At PAX West recently, the Final Fantasy XIV booth was filled with merchandise to purchase, including the Turalist hoodie, which celebrates the Dawntrail expansion and everything Turali. 

Now, for those of us who weren’t able to make it to Seattle in time for PAX West, the hoodie is up for pre-order on the Square Enix Store, costing $74.99 USD. Available in two colors, the hoodie comes complete with an image of the hidden map from the Tour Turali website:

Back when the site first launched ahead of Dawntrail, players were left hunting for all of the map pieces and some on Reddit took things to the next level, working together to piece it together in spectacular fashion. On a personal level, this image is a special memory for me because my Fiancé spent hours trying to find all of the pieces, as though the website was a game in and of itself. 

The hoodie comes in two colors, maroon and light blue. Both colors have a small ‘Tural: Board of Turalism’ motif on the chest and the FFXIV meteor logo at the top of the left sleeve. 

Although the hoodies are available for pre-order now, shipping won’t begin until some point in November, so you may be waiting a little while to finally show your support for Tural and the two new Dawnservants Wuk Lamat and Koana. 

The hoodie isn’t all that’s new on the Store, either. Also available for pre-order now are the following new additions, including one item which is making a comeback:

• Alpha and Omega figurines
• Cait Sith Doll Plushie (with in-game Cait Sith Ears item)
• Plush Moogle Pouch
• Plush Cactuar Pouch
• Plush Spriggan Pouch
• Plush Fat Chocobo Pouch
• FFXIV Coin Collection

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There are many seasonal events held throughout the year in Final Fantasy XIV, and it can be hard to keep up with what's coming and going. To help sort your schedule, we've got a rolling list of the usual FFXIV events, timing estimates, and even speculation about what's to come.

Below, we'll outline the FFXIV 2024 calendar's confirmed and tentative event schedule — along with some events that may have wrapped up for the year. Additionally, you can check out the MMO's usual calendar too, along with a little explainer on each of the year's festivities.

The FFXIV 2024 event calendar

It’s hard to give an exact date for every event, as the timing changes a little every year, and there’s no guessing when irregular events (such as The Maiden’s Rhapsody) may return. That being said, there are a few that (usually) loop around every year.

Expired events

• Gong Cha Collaboration Event [July 17 - August 28]
• The Rising [August 27 - September 11]
• Moonfire Faire [August 8 - August 26]
• FFXIV Twitch Drops for the Chocorpokkur Mount [July 2 - July 29]
• Mountain Dew Collaboration Event [May 16 - July 14]
• Yo-kai Watch Collaboration Event [April 24 - June 26]
• The Moogle Treasure Trove

  • The Second Hunt for Genesis [May 14 - June 24]

• Fall Guys Collaboration Event [May 23 - June 10]
• Make It Rain Campaign [May 15 - May 31]
• The Path to Infernal FFXVI collab [April 2 - May 8]
• Little Ladies' Day and Hatching-tide [March 14 - April 1]
• A Nocturne for Heroes [Feb. 28 - March 13]
• Valentione's Day [Feb. 7 - Feb. 21]
• The Maiden's Rhapsody [Jan. 22 - Feb. 5]
• The Moogle Treasure Trove

  • The First Hunt for Genesis [Jan. 30 - March 11]

• Heavensturn [December 31, 2023 - January 15, 2024]

Recurring FFXIV seasonal events

While some years haven't always followed this pattern, FFXIV mostly sticks to the same schedule of seasonal staples while throwing a few new festivities in here and there. The table below outlines the usual schedule from year to year, but if you want a peek at timely announcements on newcomers, maybe pencil in time to watch the next FFXIV Live Letter stream.

FFXIV events in 2024, what to expect

While seasonal affairs contain some degree of overlap, their themes, occurrences, and occasional unique mechanisms may mean some special attention or prioritization. The list below breaks down every FFXIV seasonal event, along with the types of rewards the festivals offer, and even a few handy links to our other, more specific breakdowns.

Breaking Brick Mountains (Dragon Quest collaboration)

This Dragon Quest tribute doesn't come along often, but it's been popping in and out of the FFXIV event rotation since the game's earliest 2.x days. The Breaking Brick Mountains event rewards some time-limited goodies like the Wind-up Brickman minion, King Slime Crown, and Thug's Mug.

Little Ladies' Day and the Hatching-tide

This year, Square Enix revealed it would combine two events into one by celebrating Little Ladies' Day and the Hatching-tide through one questline. While that may seem like a bummer, it doesn't change much in the way of seasonal FFXIV activities. This time, you'll get the adorable pink Peatie mount, and the MMO is supplementing the unusually crammed event schedule with Moogle Tomestone activities, and by recirculating old collaborations, like the FFXV crossover.

A Nocturne for Heroes, the FF14 x FF15 crossover

After visiting Eorzea in 2019 and 2021, Noctis returns to the realm in February 2024 for another FFXIV tie-in. A Nocturne for Heroes is one of several Square Enix RPGs that get the MMO treatment thanks to its online sibling, and this questline is a little more involved than the usual seasonal fanfare.

Even if for no other reason, the FFXV collab is popular for its Regalia Type-G mount. You know the one; it's the four-seater convertible that looks a bit like something out of Gran Turismo and a little out of place cruising around The Azim Steppe.

Valentione's Day

Love is in the Eorzean air once a year — though perhaps more if you're standing around in Limsa. Anyway, this year's Valentine's Day event doesn't deviate from the norm, awarding players with more 2024 exclusive event items in February, including the Love Heart emote and Heart Chair furnishing. If you miss out, those things will inevitably join the Cash Shop in 2025.

The Maiden's Rhapsody, the FF14 x FF11 crossover

The Maiden's Rhapsody welcomes the Final Fantasy XI event back to Eorzea again as it prepares for Dawntrail later this year. While it's an older questline, newer players can now indulge in a little crossover lore, plus score the fancy Amatsu glamour only available from this event.

Heavensturn

Heavensturn was the first seasonal event in FFXIV this year, running from December 31, 2023 to January 2024. This iteration of the event offered the Ryunosuke minion. To read more about the last Endwalker-era celebration, check out our guide on Heavensturn 2024.

Yo-kai Watch: Gather One, Gather All

The Yo-kai Watch collaboration for FFXIV is finally live, with the crossover event returning April 24, 2004, and running until the next expansion, Dawntrail, launches in late June.

For those who have missed the event during its previous appearances, the Yo-kai Watch crossover event gives players the opportunity to take part in FATEs while equipped with a Yo-kai watch to earn medals, which can then be exchanged for mounts, minions, and even weapons. The Endwalker version also added a fancy new, MGP-exclusive framer's kit.

With Yo-kai Watch celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and a new game being released in the next few months, only time will tell when this event is likely to return to FFXIV for yet another round. Perhaps next time, we'll see weapon additions for the Version 6.0 jobs, like Reaper and Sage.

The Path to Infernal, the FF14 x FF16 crossover

Finally, the Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XVI collab gets its official launch date, beginning on April 2, 2024. Yoshi-P confirmed the news at this year's PAX East, and if it's anything like those other FF-related collabs, you should hop on this quick, just so you don't wait years for its return. The FFXVI crossover event will see players working with Clive to defeat Eikons. Rewards for this event include:

• Torgal mount
• Torgal minion
• Clive’s Attire (Metian Attire)

Top Gaming Headsets On Amazon

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Everything coming to Final Fantasy XIV typically makes its debut in FFXIV's Letter from the Producer LIVE streams, providing first looks at upcoming seasonal events, collaborations, or even expansion details. A Live Letter broadcast always precedes new patch launches, revealing dates and trailers, and they usually run for quite some time.

If you keep an eye on Final Fantasy XIV's Lodestone feed, you can get the heads up for new streams scheduled. However, we've got the details below on when FFXIV will host its next Live Letter, resources for the last ones, and what you can expect.

FFXIV Live Letter schedule, timezones, and countdown

The next FFXIV Letter from the Producer LIVE airs during Tokyo Game Show 2024 on Saturday, September 28 at 10:50 p.m. PDT as part of the Square Enix Lineup.

FFXIV Letter from the Producer LIVE Part LXXXIII (83) hit our last estimated within September, and debuts as the first event of its kind since the MMO launched its Dawntrail expansion. However, don't assume this date means radio silence from Yoshida and his team until then. Expect Lodestone updates and communication through official social channels detailing hotfixes, patches, and any FFXIV downtime.

