When Final Fantasy 14’s Dawntrail expansion launched earlier this year, it was met with mixed reviews. While many applauded the improvements it made to mechanics and duty content, a new story arc meant a slower start in order to lay the groundwork of plot threads and characters, leading some fans to struggle to enjoy the latest offerings and pacing.
While we had the Arcadion Raid added shortly afterwards to give us something new and shiny to play with, the update everyone is most looking forward to is Patch 7.1, which drops next Tuesday. Many are pinning their hopes on the new content making up for some of the perceived shortcomings of the initial expansion.
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It feels so good to finally get my hands on the rewards I’ve coveted for so long.
For a few weeks now the fandom has been discussing FF14’s cycle and the inevitable lull you get after an expansion launch. Like most fandoms on hot topics, it’s divided. Some argue there is nothing to do for months between an expansion launch and its first patch, while others point out the wealth of content already available.
There’s a whole host of content I haven’t even tried yet, never mind completed. Deep Dungeons and things like The Forbidden Land, Eureka are largely untouched. There are jobs I have never unlocked, quests I have yet to complete, duties that I have never even tried. There really is always something we could be doing. Even if it’s not ‘brand new’ content, if you’ve ignored it for years, it’s still new to you.
While I’m firmly in the camp of there’s always plenty to do, I also understand the frustrations of those who want more of the main course. If you don’t want to dabble with side content, you likely won’t enjoy it even if you force yourself to check it out.
Given Dawntrail’s lukewarm reception, players are feeling the lull even more than usual, which also means the pressure on Patch 7.1 being a success is even heavier. Yet already there are rumblings in the community that there isn’t enough being added next week to sate their appetites.
First and foremost, we’ve got new main scenario quests coming, which have teased that we’ll possibly find out who Galool Ja’s mother is as well as giving us some more insight on Zoraal Ja. Like most fans, the narrative has always been an important factor for me. While the clips and screenshots we’ve been given seem very interesting, we won’t know how satisfying it will be until we actually get to play through it.
Narrative aside though, there’s plenty for Warriors of Light to sink their teeth (and weapons) into. We’re also getting Pelupelu allied society quests. They were one of my favourite parts of Dawntrail, so I’m particularly hyped to spend more time with them. The new PvP series is starting, so we’ve got new gear and rewards to earn there. And, of course, with any story addition, there’s naturally new duties to grapple with, too, new quests, new rewards, and most importantly, new minions to hunt down.
As an ex-Final Fantasy 11 player, I’m completely biased on this one, but the new Echoes of Vana’diel alliance raid series based on the series previous MMO is calling me. I have some reservations given some of the glimpses we’ve seen, but I know that regardless of weird design choices, Jeuno alone is going to hit me right in the feels. Emotional attachment aside, given my less than stellar battle skills, this raid is absolutely going to keep me occupied for some time while I try to master it.
There’s the usual tinkering with the game too. A few new added items and emotes, a few adjustments to existing content and menus. Housing enthusiasts are eating well with a slew of new furnishings. For minigame fans, there are new Triple Triad cards and voiced character lines have been added to Mahjong. There’s a little of everything, which means there’s something for everyone. Or at least there should be.
I think regardless of whether you played FF11 or not, a new raid is the biggest draw alongside the new story content. These will be the two biggest deciding factors of whether fans are happy or not with Patch 7.1.
I predict that, much like Dawntrail itself, Patch 7.1 will be divisive. Until we get further into this story arc and players have grown more attached to the newer characters, many will be more critical of whatever is being added. Ultimately, only time will tell, but as long as the FF11 raid isn’t too bizarre and there are new minions to get, I’ll be happy enough.
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer
- ESRB
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T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Animated Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
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PC, PS4 & PS5
- Cross-Platform Play
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PC, PS4, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S