Today Square Enix broadcasted the Final Fantasy XIV Letter from the Producer Live 86, including plenty of gameplay and details about the upcoming update 7.2 “Seekers of Eternity.”
As usual, Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida and Global Community Producer Toshio Murouchi provided all the relevant news during the livestream from Square Enix’s headquarters in Tokyo.
Following the reveal of the update’s release date (March 25, 2025) and main trailer, we get the confirmation that the Savage version of the Cruiserweight Tier of the Arcadion raid chain will come a week after 7.2.
We also hear that the update will include new crafted gear at launch to give players time to get ready for the raid.
The Cosmo Exploration community crafting feature will come in update 7.21, while the Occult Crescent field content, the new Mamool Ja Allied Society Quest, and the Inconceivably Further Hildibrand Adventures quest chain will come in update 7.25.
Moving on to gameplay, we start with the first look at the first raid of the Cruiserweight Tier of the Arcadion raid. It’ll see us fight against “Dancing Green.”
We then get to see the new gear that you’ll be able to earn in the raid, showcased on the traditional printed sheets of paper.
Interestingly, we take a look at the changes to the role actions exclusive to Final Fantasy XIV large-scale PvP. Players will be able to choose one among three role actions available to their role. These can be changed in starting area after the match begins. Below you can see the menu and a few examples.
The frontline map The Borderline Ruins (Secure) will be improved as follows
We also get a first look at the map in a gameplay video, alongside a second video showing the role actions.
We then go back to more printed papers showcasing the gear that players will be able to earn with the new Final Fantasy XIV tomestones.
Next, we move on to the Cosmic Exploration. Players will gain access after completing the main scenario quest of the Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker expansion and the only level requirement will be level 10 or above in a disciple of the hand or land class.
Solo quests will have your level adjusted and there will be a completely separate inventory dedicated to the Cosmic Exploration, similar to the Island Sanctuary. Below you can see the first gameplay.
Upon arrival, the area will be empty and it’ll be filled with progression. There is a permanent sprint button, named the “Cosmo Sprint.” Incidentally, the suit you see in the gameplay below hides tails.
There will be solo missions titled “Cosmo Missions” and they work pretty much like Guildleves. Once you’re done, you can end the mission from any location.
We then get to see “Critical Missions” which display a bar at the top of the screen. As everyone completes missions, the bar will fill, and when it is full, the emergency ends and rewards are assigned.
The next step is Mecha Operations, which do exactly what they say on the tin, letting up to 5 players pilot a robot. That being said, not everyone will be the pilot and others will play as supporters. You can register to be the pilot with a dedicated ticket that you can buy with a currency named Lunar Credit.
There is a mechanic that improves your chances if you don’t get chosen as the pilot and, of course, your ticket is returned if you’re not picked.
Lastly, we get to see the Cosmo Fortune roulette that lets you receive rewards. You can buy rolls with Lunar Credits. Another currency you can earn is the basic Cosmocredit, which can be exchanged for various rewards.
The second video shows the ultimate rewards for being at the top of the leaderboards and earning your place as a “Star Contributor.”
The loporrit Scanningway will tally each player’s level of contribution every other day at 6:00 p.m. JST, 2:00 p.m. PDT, 9:00 a.m. GMT, or 8:00 p.m. AEDT.
Completing activities within the tally period increases each player’s score, regardless of class used. The player who contributed the most within each 24-hour tally period will be awarded the status of Star Contributor immediately.
Scanningway will give you feedback on your level of contribution as you can see below.
Star Contributor will have the following perks for 14 days:
- A hologram of themselves displayed at the base camps.
- Their name displayed on the billboard at the base camps.
- A visual effect applied to their character while exploring the stars.
Once the 14 days expire, previous Star Contributors won’t be able to receive the status for the next 14 days. Below you can check out the rewards.
The feature is also tied with the new Tool Enhancement Quests titled “Cosmic Tools.” You can earn the tools immediately from the start of Cosmic Exploration.
You can enhance them simply by progressing through the missions even when the tools aren’t equipped.
