It has been an eventful 2023 forFinal Fantasy 14, despite no expansion launch. With the main story taking a nostalgic turn toward the Void andFinal Fantasy 4,Endwalker’s post-expansion content was anything but boring. In 2023, three majorFinal Fantasy 14patches were released, with several smaller but equally important updates between them.
With Patch 6.55 arriving in mid-January 2024 sometime after Tokyo Fan Fest,Final Fantasy 14players will see bothhowEndwalkerconcludes and how the road toDawntrailtakes shape. But with a new adventure on the horizon, it’s always good to look back and see everything that made it possible. Therefore,these are the 10 best changes toFinal Fantasy 14in 2023, in no particular order.
Final Fantasy 14’s Free Trial and Duty Support System Were Upgraded
With plenty of memes and references on social media, theFree Trial ofFinal Fantasy 14is among the most generous in gaming today. Before October 2023 and Patch 6.5, the Free Trial went up to level 60 throughA Realm RebornandHeavensward. This year, new players got even more content in the free trial, as theStormbloodexpansion and a new level cap of 70 were included with the Growing Light content update. This was coupled with changes to the Duty Support System throughoutEndwalkerto allow all main story dungeons released before theShadowbringersexpansion to be taken on with a party of NPC companions rather than players. This included content from the first several hours of the main story as a way for newcomers to engage with the story on their own terms.
The FF14 Player Community Keeps Innovating
Though Dawntrail is not due to release until the summer of 2024, that has not stoppedFinal Fantasy 14’s dedicated players from finding ways to engage with their communities and welcome new players into the fold. While some veteran players claimed burnout and balked at the notion, others were more opportunistic and formed communities that take part in all kinds of roleplay and made it a point to teach newcomers the basic rules and etiquette of roleplaying. In the North American region, the Crystal data center’s reputation for beingFF14’s go-to place for all kinds of roleplaypaid off, as the Data Center Travel system saw players flock there for both impromptu sessions and community-run events. Some, though not all, this year include
A Moonlit Conclusion To A Tale Based On Nostalgia
As the first game in the series to include the Active Time Battle system,Final Fantasy 4holds many memories and nostalgia for some of the franchise’s older fans.Final Fantasy 4also featured a protagonist who changed Jobs from a Dark Knight to a Paladin, which was a pattern followed betweenShadowbringersandEndwalker. While reception was mixed, the main story ofEndwalkerfrom Patch 6.1 and on was essentially a love letter toFinal Fantasy 4, which saw players take on Golbez and his Four Fiends, culminating ina climactic battle against Zeromus. The fact that said battle took place within The Lunar Subterrane, named after the final dungeon ofFF4, speaks for itself.
The Realm Celebrated A Decade Of Its Storied Rebirth
In the summer of 2023,Final Fantasy 14marked an important anniversary, as the game celebrated a decade since the launch ofA Realm Reborn. After the disaster that was the game’s 1.0 version,Final Fantasy 14director and producer Naoki Yoshida set to work on creating an entirely new game from scratch, built on the remains ofFinal Fantasy 14version 1.0. Suffice it to say, this gambit from Yoshida and Creative Business Unit 3 not only saved theFinal Fantasyfranchise but pushed both Yoshida and his unit into the mainstream spotlight. With theDawntrailexpansion launching in the summer of 2024, and another decade of support planned, only time will tell what will happen in the years to come.
The Paladin and The Machinist Got Some Much-Needed Attention
Going intoEndwalker, the stalwart Paladin was chosen as the poster Job for the expansion. However, for the first half of the expansion, it was one of two Jobs that constantly felt underwhelming to play in most levels of content. The other Job, the gun-toting Machinist, was seen as inferior to its counterparts, the Bard and Dancer, and it was deliberately excluded from groups within the Party Finder. However, Patch 6.3 changed things for both ailing jobs, as both received reworks and buffs that essentially made themgo from worst to best within their respective Job roles. While the Machinist received a much-needed change to Hypercharge and got the Dismantle ability back to bolster its defensive utility, the Paladin received changes to its rotation and defensive kit, making abilities like Divine Veil easier to use.
