With the Endwalker addon in Final Fantasy XIV, the great storyline around Hydaelyn and Zodiark has concluded, but the game is far from over. What does the near and distant future hold for the MMORPG?
Here’s what the director says: Many months before the release of Endwalker, the director of FFXIV, Naoki Yoshida, emphasized that his game does not end there. The support for the MMORPG would continue for years afterwards, Yoshida stated.
Concrete plans exist for at least another 5 years (via Kotaku) and the next addon is already in the works, as the director explained in an interview on Radio Mogstation. However, the details are still shrouded in silence.
The first information about it is expected to be revealed at the Fan Festival in Las Vegas on July 28 and 29, and the subsequent Fan Fests.
The long-term plans for FFXIV are primarily rooted in the financial success of the MMORPG. Looking at Square Enix’s financial reports to investors, there is a recorded increase of 3% in profit in the MMO segment compared to the previous year. Other areas in Digital Entertainment have shrunk significantly.
Fans need not worry that their favorite MMORPG might be unplugged. On the contrary, in a year full of flops, FFXIV saved the finances of Square Enix.
In a producer stream, Yoshida noted that the usual patch cycle of FFXIV will change. Previously, the transition for the upcoming addon started with patch x.4. This will not be the case in the subsequent patches of Endwalker.
Into the Void
This is the status of the story: In the ongoing story of FFXIV, a quieter phase has begun after Endwalker. The end of the world has been averted, and the Warriors of Light suddenly have a lot of free time, which they spend seeking new adventures.
These adventures take them back to the beginnings of FFXIV, the Crystal Tower raid. The world of darkness, also known as the Void, which is briefly visited during the raid, is the next travel destination.
In search of Azdaja, the sister of the great dragon Vrtra, the Warrior of Light and his allies have found a way to traverse the Void. There they meet Zero, part Voidsent, part human, who tells more about the history and the rules of their world.
The new antagonist of the story is initially a Voidsent named Golbez, whom some Final Fantasy fans may recognize from FFIV. He commands a massive army led by his generals and holds Vrtra’s sister captive.
What’s next? In the upcoming patches, fans can expect further confrontations with Golbez and his henchmen. The few fragments and clues from the cutscenes of patch 6.2 have sparked many speculations among players, primarily centered around Golbez and who he really is. These include:
- He is one of the Warriors of Light from the 13th shard.
- To become so powerful, he consumed a portion of Zodiac’s ether.
- Some even suspect that Golbez is one of Azem’s shards.
In any case, it can be assumed that the further story will initially revolve around the 13th shard world. The remaining loose ends of the Endwalker story will be concluded in the side content of the raids. Pandemonium showcases players’ shared adventures with Elidibus, and in the 24-man raids, they will learn who the 12 gods worshipped in Eorzea are.
On the content front, the patch 6.4 will be released in the near future. It will bring, for example:
- Continuation of the main story with Zero and Golbez
- Final part of the Pandemonium raid in normal and epic
- New upgrade levels for the Manderville weapons
The release date of patch 6.4 is set for the end of May, with the patch again being divided into several parts. Updates 6.41 and 6.45 will be released a few weeks to months later.
What are your theories regarding Golbez and his identity? What speculations do you have about the upcoming story? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
By the way, Square Enix will soon have a new CEO:
