FF14 Dawntrail marks the start of a new era for the beloved MMORPG – its second full arc, or even a third if you consider the original 1.0 incarnation of Final Fantasy 14 separately. The launch of FF14 patch 7.1 gave us a glimpse at what’s to follow, but game director Naoki Yoshida, best known as ‘Yoshi-P,’ has his eyes set even further afield as he looks to the next Fan Fest and an even bigger future for our Warriors of Light.
I had a fantastic time with the newest Final Fantasy 14 expansion. The slower pace and the fact that your Warrior of Light steps out of the spotlight for much of it didn’t land for everyone, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Tural, as chronicled in my FF14 Dawntrail review. Regardless of your thoughts on the story, however, the rest of the content – from zone design to battle content and the striking graphics update – has been some of the best work that the critically acclaimed MMORPG has seen yet.
There have been gripes, of course. Many feel that the Pictomancer is still too strong, are lamenting the simplification of the Viper soon after launch, or wish that the first set of savage Arcadion raids had been just a smidge more challenging. But on the whole it feels like we’re moving in a great direction when it comes to actually playing the game, and as he looks to patch 7.2 and the future, including a planned ‘job individuality update’ in the next expansion, Yoshida promises to continue ardently on the path he’s carved out.
2025 marks Yoshida’s fifteenth year at the helm of FF14. “Half of my career as a game developer has been happily devoted to Final Fantasy 14,” he writes in a special New Year blog to players. “That I’ve been able to come this far and make so many incredible memories is because of you, Warriors of Light. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.
“The development team is deep into work on Patch 7.2,” Yoshida notes, “and in February I’ll start my own checks on implementation.” He says that the next patch will be “jam-packed, so look forward to loads of new content.” If the new FF14 Chaotic Alliance Raid that launched during the holiday isn’t your cup of tea, then, don’t worry. Along with the second part of the Arcadion, we’re also expecting the launch of the new Field Operation, essentially the next evolution of Eureka and Bozja, which should provide us with plenty of long-form activities.
Beyond that, Yoshida promises “a year full of fun and surprises, both in game and out.” His current work, however, “is focused even further ahead, as I wrestle with a certain storyboarding task.” He notes that Korea marked the final stop on the Fan Fest tour, but says that, as the current round of events comes to a close, work on the next Fan Fest has already begun. He adds that “thinking up new ideas never fails to thrill, and I can hardly wait to see you all again in person.”
As is tradition, Yoshida also shares a mysterious message that is listed as coming “From the diary of a Young Man.” It reads, “Never stop. Never turn back. He who stops will ne’er endure. He who turns will ne’er be more.” Yoshida comments, “Of all the notes I’ve received over the years, this one has a distinctly different feel to it. I wonder how its words will influence our story going forward.”
Typically, these messages don’t have any specific meaning, although Yoshida does stress its distinct feel. Perhaps it merely refers to the upcoming post-Dawntrail story, which is set to conclude with patch 7.3. Or it could be in reference to the more long-term future – 7.1 has already reaffirmed Dawntrail’s ending tease that we’ve got some potentially gargantuan adventures on our plate as we look ahead to the coming expansions.
Or maybe it’s just a little nod from Yoshida to note that, for all the ups and downs of Dawntrail, he’s committed to forging ahead. There’s nothing more in the spirit of Final Fantasy 14 than that, after all, and I’m always in favor of experimentation over stagnation, even when it doesn’t go perfectly. Patch 7.1’s dungeon tries some very creative ideas, and I can’t wait to see what’s next. In all probability, we’ll find out over the coming months, with the 7.2 launch expected to fall sometime around March.
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