Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Already has a Patch in Works

[Freya]

xivarr.jpg

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn launched! If you haven't heard the news, it's time to step into Eorzea! (Oh come on, this is a final fantasy website, i'm sure you've heard the news). With the relaunch of this MMO, Square Enix released a Launch trailer. The trailer gives a glimpse of the story involved with this new game. Check it out!

Although there have been many server issues with this release, Square Enix has kept an optimistic attitude about it. Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida recently sat down with Playstation's official blog for an interview. When asked about future updates, Yoshida had this to say:

We’re planning on doing a major update every three months once the game has been released, and continuously adding large-scale content. Ongoing support for the game will be included in the monthly subscription.

With a plan of ongoing support, this shows that Square Enix is devoted to extending the content available to players as well as actively fixing any issues that may arise. Yoshida went on to explain about the next patch.

We’ve already begun work on the first update that is currently called patch 2.1 and will introduce a large-scale housing system, as well as “The Wolves’ Den” — the first ever PvP content in the series. Furthermore, the update will include new dungeons, a new daily quest system, new Primal battles, extensions to the main story, and loads of other new content to enjoy.

There will be a significant update every three months, so everyone will be able to continue enjoying the game for a very long time! Of course we also have long-term plans to release full expansion packs, so watch out for future updates on those, too.

Square Enix is putting the work in with new patches every three months as well as plans for full expansions according to Yoshida. Back in February, during a Live Q&A letter from the Producer, when asked about a possible expansion Yoshida explained:

As we just mentioned before about the addition of a new race, we are looking into this for the first expansion, which we would like to release within two years of launch.

So a new expansion will most likely be two years out from launch and at that point a new race may be introduced. Two years is a long time so this may change or even come sooner depending on the success on the recent launch. You can definitely be on the look out for a new patch at least within the next three months that includes PvP and new content.


The interview with Playstation blog went on to ask if voice chat would be integrated into the official game since it was absent from the beta.

We do not plan on offering official support for voice chat. To explain that decision, the idea of talking directly to other players with your own voice and making it a requirement to do so will not necessarily be a good thing for beginners, and many will see it as imposing pressure or causing them unnecessary stress.

I am personally a veteran online gamer, so I completely understand the importance of voice chat, but if we were to make it an officially supported feature then there is a chance that some players would start to demand that others use it just because it is an “official feature”.

You will still be able to use third party voice programs such as Skype or Ventrilo among various others for your group voice chat needs.

From this interview we also learned that Square Enix is taking care to include new players in the MMO experience by trying to avoid overwhelming additions. When asked about a customizable interface, Yoshida explained that they will release this customization later in patches and AddOn tools as to not put pressure on new gamers to the MMO genre at this early point of A Realm Reborn's infancy.


What do you think about the possibility of PvP? Would you like voice chat integrated into the game? Are you interested in customization of your interface? Is it too early to be talking about an Expansion? Do you think SE is pandering too much to new players? Are you excited about this release? Share your thoughts!

[Del Murder]

This is why I don't like playing MMOs at launch. What if I want my character to be the new race? It might be cool! I also have no desire of subscribing for two years in order to get at the new content. You could always cancel and then come back, I guess.

It's cool that they have a major update planned for soon, though. Sounds like a lot of neat stuff in there.

[comma]

This is why I don't like playing MMOs at launch. What if I want my character to be the new race? It might be cool! I also have no desire of subscribing for two years in order to get at the new content. You could always cancel and then come back, I guess.

My thoughts exactly. Another good reason to hold off is that new classes/jobs will come in the future. I'd rather spend my time playing as a corsair than as any of the current choices, for example.

[Super Christ]

I would say it doesn't need Corsair per se, since the Marauder class is already somewhat pirate themed. But the Gambler class would be nice - all the Corsair really is is a pirate themed gambler - maybe centered around Ul'dah since there seems to be gambling parlors there.

Not surprised on the patch since we already knew from beta they were planning on adding a beauty salon and vanity slots.

[comma]

Marauder doesn't really do it for me. You can't just have guys swinging axes in ship-to-ship combat. You need marksmen with guns. Skills based on luck/gambling would be a nice touch, but so would some of Mustadio's skills from FFT, like Arm Aim and Leg Aim. A DPS class with some offensive support abilities like that would be my ideal.

[Jinx]

Marauder doesn't really do it for me. You can't just have guys swinging axes in ship-to-ship combat. You need marksmen with guns. Skills based on luck/gambling would be a nice touch.

NEEDS MORE GUNS

(We're finally in agreement, Comma! )

[Del Murder]

Will there be a class with a machine gun?

