Final Fantasy XIV’s Patch 7.4 marks the beginning of an exciting new era. It introduces a fresh story arc and, after more than a decade, lifts class-based fashion restrictions. A key highlight of Dawntrail has been its innovative combat design, perfectly exemplified by the recent Pilgrim’s Traverse deep dungeon. Now, anticipation builds as lead battle designer Masaki ‘Mr Ozma’ Nakagawa hints at “something truly new” that players can expect in the upcoming 7.5x patch series.
Pilgrim’s Traverse served as the initial step in Director Naoki Yoshida’s strategy to re-evaluate Final Fantasy XIV’s approach to difficulty, and it was met with significant success. Its appeal is broad; it even encouraged friends who had never experienced the original Palace of the Dead to try this new feature. For seasoned players, the scaling challenge of The Final Verse (Quantum) offers adjustable difficulty levels, rewarding those who push their limits further.
The evolution continues with Patch 7.4’s new variant dungeon, The Merchant’s Tale, which was recently revealed during Live Letter 89. Additionally, the next chapter of the highly anticipated Arcadion raid series is on its way. Notably, Nakagawa, celebrated for his role in designing many of FF14’s complex and challenging encounters, confirmed he is “not involved in the 7.4 raid.”
He clarified that “another amazing team” is dedicated to the Arcadion Heavyweight tier, including its savage difficulty version. Nakagawa stated, “After finishing my work on 7.3, I’ve been focused on a major piece of content for patch 7.5x. It’s something new and fresh for FF14. I can’t say more right now, but I’m pouring everything into it so that all of you can enjoy a truly new experience.”
Regarding the nature of this new content, several possibilities come to mind. If development proceeds smoothly, we anticipate a new ultimate raid to be released within the FF14 7.5 patch series, an area where Nakagawa typically plays a key role.
Also slated for release around the same timeframe is the new limited job, Beastmaster. Square Enix has kept its gameplay under wraps, but it’s expected to be as unique, if not more so, than the Blue Mage, certainly qualifying it as “truly new.” Or could Nakagawa be devising an entirely different surprise?
Nakagawa also emphasized that, despite his reputation for creating challenging content, difficulty isn’t the sole focus. He stated, “Difficulty is an important part of battle content, but way more important is whether the content is actually fun to play.” He believes this guiding philosophy is clearly evident in The Final Verse (Quantum).
“If I wanted to make Q40, the mode’s highest level of challenge, harder, it would be simple,” he noted. “Just double the fight length and it would easily exceed ultimate-level difficulty. However, I refrained from doing so because my primary objective was to deliver a dense, thrilling, and fun experience within a shorter timeframe.”
“This philosophy also extends to Q15 and Q30,” he added, encouraging players to “choose the difficulty that feels right for you, and enjoy the content at your own pace.” With upcoming job adjustments in Patch 8.0 and the team’s continued innovation in adaptable challenge levels, this is undoubtedly an exciting period for Final Fantasy XIV players. I, for one, eagerly anticipate these new experiments if they lead to more of the rewarding combat experiences we saw in Dawntrail.
For those seeking other gaming options while awaiting Patch 7.4, we’ve compiled a list of excellent single-player MMORPGs. And if you’re looking to elevate your gameplay, upgrading to a top-tier gaming mouse can significantly enhance your control in any MMORPG.
What are your thoughts on the current state of difficulty and battle content in Final Fantasy XIV? We invite you to join the discussion and share your experiences.