• FFXIV Live Letter 83 Timezones: PDT to EST, BST, and more

  • September 28 at 10:50 p.m. PDT
  • September 29 at 12:50 a.m. CDT
  • September 29 at 1:50 a.m. EDT
  • September 29 at 6:50 a.m. BST
  • September 29 at 2:50 p.m. JST

Where to watch the next FFXIV Live Letter

FFXIV Live Letter 83 can be viewed on the following channels:

• YouTube
• Niconico
• Twitch

What to expect from FFXIV Live Letter 83

This upcoming Live Letter will only be available in Japanese, but Square Enix should have presentation slides available in English. Regardless of your familiarity, we still know plenty of what to expect from the upcoming livestream as fans can look forward to details around Shade's Triangle, Cosmic Exploration, the Future's Rewritten Ultimate Raids, MSQ updates, and more.

Catch up on the most recent FFXIV Live Letter (82)

For those keeping track, this is Letter from the Producer LIVE Part LXXXII (82). During the last broadcast on May 16, director and producer Naoki Yoshida delivered a nearly 5-hour-long presentation on upcoming changes and additions launching with Dawntrail. This included details on reworks and updates to all of the MMO's older Jobs, plus peeks at the two new ones, Viper and Pictomancer.

Yoshida also noted the media tour was quickly approaching at the end of May, and that we'd see more from Dawntrail as those articles and impressions go live — something to hold us over on the road to FFXIV Version 7.0. As for what you can expect at the next Live Letter, we'll likely see a few things like the launch trailer, a closer look at new zones, and more progress on the graphics update.

Upcoming FFXIV Live Letter streams

• Letter from the Producer LIVE LXXXIII (83)

Previous FFXIV Live Letters

• Letter from the Producer LIVE LXXXII (82) (June 14, 2024)
• Letter from the Producer LIVE LXXXI (May 16, 2024)

  • Official Digest, recapping benchmark, graphic updates, Dawntrail Jobs

• Letter from the Producer LIVE LXXX (April 12, 2024)
• Letter from the Producer LIVE LXXIX (September 23, 2023)

FFXIV Live Letter language and translation resources

While the streams are created in Japanese, for FFXIV's Letter from the Producer LIVE LXXXI stream, Square Enix has said that it will feature a live Japanese to English interpreter.

This is common with the Live Letter streams but not guaranteed. For when they don't, or just if you missed the stream, Square Enix releases a digest of the Live Letter on the official forums. These summarize all the information in English.

There's no shortage of talented fan initiatives, either, as the FFXIV subreddit maintains a Discord channel of live interpretations in an unofficial capacity. After the stream, fan translators typically round up or clarify those points, too, giving eager players a resource that's typically faster than waiting for the official Lodestone post.

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Picture the scene: you’ve opened the Final Fantasy XIV Launcher, you press play, and an error box pops up containing hard to decipher details and a mysterious URL. You can’t get in to play, but what can you do to resolve this issue?

There are a few things to try to fix the FFXIV script error, some of which are more technical than others. It’s worth noting that simply waiting for a while and letting the issue resolve itself is a viable solution, as it usually does within the same day. However, if you’re in a hurry, here are a few troubleshooting fixes that may help you fix the FFXIV Script Launcher Error.

Try closing and restarting FFXIV to fix the Script Error

I hate to be that person, but have you tried turning it off and on again? If you’re playing through Steam, try exiting the Steam client through the task bar and opening it again, as well. Some users see to indicate this is all it takes to fix the issue.

Whitelist the URL from the FFXIV error

This is where things can get a little technical, but not quite as technical as the next option. 

1. Search for 'Internet Options' in the Start menu
2. Open the Security tab and select ‘Restricted Sites’
3. Click on the ‘Sites’ button and paste the URL from the error in the bar to whitelist it

This may or may not fix the issue, but if not, you might need to head for the last resort or simply wait it out. 

Uninstall and reinstall FFXIV/Steam

Like I said, this is absolutely a last resort and should only be done when nothing else is working, or the issue hasn’t resolved itself. Many people who have encountered the script error have reported that this does indeed fix the issue, although it’s probably not a viable option if you encounter it fairly often.

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Final Fantasy XIV fan and content creator SuperLouis64 is splashing paint on paper with a custom controller to attack enemies in Square Enix's beloved MMO. The color of paint with this Final Fantasy XIV paintbrush controller determines which skill is used for the Pictomancer Job; it's absolutely genius.

When SuperLouis64 brushes blue onto the surface of paper on an easel, Final Fantasy XIV queues up the "Holy in White" attack. It makes thematic sense as the Pictomancer is a new class from Dawntrail that uses a paintbrush as a weapon.

"I spent the weekend prototyping a Paintbrush controller for Pictomancer and I finally cracked the code!!" wrote SuperLouis64 on X. "I ended up going with the plan of having the player scan colors of paint and then literally PAINT to use the ability."

The content creator says there's a lot left to build, but the "prototype is amazing." It's likely this Final Fantasy XIV paintbrush controller will see its way to completion, as this isn't the first time SuperLouis64 has built a strange input for the game. He has previously made a gunblade controller made from NERF, where you shoot darts to fire at enemies and then use motion controls to swing the sword. Additionally, he's been able to punch foes using boxing gloves with the Monk class.

Those aren't the craziest things that SuperLouis64 has done in the realm of gaming. We previously covered this content creator beating Elden Ring boss Godrick with a controller made from bananas.

Another amazing feat from the gaming community includes a feat from CarcinogenSDA, who rapidly beat Resident Evil 2 Remake without taking any damage during Games Done Quick 2024.

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If you’re leveling your crafters in Final Fantasy XIV, it might be a good idea to look into turning your favorites into Specialists. To do this, you’ll need Soul of the Crafter, which will give unique perks and actions when unlocked. 

Soul of the Crafter works differently to Soul Crystals (or Job Stones, they’re both the same thing). Instead of automatically getting a Crystal at a certain level, you need to unlock Soul of the Crafter through a side quest, and then assign specific crafting classes as specialisms. It gets a little convoluted, but I can talk you through it. 

How to unlock Soul of the Crafter

After reaching level 55 in any crafting class, you can head to Mor Dhona and talk to Lydirlona (X:22.3, Y:6.8) to pick up the quest ‘Beloved of the Builder’. After completing this quest, you’ll gain three Soul of the Crafters, which can be exchanged for specific crafting souls. 

To exchange a Soul of the Crafter for a specific classes Soul Crystal, you’ll need to talk to Alderan in the Pillars (X:14.6, Y:10.7). Select which class you want to specialize in, and then give up one of the Soul of the Crafters.

How to change which classes are specialist

If you want to switch specialisms, you’ll first need to get your hands on another Soul of the Crafter. Luckily, these are pretty easy to come by and you can purchase them in exchange for Scrips from any Scrip Exchange. Currently, they cost 480 Purple Crafters’ Scrips each. 

With a new Soul of the Crafter in hand, simply head back to The Pillars and talk to Alderan again to switch your specialism. It's worth remembering that you can only have three specialist crafting classes at any time, so you'll need to choose carefully when deciding.

What does Soul of the Crafter do?

After you’ve turned the basic Soul of the Crafter into a Soul Crystal for a specific crafting class, that class will gain a small boost to all of its stats:

• +20 Craftsmanship
• +20 Control
• +15 CP

You’ll also gain some unique actions which are only accessible on a crafting class which has a Soul Crystal. These actions all cost 0 CP, so they’re very useful when crafting more difficult recipes:

Are there any specialist recipes?

With each new round of Master Recipes, new Specialist Recipes are added. To craft these, the required class will need to have a Soul Crystal attached, and you’ll also need to unlock the specific Master Recipe books. 

As of patch 7.05, there are four specialist recipes:

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There are a lot of easter eggs in Final Fantasy XIV, the most beloved of which involve NPCs showing up in unexpected places. As we head into spooky season, players are just starting to rediscover a seasonally appropriate example of this. 

Edda Pureheart, the NPC we’re introduced to during the main story and who later makes an appearance in Tam-Tara Deepcroft (Hard) and Palace of the Dead is, and I’m sorry to break it to you if you’re thus far unaware, dead. However, this doesn’t prevent her from making an appearance every now and then. 

If you’re lucky, it’s possible to come across Edda’s ghost in any of the three starting city states (Limsa Lominsa, Gridania, or Ul’dah). And I do mean very lucky, because she has a less than 1% chance to spawn in her ghostly form. She’ll stick around for a few seconds, then disappear as though she was never there. 

