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VILLAGE ARCADE: Square Enix announces Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, PS5 open beta

The next chapter of the popular Japanese MMORPG ushers in bold new beginnings

After delays to content and cancellations of events due to COVID-19, Square Enix finally revealed the next expansion to Final Fantasy XIV and the world of Eorzea at a digital announcement showcase event last night.

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker will release this fall on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and Mac, and concludes the Hydaelyn and Zodiark saga—the story that began nearly almost eight years ago with the start of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.

“In addition to bringing the long-running story arc that began with A Realm Reborn to its conclusion, Endwalker will mark a new beginning for the beloved MMO, setting the stage for new adventures that longtime fans and new players can enjoy together,” Square Enix said in a press release following the announcement event.

But that doesn’t mean the MMORPG is coming to a conclusion, Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida promised fans tuning into the event that the game would continue for years to come, even joking that he might continue developing the game after he dies.

But what this means is that for the first time since version 2.0, Final Fantasy XIV will take users on a brand new journey—making it the best time for fans of the series or newcomers to pick it up and play together.

This departure is even good for longtime fans of the game who haven’t necessarily paid attention to the story. I, for one, have more than 2,500 hours logged in Final Fantasy XIV, but I have yet to actually dive into the story—something that’s a bit of a testament to how deep the gameplay is in Final Fantasy XIV.

A brand new story

Final Fantasy XIV is different from the single-player additions to the long-running Japanese RPG franchise because it is an ongoing story told over multiple releases spanning nearly a full decade. 

As an MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV releases smaller chapters every three to four months, with larger expansion packs releasing every two years. 

This release pattern—which has been delayed a bit due to development restraints caused by COVID-19—makes it daunting to new players entering the game, because there’s so much content to catch up on.

It's also difficult for players who started five or six years ago to jump back into the game after a hiatus. But thankfully, the team behind Final Fantasy XIV is aiming to change that by concluding the story arc midway through Endwalker and starting fresh with something new.

This is great news for fans that might be looking for a conclusion to the game that they've dedicated hundreds of hours to. They finally get to see the story's triumphant conclusion.

But for those of us interested in the gameplay, Square Enix promises there’s a lot more of that to come, as well.

New jobs, dungeons and relaxing things to do

The most exciting part of Square Enix’s Endwalker announcement for me is the new gameplay content that will be released alongside the story content. In Final Fantasy XIV, players can play the game in a variety of roles, from healers to damage dealers to damage-absorbing tanks.

Yoshida confirmed the game is set to introduce a new healing job and a melee DPS job when Endwalker releases. While the latter job hasn’t been confirmed, the healing job was revealed to be the barrier-focused Sage—a job that will help balance the healer role as it did not receive any new additions in Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers.

And of course, like any good content release, Endwalker will also include new battles in the form of primals, dungeons and raids.

One of the most interesting content tidbits revealed was the announcement of an Island Sanctuary. 

The Island Sanctuary was promised to be a way to relax and wind down in the world of Eorzea. During the announcement it was discussed that the area is intended to be a place where players can farm, raise livestock and harvest goods to sell and trade with their friends.

It sounds like this Island Sanctuary is more of a move toward the peaceful gameplay found in Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley—a welcome change in 2021, where games are increasingly trying to bring people together in a safe environment.

PlayStation 5 Open Beta coming soon

Square Enix didn't stop at Endwalker with their announcements, as they also revealed fans of Final Fantasy XIV don't have to wait until Fall 2021 to get a new way to play.

The company also revealed the highly anticipated PlayStation 5 version of Final Fantasy XIV will be coming to PlayStation 4 users—who also own a PlayStation 5—through an open beta on April 13.

"The PlayStation 5 version will feature numerous upgrades from the PlayStation 4 version, including significantly improved frame rates, faster load times, 4K resolution support and more," Square Enix said.

But what's more is when the beta concludes, players with a PS4 license of the game will be able to upgrade to the PS5 version of Final Fantasy XIV for no extra cost.

Regardless of how and where players interact with Endwalker, there will be a lot more details to come. But for now, check out the game’s official reveal in the trailer below.