Final Fantasy XIV outlines the next 10 years – RPG advancements, graphical update, and Patch 6.x series roadmap – Gematsu

Final Fantasy XIV producer and director Naoki Yoshida outlined the next 10 years of the massively multiplayer online RPG during the “Letter from the Producer LIVE Part LXVIII” live stream, including forthcoming advancements as a solo and multiplayer RPG experience, the game’s first graphical update, and the Patch 6.x series roadmap.

Get the details below.

■ Our Journey Thus Far: Final Fantasy XIV from 2010 through 2021
September 30, 2010 – Official service for version 1.0 begins
December 10, 2010 – Development / operations team restructured
October 14, 2011 – Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn announced
November 11, 2012 – The End of an Era (1.0 service discounted)
Late February 2013 – Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn beta test begins
August 27, 2013 – Official service for Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn begins
October to December 2014 – The first Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival
June 23, 2015 – Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward launches
August 21, 2015 – Global registered player total exceeds five million
June 20, 2017 – Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood launches
August 8, 2017 – Global registered player total exceeds 10 million
August 31, 2018 – Global registered player total exceeds 14 million
May 24, 2019 – Global registered player total exceeds 16 million
July 2, 2019 – Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers launches
December 14, 2019 – Global registered player total exceeds 18 million
July 22, 2020 – Global registered player total exceeds 20 million
December 2, 2021 – Global registered player total exceeds 25 million
December 7, 2021 – Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker launches
■ Final Fantasy XIV: Newfound Futures
The Next 10 Years of Final Fantasy XIV
(Yoshida assured that he has no plans to leave the Final Fantasy XIV project, unless the CEO of Square Enix tells him he needs to go—and even then, Yoshida said he would fight him on it; or if the development or operations team wanted to kick him out; or if he dies.)
Looking toward 7.0…
Advancements as a solo and multiplayer RPG experience.
The game’s first graphical update.
Patch 6.x series roadmap.
Future concept #1: An even better RPG—alone or with friends!
Large-scale updates to the Trust system.
Trust compatibility for all main scenario dungeons and four-player trials to be added in Patch 6.1 to 6.5.
Patch 6.1 will make Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (Patch 2.0) scenario duties Trust-compatible.
Further improvements will be made to some low-level main scenario dungeons and trials.
Eight-player trials will not be updated at this time.
Those updates will be considered for 7.0 or later.
Future concept #2: Preparing for years of service to come—Final Fantasy XIV‘s first graphical update.
Planned for implementation in 7.0.
Development and preparation ongoing until the expansion releases.
Aiming for screen-wide aesthetic appeal suited to a multiplayer environment.
Animation and lighting system updates also planned.
New graphics will not be comparable to those of standalone titles.
Minimum operating specifications will also change as of 7.0.
Will try to accommodate as broad a range of hardware specifications as possible.
(Yoshida assured that Final Fantasy XIV will continue to support PlayStation 4, at least until 7.0.)
Character appearance updates:
Primary features and goals:
Higher-resolution textures (hair, skin, gear, etc.).
Improved material qualities (skin, metal, fabric, etc.).
Better lighting and shadow effects (especially for players’ shadows, etc.).
Overall appearance of player characters will be altered as little as possible.
Will be applied to old NPCs where possible from 7.x onward.
Testing for additional improvements will continue in the future.
First month of testing (sample)—map visuals:
Background visuals updates:
Primary features and goals:
Additional lighting points (improved visual quality, depth, and immersion).
Higher-resolution shadows (increased movement, decreased flickering effects).
Improved textures (metals, fabrics, etc.).
More and better auto-generated greenery (increased resolution, variety, etc.).
Possible improvements to fog and other ambient effects currently being tested.
Upgrades will be tuned to the maximum extent that performance allows.
Future concept #3: Continuing to provide regular updates on an appropriate schedule!
Patch 6.1 Series Roadmap: Planned Major Updates
Main scenario update (Patch 6.1 to 6.5)
“Somehow Further Hildibrand Adventures (Patch 6.1 to 6.5)
“Tataru’s Grand Endeavor” sidequest series (Patch 6.1 to 6.5)
Myths of the Realm #1 (alliance raid)
Crystalline Conflict (new player-versus-player)
Arkasodara tribe quests and dailies
Dragonsong’s Reprise (new Ultimate duty)
Ultima’s Bane (Unreal)
Trust system for Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (Patch 2.0) main scenario dungeons
New Calling Card-style UI
New hairstyles for Hrothgar
Empyreum (Ishgard housing)
Custom Deliveries: Ameliance
New trials and other assorted updates
Patch 6.2 Series Roadmap: Planned Major Updates
Trust system for 2.x main scenario dungeons
Trust system for two to three Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward main scenario dungeons
New weapon enhancements
New “Criterion” dungeon with variable difficulty (for one to four players)
“Island Sanctuary” debuts
Plus Pandaemonium, Faux Hollows, other trials, and more!
Patch 6.3 Series Roadmap: Planned Major Updates
Trust system for the remaining Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward main scenario dungeons
Deep Dungeon series #3
Ultimate duty #5
Island Sanctuary update
Plus Myths of the Realm, Faux Hollows, other trials, and more.
Patch 6.4 / 6.5 Series Roadmap: Planned Major Updates
Trust system for all Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood main scenario dungeons
Criterion dungeons #2 and #3
Additional area for Island Sanctuary
Plus the conclusion to Pandaemonium, further Myths of the Realm, Faux Hollows, other trials, and more!
More plans for Patches 6.4 and 6.5 are being made as we speak!
Patch Schedule Announcement
The major patch cycle:
Previously: One major patch every three-and-a-half months.
Going forward: One major patch every four months.
Please allow us one extra week each for implementation and fine-tuning. (One extra week will also be added for summer and New Year’s holidays.)
Even as we tackle new challenges, we will continue to deliver plenty of updates on a regular schedule. Join us as we embark upon the next 10 years of Final Fantasy XIV.
■ Housing Plot Sales from Patch 6.1
Lottery system details:
Each player may only enter the lottery for one plot of land during each lottery period. (Each member may enter once when purchasing land for a Free Company.)
Players must pay the full price of the plot upon entry—unsuccessful players will be refunded in full.
Four purchase systems:
Lottery (FC)
Lottery (individual)
First-come first-serve (FC)
First-come first-serve (individual)
Purchase system distribution:
One of the four purchase systems will be applied to each ward (e.g. Empyreum ward 6, Mist subdivision ward 3).
In Patch 6.1, all wards will use either the individual or FC lottery system. (We will consider making a few wards first-come first-serve if there is strong demand.)
■ Miscellaneous
Final Fantasy XIV Free Trial resumes Tuesday, February 22 (times may vary).
Letter from the Producer LIVE LXIX will air on Friday, March 4 at 3:00 a.m. PT / 6:00 a.m. ET / 20:00 JST. We’ll be showcasing various aspects of Patch 6.1 in this first preview!
Final Fantasy XIV Print Collection 3 will release on April 30 for 33,000 yen (preparations for release overseas are underway). Enjoy your favorite Final Fantasy XIV illustrations in all their glory with these high-quality, framed prints!
Square Enix Cafe Tokyo – Final Fantasy XIV collaboration underway! Part 1 ends Friday, February 25. Part 2 begins Saturday, February 26 and runs until Friday, March 25. (Availability of certain items may vary between Parts 1 and 2. Certain collaboration items are planned to be released later on the Square Enix e-STORE in Japan.)
The Final Fantasy XIV development team is now hiring game designers and graphics engineers.