Now here comes possibly the worst part: she will only show up at 2 a.m. in one of the possible locations, and only on a rainy night. It’s fair to say that the odds are stacked against you when it comes to waiting for this encounter, but if you’ve ever tried to catch any of the particularly rare fish in FFXIV, then you should be used to this kind of hellish probability. 

She’ll only appear if you’ve finished Tam-Tara Deepcroft (Hard), but that’s where the certainty ends. There are conflicting tales as to when she stops appearing, with some people saying she will stop showing up after you complete level 50 of Palace of the Dead, and others saying that she will continue showing up regardless of whether you’ve completed Palace of the Dead or not. 

The ghost made its first appearance alongside the addition of Tam-Tara Deepcroft (Hard) way back in patch 2.3, but it’s definitely an easy one to miss or simply not know about. It’s understandable that a new wave of players are beginning to discover her existence, and it warms my heart that people are still talking about Edda so long after her fate was sealed.

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The team behind Final Fantasy XIV is touring the world at the moment, making appearances at conventions in countries as far apart as Japan, Germany, and the US. On September 28, FFXIV will once again make an appearance at Tokyo Game Show. 

At TGS 2024, FFXIV director and producer Naoki Yoshida will present the first Live Letter from the Producer since Dawntrail’s release, and we’ll get some sneak peeks of what’s to come from Patch 7.1.

The Live Letter will broadcast live exclusively on the Square Enix YouTube channel on September 28 at 10:50 p.m. PDT. For those on the East Coast, the stream airs on September 29 at 1:50 a.m. EDT. Unfortunately, there won’t be any English translation provided during the Live Letter, but presentation slides will be in both Japanese and English.

We already know, at least loosely, what we may be expecting from FFXIV 7.1. At previous conventions, and at the Chinese leg of Fan Festival, Naoki Yoshida discussed both Shade’s Triangle (the new large-scale battle content similar to Eureka and The Bozjan Southern Front) and Cosmic Exploration (content for crafters and gatherers, similar to Ishgardian Restoration) during panels and speeches. However, little information about either of these things has thus far been revealed outside of images and vague descriptions.

Shade’s Triangle and Cosmic Exploration are just two pieces of content on a long list of content that players know is on the way, but are unsure of the exact time frame for their additions:

• More Arcadion raids
• Futures Rewritten, Dawntrail’s first Ultimate Raid
• Inconceivably Further Hildibrand Adventures
• Further MSQ and progress with the story of Dawntrail

These are just a few things that players are itching to hear more about during the first of the 7.1 Live Letters. Whatever is revealed, one thing that I'm really hoping for is a release date so I can carve out some time to play all the new content coming our way.

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Between October 3 and 13, Melbourne International Games Week will be taking place. As part of the festivities, Naoki Yoshida will be sitting down with Stephanie "Hex" Bendixsen to discuss the development of Final Fantasy XIV. 

Sadly, the event has a maximum capacity of only 1,000 in person, but if you want to be involved and watch live, the event will be streamed live on the FFXIV Twitch channel.

Of course with the event taking place in Australia, the time-zone difference will mean that you may have to watch at a strange time, depending on where you are in the world. The steam will be live at 1 a.m. PT / 4 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. BST on October 8.

For those who are lucky enough to attend in person, there will be a free commemorative poster available as a souvenir of the event, featuring an illustration of every class:

If you’ve ever wanted a sneak peek at what goes on behind-the-scenes in terms of the ongoing development of FFXIV, this discussion is well worth tuning into. Yoshida will be talking about everything from his creative process, to what he’s learned over his 30 year career in development, to the futures of MMORPGs as a whole. 

It will be interesting to see whether Yoshida comments on the discourse surrounding Dawntrail, and whether he provides any hints as to the future direction of FFXIV. The end of Dawntrail left the story open to so many possible paths of development, so I’m hoping to hear some tidbits of information about where the story may be headed, either from this discussion or during PAX West.

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It’s no secret that Final Fantasy XIV players love getting their hands on pretty hardware that showcases their love for the game, and now HYTE has teamed up with FFXIV to give away another customized piece that's, as always, limited by RNG.

The custom hardware in this case is a very sleek-looking PC case, complete with Viper-themed full body illustrations on at least two of its transparent sides. It's complete with a Job icon and Dawntrail logo on the front. I can imagine this would look pretty impressive with some RGB LEDs backlighting the images. 

If you’re interested in entering the giveaway for the custom Y40 case, you’ll need to be a resident of either the USA or Canada, and there is a lengthy list of different things you can do to earn entries into the draw. In total, there are 11 ways to enter, providing you with 22 entries total.

Each task, when completed, earns you two entries into the prize draw. They include the usual suspects, like following the brand on Twitter or other social media, or liking and sharing posts. However, there is one interesting task that caught my attention. 

If you’re heading to PAX West, make sure to head to HYTE’s Display. Somewhere on their signage, according to the promotional site for the giveaway, there will be a secret code which can then be input to get two more entries. 

This isn’t the first FFXIV-themed gaming hardware we’ve seen in recent times, with Elsa Japan having released a couple of stunning limited edition cases back in January. In March, Xbox teamed up with FFXIV for a Sweepstakes to win an Aetheryte Xbox, which was a display piece but came with a fully functioning Xbox Series X and other goodies. 

Then there’s the Secret Lab chair which was released back in June and came complete with interchangeable, magnetic job icons. At this point, you could probably create a pretty impressive, fully FFXIV-themed office set-up if you really wanted to and if you get lucky in some giveaways. 

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Servers for Final Fantasy XIV are constantly shifting and changing status, and those updated labels bring perks or difficulties to players on those servers. After the August 27 maintenance, Data Centers across North America, Europe, and Japan were tweaked, with some shedding or adding the dreaded Congested status.

With the Dawntrail rush calming down, FFXIV Worlds are undergoing their usual dance to manage player populations across all Data Centers. If you've been hoping to join friends on another server or are just eager to create a new character elsewhere, now is the time to double-check those Server designation changes.

FFXIV World Status designations, from Congested to Preferred

Within every Data Center, individual worlds accept, encourage, or bar new character creation entirely. For those who are unsure what all of the statuses mean, here’s a quick rundown:

Changes on North American Data Centers

For those playing on North American Data Centers, a few changes were made to World statuses during the August 27 maintenance. No changes were made to Aether, as all worlds on the Data Center are still considered congested.

On the Primal Data Center, a North American hub, the following Worlds are now labeled as Standard:

• Behemoth
• Excalibur
• Leviathan
• Ultros

On the Crystal Data Center, a North American hub, the following Worlds are also Standard:

• Balmung
• Brynhildr
• Coeurl
• Diabolos

There are no Preferred Worlds in North America, though Dynamis is home to mostly those with the same perks labeled as New.

The following Worlds are now also considered congested:

• Exodus
• Famfrit
• Goblin
• Hyperion
• Lamia
• Malboro
• Mateus
• Zalera

Changes on European Data Centers

There are no Worlds on European Data Centers marked as congested in the update, but changes still occurred. Most of the shift impacts player balance on FFXIV's Light Data Center, but anyone looking to transfer a character should have no issue on any World — for now, at least.

On Europe's Light Data Center, Standard Worlds now include:

• Alpha
• Odin
• Phoenix
• Raiden
• Shiva

Moogle and Phantom are the only Worlds on the Chaos Data Center with the Standard Status. However, also on the Chaos Data Center in Europe, Louisoix and Spriggan are now Preferred Worlds, along with Light's Twintania.

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To coincide with The Rising, Final Fantasy XIV is holding a huge sale on its Online Store. There’s savings to be had on mounts, minions, glamour items, furniture, and more, but not everything is included in the sale. 

For the vast majority of items on the FFXIV Online Store, the sale equates to 30% off. This means that a mount which would regularly cost you $24.00 USD (such as the Magicked Umbrella or Crescent Moon) currently costs $16.80 USD. If you’ve been eyeing up a particular item on the site and wondering whether it’s worth taking the plunge, there won’t be a better time than now. 

One notable item is the Fan-tastic Cheer Set of emotes, which is currently on sale for $3.50 USD, but the individual Cheer emotes are not included in the sale and will cost you $2.00 each. Previous event rewards, such as the Reborn Phoenix mount and Phoenix Riser Attire, are not included in the sale, but that does leave most other cosmetic items available at a discount. 

Phials of Fantasia and Dyes are also included in the sale, so it may be a good time to stock up on your favorites. You can even get hitched at a discount, with Eternal Bonding items included in the sale. On the other hand, Tales of Adventure (level or story skip items) are not included. 