We also learn that the development of each star is separated by World. You can explore and survey the stars only in your home world and Star Contributors are specific to each World.
Each major patch will introduce a completely new star to explore, starting with the Moon.
Next on the menu is the Occult Crescent field activity, coming in patch 7.25.
To gain access you need to complete the Dawntrail main scenario quest and have a Disciple of War or Magic job at level 100. It’s worth mentioning that unlike Bozja, this is not an activity designed to level your job. That will come with a new Deep Dungeon in patch 7.3.
You enter the area by speaking with a specific NPC and each instance will include up to 72 players. Pre-formed parties will join the same instance.
Within the Occult Crescent you’ll have a separate leveling system called the Knowledge Level. The difference between your Knowledge Level and the enemy’s will greatly influence damage inflicted and taken.
If you’re incapacitated at Knowledge Level 5 and above you’ll love experience points if you’re not revived. If you lose too much XP, you may level down as it happened in hardcore MMOs of the past.
Below you can check out the first gameplay. As we learned a few weeks ago, you can unlock and pick various support jobs. You start with Freelancer only, but more will be unlocked with the first quest. Further support jobs are unlocked with additional progression.
You level up your support jobs separately, unlocking actions and traits as you progress. The actions have their own hotbar (or more specifically, a ring). It’ll be possible to unlock every aetherite from the start if you’re good at avoiding monsters.
We get to see a Critical Encounter, which is a public activity including everyone standing in a pulsing circle. While you wait for the start, you can form a party.
Enemies with a higher Knowledge Level will be more difficult to defeat, but rewards will be higher.
Defeating high-rank enemies quickly (they will display a specific icon) will initiate an EXP Chain, which grants increased rewards. Forming a party helps defeat enemies quickly and enjoy more EXP chains.
Only “balanced parties” with characters within 3 knowledge levels of each other are eligible for EXP Chains. You can level sync if the difference is greater to become a balanced party.
Below you can see how this will work in more gameplay.
You can also encounter FATEs that work pretty much like in the rest of the game and are easier than critical encounters. You can join them even if they have already started.
The Forked Tower can be joined by up to 48 players and it’s a dungeon featuring several bosses. You must use a special item named “Cipher” acquired as you explore the isle to gain access. When 16 or more players use them at a designated location, an aetherial node will appear and will teleport the players to the Tower.
If there are more than 48 players standing at the aetherial node, the 48 participants will be randomly selected but those who used a Cipher will have a higher chance to be picked.
You can also find treasure chests in the wild and you can open them freely, keeping the spoils for yourself. Rescuing magic pots from monsters and giving them an elixir will provide you with hints to a chest’s location.
In the Occult Crescent, you can earn two different kinds of currency. Enlightenment Silver Pieces are earned from FATEs and Critical Encounters, while Gold Pieces are acquired by defeating monsters in the wilds.
Exploring the Occult Crescent will also lead you to level up the new Phantom Weapons.
In patch 7.4X new Phantom Jobs will be introduced. More will also come in patch 7.5X, alongside a new area.
Below you can check out new gear you can earn within the Occult Crescent, besides the last picture. Yoshida-san did not reveal where the assassin-like outfit can be unlocked.
In the video below you can check out minions and mounts that can be unlocked in the content of the 7.2X updates.
Interestingly, we get to see a brand-new mechanic. When your sprint expires, you’ll receive the “Jog” effect which increases your speed as well, but it’ll be interrupted by combat. It’s worth mentioning that it’s named “Jog” in English transliterated in Katakana in the Japanese version displayed, but we don’t yet know how it’ll be localized officially in the English version.
Below you can check out the schedule for the 7.2X patch cycle, which will extend all the way into May.
If you’d like to learn more about the patch, you can check out our report about the previous Letter from the Producer Live, which provides plenty more info.
Final Fantasy XIV is currently available for PC, PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X|S. The latest expansion, titled “Dawntrail” was released in early July 2024.
The game is one of the pillars of Square Enix’s lineup and does wonders for its otherwise shaky financials, as revealed a few weeks ago.
