The fourth expansion for FFXIV is on the horizon. Here’s what we know.
The Final Fantasy series has produced some of the best single-player JRPGs to ever grace a console, and their MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV, is as good as any other single-player entry. Final Fantasy XIV launched more than a decade ago to a much tumultuous reception, but since then, thanks to a passionate development team, Final Fantasy XIV was successfully relaunched and has skyrocketed in popularity and is one of the best multiplayer games on the PC. With Endwalker on the horizon, Final Fantasy XIV promises to surprise players with one of the most exciting expansion passes to date. Here’s everything we know about Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker.
What is Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker?
Endwalker comes with tons of new content, including new dungeons, new jobs, new areas to explore, and a conclusion to the Hydaelyn and Zodiark storyline that started with the launch of A Realm Reborn in 2013. And while this might be the end of this long-running story arc, it’s not the end of Final Fantasy XIV, as producer and director Naoki Yoshida (Or Yoshi-P to fans) promises the start of a new story arc at the end of Endwalker.
Story so far
Source: Square Enix
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn starts simple enough: You are an adventurer, traveling the land of Eorzea five years after the calamity that destroyed and subsequently rebuilt the world. As Eorzea recovers and rebuilds, the player sets out to set a name for themself, joining the adventurers guild and catching the eye of a group called the Scions. You’re quickly recruited, and along with various other members, uncover your destiny as the Warrior of Light, the savior of the realm, as well as deal with the impending threat of invasion by the Garlean Empire from the north.
Heavensward, the first expansion pack, deals with the Dragonsong War between the Holy See of Ishgard and the dragon horde of Dravania. Players seek asylum in Ishgard after being falsely accused of murder and become involved in efforts to end the war, but in undoing these acquisitions, you uncover an ancient conspiracy concerning the origins of the war.
Source: Square Enix
Shadowbringers, the third expansion pack, takes place in the First, a parallel dimension that has succumbed to a great apocalypse. Players are transported to this world and set forth to restore vitality to the ruined land. They are joined by old friends who have been trapped on the First, as well as Emet-Selch, an immortal villain who aims to harness the First’s desolation to trigger a mirrored calamity on the player’s homeworld.
And finally, in Endwalker, you finally confront the evil Garlean Empire, led by Zenos, who has now killed his father. He is aided by Fandaniel, an Ascian who aims to destroy the world and end his immortal existence. Expect an all-out war the Eorzean Alliance and the evil Garlean Empire for the soul of Eorzea. In an interview with PC Gamer, Yoshi-P stated that Endwalker will feature around 30% more story and cutscenes than Shadowbringers, so expect lots of plot in this epic final chapter.
What’s new?
Source: Square Enix
- The level cap will be raised to 90.
- Several new zones will be added, including the Moon itself.
- New dungeons, raids, and alliance raids.
- Two new jobs
- New race: Male Viera
- New high-difficulty raid: Pandæmonium
- New threats: Anima and The Magus Sisters
- Cross-server travel to other data centers will be available.
- Two new tribes: Matanga and Loporrits.
- A new housing area in Ishgard.
- A mode called Island Sanctuary where you can tend gardens and livestock.
New race: Male Viera
Source: Square Enix
New locations
- Radz-at-Han, a tropical island that is based on Thavnair, an area that has been referenced in the game but never been visited before.
- Old Sharlayan, the scholarly island which will be the new hub area for Endwalker.
- Garlemald, a city deep in the Garlean Empire.
- Mare Lamentorum, a new area located on the moon, because why not?
- Labryrinthos, an artificial training ground.
New jobs: Sage and Reaper
- Role: Healer
- Weapons: Nouliths
- No Required Class
- Starts at Level 70
- Heals and protects party using barriers
- Uses Aether to manipulate Nouliths in battle
- Able to temporarily augment their own magic abilities
- Job quests will begin in Limsa Lominsa
- Role: Melee DPS
- Weapons: Two-handed scythe
- No Required Class
- Starts at Level 70
- Close-quarter combat
- Can call upon an avatar from the void to join in the battle
- Can serve as a host for their avatar
- Job quests will begin in Ul’dah
Once you hit the required level, you must seek out the quest giver to get access to the job.
New bosses and dungeons
Source: Square Enix
As for dungeons, Yoshi-P promised a large range of dungeon types, ranging from high-fantasy settings to sci-fi. Final Fantasy often taps into various different styles and almost all of them have been represented in Final Fantasy XIV in one way or another.
New Beastmen tribes
Source: Square Enix
What is Island Sanctuary?
Source: Square Enix
PVP
Source: Square Enix
Can I skip right to Endwalker?
Source: Square Enix
If you’d like, you can also pay to level up a class to level 70. This will put you well in the of Endwalker’s level 90 cap and help you push through lower-level quests with ease. More information on level and scenario skipping can be found here.
Can I play for free?
Source: Square Enix
What are the PC requirements?
Here are Endwalker’s system requirements. Be sure to check out our choices for best CPU, best GPU, and best RAM to ensure your computer is up to snuff:
Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker minimum system requirements
- OS: Windows 8.1 64 bit, Windows 10 64 bit
- CPU: Intel Core i5 2.4GHz or higher
- Memory: 4GB or higher
- Available space on hard disk/SSD: 80GB or more
- Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 or higher/AMD Radeon R7 260X or higher
- Screen resolution: 1280×720
- Internet: Broadband connection
- Communications port: If you are using a router, please set up your ports so that the below packets can pass through.
- (Ports that may be used) TCP: 80, 443, 54992~54994, 55006~55007, 55021~55040
- Sound card: DirectSound supported sound card
- DirectX: DirectX 11
Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker recommended system requirements
- OS: Windows 8.1 64 bit, Windows 10 64 bit
- CPU: Intel Core i7 3GHz or higher
- Memory: 8GB or higher
- Available space on hard disk/SSD: 80GB or more
- Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 or higher/AMD Radeon RX 480 or higher
- Screen resolution: 1920×1080
- Internet: Broadband connection
- Communications port: If you are using a router, please set up your ports so that the below packets can pass through.
- (Ports that may be used) TCP: 80, 443, 54992~54994, 55006~55007, 55021~55040
- Sound card: DirectSound supported sound card
- DirectX: DirectX 11
There’s also a benchmark screenshot campaign leading up to Endwalker’s release. Post a screenshot of your benchmark numbers and character, and 1,400 randomly selected participants will receive one in-game item of their choice from Modern Aesthetics: Strife, Scarf of Wondrous Wit, Ahriman Choker, Mandragora Choker, Bluebird Earring, Noble Barding, or Gaelicap.
When will Endwalker release?
Source: Square Enix
How much will Endwalker cost? And are there any preorder bonuses?
Source: Square Enix
Preordering any edition of the game will get you a Wind-up Palom Minion and the Menphina Earring, a piece of equipment that grants a 30% increase in EXP gained when you wear it. The exp boost applies only to Disciples of War or Magic classes and jobs, and will only work from Level 1-80. Preordering will also grant players access to Endwalker four days early, allowing players to start playing on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021.
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