Obviously the more expensive an item is regularly, the bigger the savings, but if you’re wanting to make the most out of the sale, now is a good time to get the following items:

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The Rising 2024 has come to Final Fantasy XIV, and Limsa Lominsa is the host city for this year's celebration of those we’ve lost, and the future we’ve yet to experience.

The reward for completing this year’s event quests is the Brushed-up Krile minion, along with some fond memories and another encounter with the most familiar face to any Final Fantasy XIV player. 

Where to begin Rising to the Call, FFXIV's Rising 2024 quest

This is the first of two event quests to complete for the Brushed-up Krile minion, and you begin by talking to the Wandering Minstrel in Limsa Lominsa Upper Decks (X:11.3, Y:13.7). 

He’ll send you off to talk to a Yellowjacket called Ayoyo, who has been put in charge of this year’s firework display in remembrance of those lost on the Carteneau Flats. You’ll find her in the Coral Tower (X:11.3, Y:6.1). Remember to take the stairs to your right as soon as you enter the building and go downstairs. 

Then, you’ll need to speak with Ayoyo again at the Aetheryte Plaza (X:9.2, Y:10.9), before talking to four NPCs in Hawker’s Alley:

• Swozblaet (X:8.4, Y:11.5)
• Middle-aged Mariner (X:7.4, Y:11.9)
• S’dhodjbi (X:6.3, Y:12.0)
• Misty-eyed Skygazer (X:7.1, Y:12.6)

Once you’ve spoken to all of them, head towards the location where Ocean Fishing sets sail and wait at the destination (X:3.5, Y:11.9). A cutscene will play, then you’ll need to head back to the Aftcastle to talk to the Wandering Minstrel again to complete this first quest. 

How to complete We Who Are About to Set Sail Salute You

Speak to Ayoyo to start the next quest, then head back to the Coral Tower and talk to the Wandering Minstrel outside (X:11.2, Y:7.1). After the cutscene, talk to Ayoyo again before heading off to the Anchor Yard (X:7.7, Y: 14.9)  to parley with the pirates.

All that’s left to do is talk to Ayoyo, then the Wandering Minstrel. They’re both very close by in the Anchor Yard, and then you’ll enter into the final cutscene of this year’s event to get your one-on-one encounter with Yoshi P and your Brushed-up Krile minion. 

Once you’ve finished this quest, make sure to interact with the destination marked “The Anchor Yard” to get some encounters with familiar faces from the past.

How to get other The Rising 2024 items

If you want to pick yourself up a Rising Table Lamp, as seen all over Limsa Lominsa as part of the celebrations, you can do this by talking to the Rising Vendor in Limsa Lominsa Upper Decks (X:11.8, Y:13.7). The light piece will cost you 2,000 Gil. 

On the FFXIV Online Store, items from last year have been added and are now available for purchase. The full list of items is as follows:

• Authentic Rising Advertisement ($5.00 USD)
• Reborn Phoenix mount ($12.00 USD)

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Final Fantasy XIV has extensive amounts of lore, and none is more potentially confusing than the stories behind the Umbral Calamities. These Calamities have changed the world, brought worlds colliding together, and left legacies in their wake. 

There have thus far been eight Umbral Calamities, most of which seem to center around a particular element. Some are definitely more well known than others, but all of them should be remembered. 

The First Umbral Calamity

The First Umbral Calamity is what marked the beginning of what we now know as The Source. It’s also known as the Calamity of Wind, and much of what we know about it comes from the Moogles. In the tale of Good King Moogle Mog XII, we learn about a time when the Moogles filled the skies before it became the battleground of a war between the gods. 

The Second Umbral Calamity

The Second Umbral Calamity was caused by kingdoms on The Source battling over territories. Also known as the Calamity of Lightning, this one was mostly caused by mankind's own greed, but that didn’t make it any less devastating. 

After the wars between kingdoms destroyed the nature of the land around them, volcanoes began to erupt, causing long-lasting darkness to engulf the world. In this darkness, a huge lightning storm began and lasted for a year and a day, sending the people into underground caverns in search of safety. While down there, they began praying for salvation and these prayers are said to be the first form of magical incantations. 

The Third Umbral Calamity

Also known as the Calamity of Fire, the Third Umbral Calamity was a result of a massive shift to religion after the discovery of magic and the downfall of many of the world's kingdoms. Corrupt and powerful, the Churches led the people into holy wars, witch hunts, and eventual genocide. 

Tired of the wills of man, the gods are said to have punished the people. The sun became enlarged, and the earth became scorched and arid, leading people into famine. This Umbral Calamity is thought to be why Thanalan is now a desert, with discovered fossils leading many to believe that it was once lush and filled with greenery. 

The Fourth Umbral Calamity

As we reach the Fourth Umbral Calamity, the stories may start to become more familiar. Also known as the Calamity of Earth, the Fourth Calamity occurred when Amon, then a scientist, attempted to revitalize his nation by bringing the first Allagan Emperor, Xande, back to life. 

Forging a pact with the Cloud of Darkness to open a portal to The Void, Xande imprisoned the primal Bahamut within an artificial satellite which became known as Dalamud. The plan was to funnel Bahamut’s Aether into the Crystal Tower, but the ground below it collapsed under the force. This, in turn, led to massive earthquakes and even the crumbling of mountains. 

The Crystal Tower was swallowed by the earth beneath it, encasing Xande inside.

The Fifth Umbral Calamity

The Fiffth Umbral Calamity is perhaps the most mysterious of all the Calamities. Little is known about what caused it. Otherwise known as the Calamity of Ice, the Fifth Calamity began with the Age of Endless Frost. 

Eventually, this Endless Frost froze over the seas and Mi’qote tribes began to migrate en masse. The Lalafells who resided on Aloalo Island used the artifact we now know as the Key to escape into an unknown reflection, becoming known as the Milalla. 

The Sixth Umbral Calamity

Bringing an end to the War of the Magi, which had been ongoing for more than 250 years, the Sixth Umbral Calamity is also known as the Calamity of Water. A devastating flood, thought to be caused by the overuse of the land’s aether, swept over Eorzea and destroyed both the cities of Nym and Mhach. 

While the people of these cities fled to higher ground, magi from both Amdapor and Mhach worked together to find a new type of magic which would not drain aether from the world, giving birth to Red Magic. This seemed to quell the destruction, bringing the Sixth Umbral Calamity to its end.

The Seventh Umbral Calamity

The Seventh Umbral Calamity is perhaps the most well known to anyone who plays Final Fantasy XIV, as it was the end of FFXIV 1.0 and the start of A Realm Reborn. 

Due to the fact that the previous Calamities had corresponding elements, the people of The Source thought that the worst was behind them. But then the Garleans, hungry for conquest, sought to use Dalamud to cause massive destruction in Eorzea. 

In their attempts to gain territory, they dragged Dalamud out of the sky, not knowing that it was actually a Satellite encasing Bahamut. As Dalamud neared the surface, Bahamut erupted from his imprisonment and caused massive devastation, particularly on the Carteneau Flats. 

Louisoix Leveilleur, grandfather to both Alisaie and Alphinaud, worked together with the Circle of Knowing in an attempt to protect what was left of Eorzea and its people. As they prayed to the symbols of the Twelve, Louisoix transformed into the Phoenix, spearing through Bahamuts chest. Dying, Bahamut dragged Louisoix down into the earth with him and tempered him to his will. 

The Circle of Knowing survived, and went on to become the Scions of the Seventh Dawn.

The Eighth Umbral Calamity

The Eighth Umbral Calamity happened only in the alternative timeline during the early Seventh Astral Era (after the Sixth Umbral Calamity). Garlean forces unleashed a deadly gas called Black Rose against the people or Eorzea. This gas had the correct aspect to feed from the light-aspected aether of The First, which was swept into The Source and Rejoined. 

The Eighth Umbral Calamity not only destroyed everything in Eorzea, but also the Garlean Empire as well. Survivors, including Cid Garlond, went on to figure out a method of returning to The First before it was rejoined. This research was eventually passed down, allowing for the re-awakening of G’raha Tia in the Crystal Tower 200 years after the Calamity. 

Unfortunately, due to time flowing differently on The First, G’raha arrived 100 years ahead of schedule and had to hide behind the identity of the Crystal Exarch, awaiting the right time for the Warrior of Light to arrive in The First and quell the effects of Black Rose. 

The post FFXIV: All Umbral Calamities, explained appeared first on Destructoid.