More Party and Raid Content For All Players To Enjoy
The Machinist’s rework had impeccable timing, as its consistent damage and defensive utility via Tactician and Dismantle made it a valuable asset in The Omega Protocol (Ultimate) raid. While the Paladin would have to wait a few more months to shine brightly within the Pandaemonium: Anabaseios raid tier, 2023 had a bevy of raiding content for players to consume. From the casual 24-player raids Euphrosyne and Thaleia, both of which were part of the Myths of the Realm alliance raid series, tothe grueling gauntlets of Omegaand Pandaemonium for 8-player squads to face, the raiding community inFinal Fantasy 14had its share of content to chew on throughout the year.
New PVP Maps And New Fields of Glory
ThePVP side ofFinal Fantasy 14saw some attention in 2023, as well. In Patch 6.4, three major changes came to the Frontline mode. First, The Fields of Glory received a rework and a new map shape, which was made more triangular and even-sided for each Grand Company taking part in the ice-shattering fracas. Second, the Borderland Ruins map was taken off the rotation, though it remains to be seen if it will receive a similar rework inDawntrailif at all. Finally, the PVP Series EXP granted by the Frontline Daily Challenge was given a major boost, which made it easier for players to earn cosmetic rewards associated with PVP.
In addition to Frontline, the payload-inspired mode called Crystalline Conflict received two new maps, the Clockwork Castletown and the Red Sands. With plenty of achievements for battle-hardened players to collect, and more PVP plans in the works forDawntrail,FF14players who are inexperienced with PVP have an excellent opportunity to do so beforeDawntrail’s launch.
The Fall Guys Collaboration Comes to Fruition
During the Las Vegas Fan Fest,Final Fantasy 14producer and director Naoki Yoshida revealed that a crossover withFall Guyswould take place, which surprised all in attendance. Following Fan Fest, the “Warriors of Light Fame Pass” was available for purchase inFall Guys, which added cosmetic emotes and outfits based onFF14’s characters and creatures. However, the Eorzean side of things would have to wait a little longerto experienceFall GuysinFinal Fantasy 14, as Patch 6.51 brought the Blunderdome to the Manderville Gold Saucer for a limited time.
Continued Improvements To The Island Sanctuary
Since its release in Patch 6.2, the Island Sanctuary has givenFinal Fantasy 14’s more relaxed players a way to unwind amid the hustle of adventure. With each subsequent major patch, the Island Sanctuary has seen additions and changes in response to player feedback. One of these features is the Furnishing Glamour system, which was added in Patch 6.4. This feature allowed players to use certain outdoor housing items as a way to spruce up the island’s cabin area, with a maximum of 90 slots available as players build up their islands. With a plethora of decor at players' disposal, the furnishings can make any island into one ofthe most beautiful sights inFinal Fantasy 14.
Variant and Criterion Dungeons Rewards Changed After Player Feedback
2023 saw two new Variant and Criterion Dungeons join the mix, as Mount Rokkon and Aloalo Island were added toFF14in Patch 6.45 and 6.51 respectively. Along with a conniving merchant named Hancock Fitzgerald, players are tasked with climbing the Far Eastern peaks of Mount Rokkon and dispatching any demonic foes they come across. As for Aloalo Island, the Warrior of Light and their friend, a fisher named Matsya, explore an uncharted island and uncover some secrets that Lalafell players may find particularly interesting. With the addition of Aloalo Island in Patch 6.51, the reward structure for the Criterion (Savage) difficulty was changed in response to player feedback. This new reward was an item that allowed weapons earned with Allagan Tomestones of Comedy to be further upgraded intoexquisite weapons that have very distinct glows. With Variant and Criterion dungeons confirmed to return inDawntrail, only time will tell what adjustments Square Enix will implement in the future.
