Rings Online, Marvel Heroes Project TAHITI, Monster Hunter Wilds, MechWarrior 5, Warframe, Final Fantasy XIV, 30XX, Sunderfolk, and World of Warcraft. They also discuss discontinued sodas like Sun Drop, Slice, Crystal Pepsi, and Mountain Dew Game Fuel.
US FFXIV Fan Festival 2026 Schedule Shared
Square Enix has revealed the schedule for the US Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival 2026, taking place April 24-25, 2026, in Anaheim, California. The event will feature keynotes from Director and Producer Naoki Yoshida, development panels, and concerts by The Primals. The MMORPG is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC.
Massively Overthinking: So how panicked are we about the state of the games industry?
Industry veterans Brenda and John Romero expressed deep concern over the current state of the games industry, citing funding issues, AI concerns, and studio closures. The Massively OP staff discusses these worries, with some feeling resigned and others cautiously optimistic about a potential industry correction, particularly concerning the future of MMORPGs.
FFXIV Online Store Gets Buy for a Friend Item Gifting Again
Square Enix has reinstated the "Buy for a Friend" gifting option on the Final Fantasy XIV Online Store for several item categories, including emotes, face paint, fashion accessories, minions, mounts, and orchestrion rolls. This feature was previously removed in October 2022 due to concerns over fraud and item reselling. The gifting option is now available for single-character items, with account-wide items marked as unavailable.
Final Fantasy 14 lifts restrictions on gifting after 4 years, allowing players to give other fans of the MMO single-character mounts, minions, and more: "Finally"
Square Enix has lifted restrictions on gifting items in Final Fantasy 14, allowing players to purchase mounts, minions, emotes, and more for other accounts via the online store. This change, which has been a long-awaited feature for the community, enables players to share in-game cosmetic items with friends.
There's just no good reason why WoW's story mode raids aren't available right away—and I'm saying that as someone who cleared normal just fine last month
This opinion piece argues against the time-gating of World of Warcraft's story mode raids, suggesting they should be available immediately upon a patch's release. The author contends that this delay hinders the accessibility of the game's narrative for casual players, despite Blizzard's stated goals for The Worldsoul Saga. While acknowledging the effort in raid design, the current implementation is seen as counterproductive to experiencing the story as intended.