In the roster of annual events in Final Fantasy XIV, few come with such heartwarming stories as The Rising. Every year in August, director and producer Naoki Yoshida appears as an in-game character to express his thanks for continued support, along with a few inspirational words of encouragement. 

The Rising celebrates the anniversary of FFXIV's rebirth as A Realm Reborn, after the end of Version 1.0. It’s a chance to not only share in the celebration of what will this year be the 11th anniversary of A Realm Reborn, but also to remember those who perished during the Seventh Umbral Calamity despite the efforts of Louisoix on the Carteneau Flats. 

In 2024, FFXIV's The Rising event runs from August 27 at 3 a.m. EST until September 11 at 11 p.m. EST, and you’ll be able to begin the event quest by talking to the Wandering Minstrel in Limsa Lominsa Upper Decks. There aren't many clues on the Lodestone yet about the contents of this year’s event quests, but the tagline is “Flowers bloom over the ocean, breathing the perfume of the past”. 

Regardless of what the event entails, as always, there are some rewards up for grabs if you take part. This year, you’ll get the Brushed-up Krile minion for participating, which is utterly adorable and a rare glimpse of Krile without her almost surgically attached hood and her newly obtained Pictomancer weapon. 

There’s also a secondary housing item, likely purchased for Gil from the event vendor. The Rising Table Lamp is a slightly bizarre choice and doesn’t quite scream ‘The Rising’ to me, but it probably won’t be too expensive and I’m sure my specified event items Retainer won’t mind holding on to it for me until I can find a use for it.

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Prior to the release of Dawntrail, Final Fantasy XIV implemented a new European probationary Data Center called Shadow. Apparently, this Data Center has served its purpose and is now set to be shut down on August 27. 

The Data Center was introduced in order to ease congestion during the early access period and official launch of Dawntrail and it definitely seems to have done just that. Dawntrail had an incredibly smooth launch with little existence of long queue times, something which was unexpected though very welcome for anyone who was around for the release of Endwalker.

If you’ve been using the Shadow Data Center to play since Dawntrail released, Square Enix are urging you to return back to your home world before August 27, and travel to the Data Center will no longer be possible after August 16. 

Don’t worry if you don’t manage to login and return to your home world prior to the removal of Shadow, your character won’t be lost to the Aether. All characters still on any of the following worlds will automatically be returned to their home world once the Data Center is shut down:

• Innocence
• Pixie
• Titania
• Tycoon

There will be a short maintenance period on August 27 in order to remove the Shadow Data Center, so the game will be inaccessible for all players during this time. More information about this maintenance will be released closer to the time via the Lodestone. 

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Summer is in full swing in the northern hemisphere, and that can mean only one thing in Final Fantasy XIV - the return of Moonfire Faire. This yearly event celebrates the summer, and this year there’s a Namazu themed emote up for grabs.

While you’re enjoying the festivities, make sure to keep an eye out for some familiar faces around Costa Del Sol, like Alpha and Omega enjoying the Bouncing Bomb balloons, or the Aliapohs up on one of the platforms. My favorite visitor is Puddingway (X:37.0, Y:25.2).

Where does the Moonfire Faire 2024 begin in FFXIV?

To begin the Moonfire Faire event quest, head to Limsa Lominsa Upper decks and talk to Mayaru Moyaru (X:11.5 Y:13.8) and pick up the first event quest ‘Fire Red, Beast Green’. Once you’ve listened to what he has to say, you’re free to head off to the Costa Del Sol and talk to Haermaga (X36.1:, Y:26.6). 

To complete this year’s event first event quest, you’ll need to do the following:

•  Speak to the Terrified Tourist (X:35.1, Y:25.5)
•  Speak to the Sweaty Guest (X:36.8, Y:24.4) then pick up the Fallen Item
•  Find the Cavorting Cactuar (X:35.3, Y:27.4) 

This will unlock the Uchiwasshoi emote, but you’re not quite finished yet. Talk to Beaudefoin and pick up the second quest ‘Festival Fan Frenzy’. To complete this step, you’ll need to use the Uchiwasshoi emote on Cavorting Cactuars in the following locations in Costa Del Sol:

• (X:34.3, Y:32.0)
• (X:31.6, Y:30.0)

Return to P’obyano (X:35.3, Y:27.3) and return the Cactuars to their rightful owner, then speak to Haermaga again to complete the quests for this year's Moonfire Faire.

How to complete the Moonfire Faire jump puzzle

Honestly? I can’t tell you how to complete this jump puzzle, because I am possibly the worst in the world at completing them. It took me four days of repeated attempts to reach the top of Kugane Tower. There, now you know. 

However, if you want to take part yourself and challenge your jumping skills, you can take part in the Eorzean Nimble Warrior course, you can find it in Costa Del Sol (X:36.7, Y:28.5)

The Eorzean Nimble Warrior course has various photo opportunities set out along its route, allowing you to take a break from the rage that always comes with repeated failures on the way up. 

Moonfire Faire 2024 Event Rewards

The main reward for this year’s Moonfire Faire is the Uchiwasshoi emote. This will allow you to wave your very own Namazu branded Uchiwa at any time. You’ll receive this emote for finishing the main event quest. Outside of the main quest, you’ll also be able to purchase some Bouncing Bomb Balloons for 5,000 Gil from the Moonfire Faire Vendor in Costa Del Sol (X:36.2, Y:26.8).

If you want to get your hands on any of the previous years’ Moonfire Faire rewards, you’re in luck. As of this year’s event going live, rewards from all previous years are available on the FFXIV Online Store. This includes last year’s Power Rangers inspired Phoenix Riser glamour set and the Legacies Reproduction housing item.

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If you’ve found yourself loving the musical arrangements in Dawntrail, then I’ve got good news for you. The Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail Official Soundtrack launches on October 30, and you get more than just the album with your purchase.

The Dawntrail OST releases as a 66-track blu-ray media disk, including all of the main themes as well as those glorious battle tunes for the Arcadion: Light-heavyweight raids. Each track will be accompanied by visuals, so I’m assuming that Honey B. Lovely will be making an appearance there somewhere. 

If you purchase the Dawntrail OST, you’ll not only get the album, but you’ll get a code to claim your own in-game Wind-up Zero minion, so you can bring her with you on your adventures. 

If you can’t wait to get the full album, certain tracks will be available from certain digital retailers, including Apple Music, ahead of the full release in October. The three EPs will be as follows, including the tracks listed below. I’ve noted where each track appears in-game to the best of my knowledge:

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail - EP (Available from August 6)

• Morrow’s Night (Tuliyollal day theme)
• Windswept Echoes (Urqopacha day theme)
• Pathmaker (Ihuykatumu final boss theme)
• A Trail Unending (Alexander dungeon theme)
• Smile (Dawntrail closing scenes)

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail - EP2 (Available from August 13)

• Morrow’s Magic 
• In Fulgur and Fire (Vanguard dungeon theme)
• The Skyruin (Valigarmanda trial theme)
• Seeking Purpose (Everkeep trial theme)
• Bygone Serenity (Living Memory theme)

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail - EP3 (Available from August 20)

• Starless Skyline (Solution Nine theme)
• Paved in Solitude (The Interphos trial phase 1 theme)
• Paved with Resolve (The Interphos trial phase 2 theme)
• Blessing on the Bluffs (Tender Valley dungeon theme)
• Bee My Honey (AAC: Light-heavyweight M2 theme)

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A new animation has been shown during Final Fantasy XIV FanFest China, and it has reignited the deepest of desires within me — I want nothing more than to see a slice of life anime focused on the Scions and their adventures. 

I’m not talking about their battles or their endeavors to save the world from yet another calamity. We’ve all seen that multiple times at this point. No, I want to see Y’shtola, Lyse, and Alisaie having a girls brunch as they discuss whether anyone has caught their eye. That idea isn’t pulled out of thin air, either. It’s happened in text format, in the Chronicles of Light compendium of stories. 

I would love to follow Estinien on his recent travels, as he adventures solo and encounters new people. I want to see Tataru’s business meetings, and watch as Alisaie and Alphinaud bicker over something mundane. I want to see the Scions be real people and not heroes. Most of all, I want to see them have fun. 

The animation has been shared on Chinese video-sharing site Bilibili, and I highly recommend you watch it if you want something to smile about today. 

It’s not the first time we’ve been teased with the concept of a Final Fantasy XIV Anime, either. Back in 2021, a trailer for the Korean market was released, and it raised my hopes rather significantly before I realized it was, in fact, just an advertisement. 