[Mirage]

The class with the machine gun.mp3

[Loony BoB]

Regarding "What's the point of subbing now when I can play later?" - loads of reasons. It's a great game, for a start, it's the time when most people are playing - one of the worst things about joining FFXI late on was that only about three EoFFers were still playing and I only played with a couple of them regularly - for about a month before they too departed. Also, they are adding benefits for people who pay up. There are bonuses for the first 30 days subscription, the first 60 days, the first 90 days and more are planned down the line. So there will always be things that you can only get with a solid subscription, it seems. Likewise, there will probably be seasonal one-off events which often happened in FFXIV 1.x.

But mostly the people. I mean, who wants to turn up in time for everyone to leave? This game is way, way more fun than FFXI 2008 was. And far prettier, too. Not shy on content, either, particularly with decently sized patches coming every few months.

I expect a gambling class to appear in Ul'dah eventually as a subjob of Pugilist (since their guild is also a casino or near a casino or something, at least it was in 1.x) or as part of the Golden Saucer addition. No idea how Musketeer will fit into everything, but guns bore me in fantasy games. Never liked using Irvine or Vincent. Barret was alright because, hey, he had a gun on his arm. That's fantasy. None of this "i shoot u with mah gun" business which is more suited to Call of Duty.

As for the new race - when you pay for the first 30 days you get a Fantasia item that gives you a one-off chance to redo your character creation when you sleep at the inn. Dunno how it works exactly, but the Lodestone shows a male Hyur turning into a female Miqo'te.

What do you think about the possibility of PvP?
Meh. PVP doesn't interest me.

Would you like voice chat integrated into the game?
I feel it excludes people and therefore I'm not interested in it. I can understand other people liking it, but yeah, I'd rather have any communication be on a global level, not on a "if you're in this voice chat and have a microphone and speakers and like to hear my voice and use your voice" level.

Are you interested in customization of your interface?
I think the default look is pretty good, but there are some minor things I'd change such as the size of certain things. I'm still tweaking parts of the existing UI, though. It's surprisingly customisable as it is.

Is it too early to be talking about an Expansion?
Nah. Why not?

Do you think SE is pandering too much to new players?
If anything, I sometimes wonder if it's doing too much for us older players.

Are you excited about this release?
Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss~

[Aulayna]

Isn't a Bard pretty much a Corsair with songs?

This is why I don't like playing MMOs at launch. What if I want my character to be the new race? It might be cool! I also have no desire of subscribing for two years in order to get at the new content. You could always cancel and then come back, I guess.

It's cool that they have a major update planned for soon, though. Sounds like a lot of neat stuff in there.

You don't have to stay subscribed for those 2 years. If you've done everything you want to do then cancel your subscription and come back when the content you're interested in comes out again.

Most MMOs that introduce new races usually give their players a way of changing races either via an in-game item or optional paid service so I doubt that will be an issue. 1.0 players have already had an opportunity to change their character appearance for free at the start of ARR too and you get an item for your 1st month's subscription that you can use to change your characters race/gender/appearance too.

[comma]

No idea how Musketeer will fit into everything, but guns bore me in fantasy games. Never liked using Irvine or Vincent. Barret was alright because, hey, he had a gun on his arm. That's fantasy. None of this "i shoot u with mah gun" business which is more suited to Call of Duty.

Muskets are incredibly steampunk and fit in with the ideas of airships and a lot of other stuff already in FFXIV. It'd fit in really easily, not to mention there are corsairs (or people with guns) in the official FFXIV art already.

Having ammo that comes with certain status effects is interesting to me. That wouldn't happen in FFXIV, though (unless ammo could be made an "offhand" item like some of the crafting tools), but having skills at least that take effect based on which body part is hit is a good idea to me. Considering how gun classes have been treated in previous FF games, it seems like they could make for a cool DPS/support class.

In regards to loyalty bonuses for subscriptions, you're basically talking like gimmicky hat items and stuff like that? It's not really enough to convince me to spend money on a game. I didn't consider the Collector's Edition for a single minute. Anyway, yeah, I understand that you can cancel the subscription when you don't feel like play and start it back up when new content comes out. It's just that I don't feel like playing right now.

[Loony BoB]

I was more meaning 'fitting in with the system' than 'fitting in with the game' - I have no idea what kind of role they will play. Chance, like Corsair? DD + Support, like Bard? Straight DD, like Black Mage?

[comma]

DD and support (different kind of support than Bard) that is chance-based. Like I said, just think about the role of guns in previous Final Fantasy games.

This is the image of a guy with a gun that I mentioned: