Square Enix has revealed that Endwalker isn’t the end for Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.
No, we’re not getting Endwalker 2: 2 End 2 Walk, but Square Enix plans to improve the PC MMORPG without rolling back the recent (massive) Endwalker expansion. In fact, it has confirmed that it’ll be supporting Final Fantasy XIV for an additional ten years. The game originally launched in 2010 but was relaunched in 2013 with the A Realm Reborn subtitle.
Given that Endwalker was all but unplayable at launch due to the sheer number of people trying to get in, it’s clear Final Fantasy XIV’s players are far from done with the game. So what does Square Enix have in store? The company revealed its plans during a Twitch livestream, which you can watch here, but here are a few of the things that are in the works.
For a start, it’s going to introduce low-level scenarios, dungeons and trials that make it easier for players to tackle the game solo. Yes, MMORPGs may involve banding together with some like-minded individuals, but there are people who like to tackle the world on their own and this change should cater to that.
The single-player friendly content will be rolled out slowly, beginning with A Realm Reborn’s main scenario, but ultimately you’ll be able tackle the whole game without other human players. The trust system, which allows you to recruit NPCs to assist you, will help support this.
On top of that, the game will be receiving a range of graphical tweaks. Final Fantasy XIV isn’t exactly ugly, but it’s worth bearing in mind that its original incarnation launched in 2010 and the Reborn version arrived in 2013. Improvements include “…higher-resolution textures, improved material qualities, and better lighting and shadow effects.”
There will also be additional quests added to the game, and while Square Enix hasn’t given a concrete date for all this new content, there should be plenty to keep players busy.
If you’ve never tackled Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn you’ll be able to trial the game from tomorrow, February 22nd. Hang on… ten years, and Square Enix has never thought of offering a free trial? Not at all – it has. The problem was that, when Endwalker was released, people were queuing to get in the servers, so Square Enix temporarily suspended free trials. They’ll be back from tomorrow, so you should be able to take Final Fantasy XIV for a 30 day spin.
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Mac. After the free trial, it requires a subscription to play.