We also have an official Manga in the shape of Eorzea Academy, which takes the Scions and puts them all in school together with Tataru as the principal. It’s a little bit odd, to be honest, but have I read through it five times or more? Yes, yes, I have. 

Such a fantastical world as Eorzea deserves to be celebrated in any way that it can, and I honestly would love nothing more than a full Anime series covering the lore from 1.0 onwards, but a slice-of-life Anime which lets us see behind the hero facádes of the Scions as they try to function as normal members of society? I dream of that. 

The post This animation from FFXIV FanFest China makes me want a slice of life anime for the MMO appeared first on Destructoid.

Once the MSQ is done and dusted in Final Fantasy XIV, and all of your Jobs are at maximum level, it's time to experience the MMO's true endgame — glamour. The importance of piecing together new glam and expressing your personality through in-game appearances is a sentiment a large portion of the community holds dear, myself included. However, as beloved as that system is, Job-locked gear can sometimes throw a spanner in the works.

Here’s the thing: I’m not throwing shade at the FFXIV development team; I get it's impossible to accommodate all of our asks. They do a fantastic job of balancing fan expectations with what is feasibly possible. Like most folks, I've got a long list of wants when it comes to new outfits, hairstyles, weapons, etc. etc. But the Glamour system itself — like how the thing actually works — needs some help. Of course I always want more options, but managing what I have now is already a mess.

There are 22 battle Jobs (including the limited Job Blue Mage), three gathering classes, and eight crafting classes in FFXIV. That’s a total of 33 Jobs which, in an ideal world, would all be able to have their own specific glamours to differentiate them every step of the way. It's a design philosophy mostly upheld by Square Enix, giving players unique items of some fashion to every Job, such as Artifact Gear for battle classes.

There is, however, one glaring problem here — we only have 20 Glamour Plates. 

Look, 20 may sound like a lot, but it’s not even enough for each battle Job to have its own Plate, let alone trying to throw crafters and gatherers into the mix. This is why, for the most part, players will have a shared glamour for all Jobs of the same role - one for healers, one for tanks, one for all crafters, and so on. 

Back in 2019, prior to the release of Shadowbringers, producer and director Naoki Yoshida sat down with Kotaku and was asked if Job-locking gear would ever become a thing of the past. Ultimately, Yoshida doesn't seem too fond of sharing mismatched weapons between Jobs, and it's a point he's mostly stood by in interviews and streams since. While I completely understand the point he was trying to make in his reply, I have to admit that the rationale grows flimsy when extended to clothing options.

I don’t think the playerbase wants weapons to be glamourable outside of their Job or Class, either. I know I can tank a mob of Goblins in a bikini, but that's beside the point. Nobody wants to see a Dark Knight wielding a Sage’s Nouliths, or a Botanist bonking a tree with a Gunblade. That's not the issue. The real pain comes when singular pieces locked to a Job or Class, instead of opting to at least go by Role. Take, for instance, the level 100 Blacksmith chest piece. 

This is simply a chest wrap, which admittedly does suit the Blacksmith aesthetic, but it could also other crafters, like maybe your Armorer. Factor this in with a limit of 20 Glamour Plates, and you've got some tough choices to make about your FFXIV closet. Players just can’t afford to give up a precious Glamour Plate for a singular crafting class, and it's a crime we've got to part with some of the game's incredible looks based on Job exclusivity.

I understand what Yoshida was getting at when he spoke about preserving the aesthetic of each Job, but that idea somewhat goes out of the window when we have level 1 glamour sets of all styles that can be applied to any role. There are Paladins in swimsuits, Astrologians running around in a full chipmunk costume, and Gatherers in the fully armored Metian set. Players will always have their own aesthetic they strive for, and these level 1 glamour pieces allow for that to an extent. 

I’m not saying that all gear sets should be removed from this Job-locked nightmare. I’ll concede that Artifact Gear should remain as it is, with each Job getting their own outfit when a certain level is reached. It gives players something of a goal when leveling similar Jobs, especially when said armor sets are as nice as those introduced in Dawntrail. 

Trying to preserve a Job's general design and in-universe purpose is all fine and dandy. I know that Summoners have always had their ‘dong’ (the horn that sits proudly on their forehead), while Black Mages have always gone for the more goth side of fashion. White Mages have, invariably, received white and red gowns, while Dragoons always look like walking thorn bushes.

But what of those who already don't follow that half-implemented dress code or simply don't want to? You could argue that they have plenty of glamour items available to them already, and you would be correct, but that doesn’t solve the issue of storage space and Glamour Plates available. This is especially true early into a new expansion when all Jobs require leveling, and juggling glamours with a constantly overflowing Armoury Chest becomes little more than a headache.

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The internet is a wonderful thing. It allows for connections to be formed between people who are, geographically, thousands of miles apart. These relationships can be hard to maintain, but the world of online gaming can help. 

Whether you’re a parent with a child at college on the other side of the country, have friends who have relocated due to work, or your partner is on the other side of the world, there’s a long list of games you can play together. Even if you see each other regularly, gaming is a particularly good way of spending quality time together.

My fiancé and I live 3,000 miles apart most of the time. When we’re not physically together, gaming together allows us the opportunity to occupy the same virtual space and share experiences. As such, we’ve played a lot of games together. 

I’ve thought back on all of our shared gaming adventures and scoured my Steam library, and here are 10 of the best options if you’re looking to bond through shared gaming.

It Takes Two

In It Takes Two, you’re playing as Cody and May, parents of Rose, who is resistant to the change. Think Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves but with the added heartbreak of a marriage on the rocks. Through the game, you need to work together to overcome obstacles which can’t be faced alone, learning the value of open communication and mutual understanding. 

While It Takes Two is definitely geared more towards those with a romantic connection, it’s just as heartwarming to play with friends or family, and is sure to get you emotional for a myriad of different reasons. 

Ultimate Chicken Horse

From the full spectrum of emotions to pure rage, Ultimate Chicken Horse is one to play if you’re wanting to get competitive and is perfect if you’re wanting an online activity for your friend group. 

In Ultimate Chicken Horse, you can place obstacles to cause havoc for your opponents or help each other reach the goal location. The obstacles and traps placed down by each player lead to all sorts of bizarre and hilarious consequences, and you can truly sabotage everyone around you. 

On the plus side there’s a whole bunch of new outfits and accessories to unlock for a long list of playable animal characters, but that doesn’t take away from the rage you’re likely to feel while playing. 

Human Fall Flat

Co-operative gaming with the most insane rag doll physics, Human Fall Flat is like trying to navigate the world with no muscle control, after a few too many drinks. It’s incredibly easy to get distracted and regardless who you choose to play with, you’re going to need to keep their head in the game as well as your own. 

Human Fall Flat can also be played solo, but it only gets so much better when you drag your friends or loved ones along as floppy little playmates. Plus, the character customization only makes everything more hilarious and you need people around to see your bizarre choices in action. And who are you going to throw off the map if you’re alone?

Final Fantasy XIV

I couldn’t write this list without including FFXIV, mainly because I met my fiancé through the game and it’s remained one of our most useful time-together-even-if-we’re-apart tools for the last three years. If you need more convincing that FFXIV is a great way to build or maintain connections or relationships, just take a look at the story of Maidy and the Dad of Light. 

Whether you want to go for a father-son fishing trip, take on Eikons, or race on chocobo back, there’s no end to the activities which can be done together in Eorzea. As an MMO, it’s designed for endless numbers of people to play together and with the help of emotes and shared experiences, communication comes easy. 

Stardew Valley

Nothing bonds two people together more than running a farm with shared resources and money. Stardew Valley is undoubtedly great as a single player experience, but it also excels as a multiplayer game as well. 

Whether you’re starting from scratch to build a new farm together, or you just want your friends to come and visit, Stardew is great. All you need to do is build a Cabin to accommodate your guests, and you’re ready to have visitors. Trips into the mines are far better with friends. 

Don’t Starve Together

Don’t Starve, the single player survival challenge with a delightful Tim Burton-esque art style, released way back in 2013. Don’t Starve Together, the multiplayer version, released just a year later and despite its age I think it stands the test of time.

You and up to five friends get dropped into the unforgiving wilderness, and you have to survive against the elements and enemies who surround you. While you’re completely alone in the single player version, having friends around you makes gathering resources and building a base much easier. 

Chained Together

I’m usually one to stay a million miles away from rage-baiting games. After my experience with Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy, it’s safe to say that rage games are not a friend to me. However, if you throw friends or loved ones into the mix and work through the rage together, it’s actually a remarkably joyous experience. 

