What would you wish to see in FFXIV Dawntrail? There’s actually no shortage of things to do in Final Fantasy 14 at this point, but that doesn’t mean players don’t have a thousand ideas about what else they’d wish to see next – or items they need to return back. Speaking at a press event attended by PCGamesN during FFXIV Fanfest London 2023, game director and producer Naoki Yoshida says the team will consider anything if players ask loudly enough.
During the event, where he also discussed his dream of a possible FFXIV Diablo collab, Yoshi-P answers several questions on possible future features, in addition to whether we’ll see among the game’s past events return to offer newer players a probability at among the more distinctive FFXIV items to have graced the MMORPG previously.
Speaking as to whether we could see limited-time events with unique item rewards equivalent to those for Dragon Quest, Yo-kai Watch, or Final Fantasy 15 make a return, Yoshida says, “If there’s demand, so long as players raise their voices, we’ll see what type of timing works.” The FF15 event, particularly popular since it allows players to grab the Regalia driven by Noctis and pals as a mount, has already made two appearances, in 2019 and 2021.
Player demand is something Yoshida talks about at length. Following news that one especially dedicated player has accomplished the near-unimaginable feat of collecting every in-game FFXIV achievement, Yoshida is asked whether the team is planning to make harder achievements in the long run, which he says is something he’d consider if there was demand – and he’s trying to that player for inspiration.
“Whether we’d create an achievement that may be higher difficulty… That all boils all the way down to this player; in the event that they are requesting it, then in fact we’d be pleased to do it. Just drop us a message on the forums,” he tells FFXIV’s most ardent achievement hunter, “If you do send us the message, trust me, we’ll keep our promise.”
Yoshida can also be asked whether we shall be seeing a tougher jumping puzzle in Dawntrail, akin to Stormblood’s Kugane Tower. These have long been a well-liked side activity for players, and the team clearly recognizes the demand. He responds that when you’re someone who likes “really hardcore difficulty, just like the Kugane jumping puzzle, we’ve got you covered. We’re going to make it.”
The Final Fantasy 16 collab coming in some unspecified time in the future in 6.5x (so prior to Dawntrail’s arrival) will include gear based on protagonist Clive Rosfield in addition to his faithful companion Torgal as each a mount (in his adult form) and a minion (as a wee pup). Yoshida says the team “doesn’t have plans” to introduce content for later characters within the story yet, noting that many players may not yet have played the sport, with the FF16 PC version still in development.
However, once more he reiterates that if there’s enough demand, it’s something the team might consider. “For now, I hope you’ll be able to make do with Clive and Torgal,” he remarks, “but when I manage to get a while to seek advice from Final Fantasy 16’s producer [never missing a chance to joke about him leading the development of both games] again then perhaps I can pitch just a little bit more of a grander crossover.”
Of course, recognizing fan demand doesn’t all the time mean something will certainly make it across. There’s licensing to contemplate, and the way the project will actually be implemented – as noted while talking about his dream of working with Diablo, where Yoshida mused whether the more ‘hardcore’ kind of Blizzard’s ARPG would even be feasible in FFXIV. But at the very least you recognize it never hurts to ask!
The FFXIV Dawntrail release date continues to be a way off, so why not take a look at our FFXIV Island Sanctuary guide while we wait to offer yourself a soothing break from all that combat within the meantime? You may also atone for every part revealed during FFXIV Fanfest London 2023 with our full keynote recap.