In Chained Together, you’re trying to find your way out of Hell. Unfortunately, Hell is just an insanely tall jumping puzzle which needs to be navigated - truly my idea of Hell made reality. With moving, spinning, flinging, and rolling parts, Chained Together would arguably be easier even if you weren’t physically chained to the other people playing with you, but at least having someone with you lets you blame them if you fall back to the very beginning. 

Biped

Biped is specifically designed for two players to work together. With mechanics reminiscent of Human Fall Flat, such as feet that are controlled individually to facilitate movement and grabbing onto items within the levels, it can actually be pretty challenging to overcome some obstacles. 

There are puzzles to solve, and the controls do cause some moments of rage here and there, but these moments are far outnumbered by the sheer joy you can experience together and the elation you feel when you manage to successfully complete a level. Biped is inspired by old-school platformers, and is filled with coins to collect and secrets to unlock.

Escape Simulator

If you’re wanting to get into a discussion and solve some puzzles with friends or loved ones, may I recommend Escape Simulator? 

Cheaper than a real-life escape room, but no less difficult to solve, Escape Simulator is perfect if you want to work through a conundrum together. There are multiple themed levels filled with puzzles to solve, and while you can definitely complete these solo, it always helps to have a friend to bounce ideas around with. 

Blanc

Another game which requires two players to complete, Blanc will see one person playing as a Fawn while the other plays as a Wolf Cub. In this tale of unlikely friendship, both animals are trying to find their way back to their families and must work together to do so. 

Overcoming challenges is just one aspect of this gorgeous work of art. The monochromatic and simplistic art style is beautiful, but the lack of distractions also leaves you free to focus on the story. There’s heartbreak ahead in Blanc, but also moments of joy to share with your second player. 

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Final Fantasy XIV FanFest China is currently underway, and there have been some new images revealed that provide hints for future content. With new sneak peeks into Cosmic Exploration, new large-scale field content, and the first glimpse of the new Ultimate Raid’s boss, there’s lots to get excited about. 

These images were shared during what appears to be a keynote speech with Naoki Yoshida streamed on Bilibili, a China based video sharing site. Further news about this content is likely to come for us in the West during GamesCom (August 21 - August 25) or PAX West (August 30 - September 2), but that doesn’t stop us from looking at these images. 

First up, some never-before-seen images from Cosmic Exploration, the new crafting and gathering content coming at some point in 7.X. For anyone who has ever spent time within The Diadem in The Firmament, these will be very familiar. I’m just hoping that we’ll get to see the return of the Auger.

Next, new images were shared of Shades’ Triangle, the upcoming large-scale field content for Dawntrail. According to the slides shown by Yoshida, the new content will be known as ‘Occult Crescent’ in China. Again, this will be hugely familiar to anyone who has ever taken part in Eureka or The Bozjan Southern Front.

Last but certainly not least, we were given a sneak peek of the next Ultimate Raid, Histories Rewritten. This battle screenshot shows some familiar mechanics and also a familiar boss — Fatebreaker.

As of now, that’s everything new that has been revealed during FanFest China. Of course, I’ve got my beady eye on all of the goings-on, so if anything new emerges, you’ll be the first to know.

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With patch 7.05, Final Fantasy XIV introduced two new S Rank Elite Marks into the fray. As with all S Ranks, these have their own spawn methods and locations which at first weren’t clear, but now they’ve been spawned. 

There are two new S Rank Elite Marks to be fought, one in Urqopacha and another in Kozama’uka. One of them, the one that spawns in Urqopacha, is a direct reintroduction to a familiar foe to anyone who played Final Fantasy XI. 

Just because these S Ranks are in lower-level areas, that doesn’t mean they’re easier to defeat than those in higher-level areas. S Ranks are all incredibly difficult to take down and require a large number of people to take on, especially this early into an expansion. 

Urqopacha S Rank - Kirlirger the Abhorrent

The S Rank in Urqopacha is Kirlirger the Abhorrent. Back in Final Fantasy XI, Kirlirger was a Notorious Monster who could be fought in order to reduce the Troll Mercenaries’ military force by one. 

This one proved troublesome to those looking to fight him, who went through a lot to try and figure out his spawn conditions. However, it all boils down to time and weather. Kirlirger will spawn at midnight on a foggy night with a new moon. 

Kozama’uka S Rank - Ihnuxokiy

The new S Rank introduced to Kozama’uka has a much more controllable spawn condition. Ihnuxokiy can be found in any of the locations above, and the spawn conditions will be familiar to anyone who has tried to spawn Narrow Rift, the Endwalker S Rank in Ultima Thule. 

To spawn Ihnuxokiy, you’ll need to have the Morpho minion, which is a possible drop from The Lost City of Amdapor (Hard). Once you’ve got it, summoning Morpho and flying low over Ihnuxokiy’s spawn points will possibly spawn the Kozama’uka S Rank.

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With The Arcadion (Savage) raid tier making its debut in Final Fantasy XIV, there's been plenty of chatter around encounter design and what makes some of these fights really shine. Amid the discussions, you may see the term ‘door boss’ come up fairly often, but what does that mean?

For anyone who isn’t deep into FFXIV terminology, the term can be a little confusing. In short, a door boss is the first boss in a two-phase duty. Defeating this first boss creates a kind of checkpoint in the middle of the fight. When your enemy's HP hits zero, there's typically a cutscene and a new boss form.

Is this annoying? Sure, but it's got its benefits. If the party wipes from this point on, you'll start the fight over from the middle as long as you don't leave the duty or run out of time. Should you exit either way, the party must start the fight over from the beginning and defeat the door boss again.

Duties with a door boss in Final Fantasy XIV

Door bosses crop up throughout all kinds of duties in FFXIV. Two notable door bosses are included in relatively low level duties - the level 50 trial Porta Decumana and the final boss of the level 60 dungeon The Aetherochemical Research Facility. They’re more common, however, in 8-player Raids and 24-player Alliance Raids.

The following Trials include a door boss:

• The Porta Decumana
• Battle on the Big Bridge
• Battle on the Big Keep
• The Crown of the Immaculate
• The Dying Gasp
• The Seat of Sacrifice
• Cinder Drift / Cinder Drift (Extreme)
• Castrum Marinum / Castrum Marinum (Extreme)
• Everkeep

As I said, door bosses are more common in Raids and Alliance Raids. Here’s the full list of door boss encounters in these types of duties:

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Final Fantasy XIV is known for its seasonal events, taking place regularly throughout the year with Eorzean traditions and in-game spectacle. Next up on this roster of fun times is the Moonfire Faire, which is set to return from August 8 to August 26 for its 2024 festivities.

If you’re at least level 30 and want to get your hands on some pretty fun rewards, you’ll be able to take part in this year's Moonfire Faire. This event always has players traveling to Costa Del Sol in droves, where they can take part in the event quest or tackle the frustrating yearly fixture that is the Moonfire Faire jumping puzzle. 

This year, the quest you’ll need to pick up is called ‘Fire Red, Beast Green’ and you’ll find the starting point for the event in Limsa Lominsa Upper Decks. 

Up for grabs in August is the Uchiwasshoi! emote, which will provide players with a long handled fan complete with Namazu design. The emote is very similar to something that the Namazu themselves do fairly often, although we’ll only be armed with one fan as opposed to their signature double wielding technique. 

As well as the emote, players will be able to get a new housing item in the shape of three multicolored floating bombs. The Bouncing Bomb Balloon will be available during the event, alongside various items from previous iterations of Moonfire Faire. 

The item rewarded for completing 2023's Moonfire Faire, the Power Rangers-esque Pheonix Riser costume, will also likely become available on the FFXIV Online Store on August 8 as well.

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Convention season is in full swing, as PAX West is happening in Seattle, Washington August 30 through September 2. For fans of Final Fantasy XIV, there’s a chance to get your hands on a bunch of cool items and a panel with Lead UI Designer Kei Odagiri to look forward to at the event. 

The Final Fantasy XIV booth will be open in the Expo hall for the entire show, and players both old and new can take on some challenging fights. For veteran players, there's a fight against Dawntrail's Valigarmanda. and those who emerge victorious will walk away with a tote bag, complete with a design seen before on the Tour Turali website.

Less confident players, or those who are diving in for the first time, the New Player Experience area will be available for all. Players here can take on Ifrit, Titan, or Garuda, and if they’re victorious, they’ll receive a free copy of the Final Fantasy XIV Starter Edition for PC. 

If you’re not up for testing your skills, or simply want to enjoy the experience without the pressure to perform, you can sit down and relax next to a cardboard cutout of Urianger and get a photo of the memory. 

In terms of merchandise, while stocks last, a giveaway will be happening at the booth. Not only will you be able to get an FFXIV themed lanyard for your badge, but there’s also a Dawntrail themed bucket hat - perfect for any summer adventures or vacations you may be planning. 

Further merchandise will also be available, both for FFXIV and FFXI, although the full lineup of available items will be announced closer to the date of the event. 

Lead UI Desginer Kei Odigari will be holding a panel to discuss the evolution of FFXIVs interface, as well as the birth of Group Pose and more. It’s a good chance to get some insight into the way they design game we all recognize, and to see whether any changes may be on the horizon. And, if you attend in person, you’ll get a mini Dawntrail poster for your troubles. 

The panel will be taking place on Saturday August 31 at 11 a.m. PDT / 2 p.m. EDT / 7 p.m. BST, and for those who can’t get to the event in person, it’s going to be streamed on both the Final Fantasy XIV Twitch channel and the PAX West Twitch channel. Sadly, neither of these streams will provide you with a poster.

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With patch 7.05, a lot of new content was added to Final Fantasy XIV. Amongst them was Dawntrail’s first Treasure Dungeon, Cenote Ja Ja Gural, and it comes with a lot of rewards that you’re definitely going to want. 

Along with the Honeysuckler minion and the It Takes Two hairstyle, one of the most desirable items that can be obtained through Cenote Ja Ja Gural is a new mount. The Qeziigural mount is a metallic bird-cross-cat creature that glitters in the sun. It’s glorious, but getting it isn’t straightforward.

How to get the Qeziigural mount in Final Fantasy XIV

Before you can get the Qeziigural mount in FFXIV, you’ll need to do some Treasure Hunts. Namely, you’re going to need to stock up on Br’aaxskin Maps, hope that you get a portal, and dive into Cenote Ja Ja Gural.

Inside, one of the possible drops is an item called Twilight Gemstones. These very pretty gems are obtained through the coffers inside the Treasure Dungeon, though it’s far from guaranteed that they will drop. 

In total, you’re going to need three Twilight Gemstones before you can get the Qeziigural. You may get lucky and do well on the Gambler’s Lure minigames, but otherwise you’re likely going to need to run Cenote Ja Ja Gural a fair few times before you get the Twilight Gemstones you need. 

Once you’ve got three Twilight Gemstones, you can head directly to the Nexus Arcade in Solution Nine. Here, talk to Uah’shepya (X:8.6, Y:13.5) and select ‘Sublime Curiosities’. Along with the option to purchase the Mehwapyarra Whistle and the Mica Suit, you’ll find the Qeziigural Horn available, as long as you have the Gemstones you need. 

Other ways to get the Qeziigural mount in Final Fantasy XIV

Both the Qeziigural mount itself and the Twilight Gemstones needed to get it are tradeable, and therefore you can purchase both on the Markbetboard. However, neither option is exactly what you’d call cost effective. 

The Qeziigural itself is currently selling for around 40 million Gil, while Twilight Gemstones are selling for more than 7 million Gil. Of course if you want to take this option (please tell me your money making secrets), then your best option is to purchase the Gemstones and then trade them in with Uah’shepya yourself. 

The post How to get the Qeziigural mount in Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) appeared first on Destructoid.

When it comes to mounts in Final Fantasy XIV, we’re all a little spoiled for choice. And yet, with every expansion, we get more and they’re always glorious. One new mount added in patch 7.05 was the Monowheel S1, and it’s probably one of my favorites yet. 

However, it’s not easy to get. Before you can drive around on your Monowheel S1, you’ve got one hell of a battle simply to get it to drop. Things are going to get pretty savage.

How to get the Monowheel S1 in Final Fantasy XIV

The Monowheel S1 is a drop from The Arcadion: AAC Light-heavyweight M4 (Savage). This means that you’ve got a bit of work ahead of you if you want to be the proud owner of this unique mount. 

First, you’ll need to unlock and complete all of the normal Arcadion raids. This isn’t too much of a tall order, they’re fairly easy to complete once you’ve got the hang of the mechanics being thrown at you. 

Then, you’ll need to unlock and complete all of the savage versions of these raids. That means diving in and taking on Black Cat, Honey B. Lovely, Brute Bomber, and Wicked Thunder with no holds barred. This is no mean feat, with even some of the best raiders in FFXIV taking over 10 hours to get through the four bosses during the World First Race. 

On the plus side, the Monowheel S1 Identification Key seems to be a guaranteed drop after you’ve taken down Wicked Thunder, so you’ll only need to complete the fight a maximum of eight times (as long as you keep a consistent party) before you get the mount. 

Is there another way to get the Monowheel S1 in Final Fantasy XIV?

In short, no. As with all raid reward mounts and minions, the Monowheel S1 Identification Key cannot be sold on the Marketboard or traded. This means that your only choice if you want it is to dive into savage raiding. 

The post How to get the Monowheel S1 mount in Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) appeared first on Destructoid.

Beady eyed viewers of Final Fantasy XIV’s Live Letter from the Producers 82 saw a little green lizard with a very long tongue, and it’s finally available to get in-game. The Honeysuckler minion is utterly adorable, but it’s not easy to get. 

When I say ‘not easy’, I don’t mean you’re going to have to battle through encounters with particularly difficult enemies (although this is true). The difficulty when it comes to getting the Honeysuckler minion is that it relies solely on luck and, if you’re anything like me, you’re likely wondering what you did to upset the rolling gods.

How to get the Honeysuckler minion in Final Fantasy XIV

The Honeysuckler minion is a possible drop from any coffer inside Cenote Ja Ja Gural, the Treasure Dungeon recently added in patch 7.05. 

Luck is a huge part of any Treasure Dungeon, especially those with chambers such as Cenote Ja Ja Gural. Not only do you need to get lucky and have a portal spawn from your Br’aaxskin Maps coffer, you also need to get lucky and choose the right doors inside. 

Then, as if that wasn’t enough luck to need, you also need to get lucky and have the Honeysuckler itself make an appearance. It could come at any time, although you’re more likely to find it the further you get into the Treasure Dungeon, so my only advice here is to keep your fingers crossed at all times. 

Not literally, of course. That would make playing a little difficult. Maybe cross your toes instead.

Other ways to get the Honeysuckler minion in Final Fantasy XIV

If you’re unwilling to put your reliance on having good luck, and you’ve got a hefty sum of Gil to your name, you could always simply purchase the Honeysuckler on the Marketboard. 

However, you really will need a hefty sum of Gil. As a brand new minion, and a rare one at that, the selling prices for Honeysuckler are currently sky high and this isn’t likely to change any time soon. 

At the time of writing, there is one Honeysuckler for sale on my home world and it’s currently selling for 30 million Gil. Maybe it’s time to start running Cenote Ja Ja Gural, regardless of whether you get the minion or not.

The post How to get the Honeysuckler minion in Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) appeared first on Destructoid.

The first of Dawntrail’s Savage raids launched on July 30 with the advent of Patch 7.05, and players across the world dove into Final Fantasy XIV to take on what were sure to be some of the hardest fights yet. Some elite teams took things one step further, joining the World First Race.

The race was over in a remarkably short 10 hours (roughly), with the Japan based team GRIND coming out on top, defeating Wicked Thunder in M4 first. According to their FFlogs upload, the team achieved the feat in just 17 pulls of the boss. Sadly, GRIND was not streaming their efforts, so results were unclear in the moments after the first clears started to happen.

While Square Enix does not officially preside over any World Race competitions, the community diligently watches and tracks Savage, Ultimate, and even Criterion. MogTalk hosts most of that historical data, and if Dawntrail's player-managed races are accurate, The Arcadion's AAC Light-heavyweight M1-M4 made for the fastest world race clears yet.

In what is as close to a photo finish as we’re ever likely to get in an FFXIV World First Race, Frosty from MogTalk examined the participants' footage and had to resort to Eorzean Time to determine the victors. 

For those who aren’t aware, each minute in Eorzean Time is equivalent to roughly 2 seconds of real time, so GRIND managed to beat Serenity by a mere 14 seconds.

Serenity came in second, taking down Wicked Thunder in 22 pulls. Lucrezia came in third, but were the first team to take down Wicked Thunder on Stream. Echo (Formerly known as Neverland) completed Dawntrail's first Savage tier in fourth, missing out on third place by just 16 seconds. 

For those wondering, Team Variety Pack (including Mountain Dew Gaming’s in-game mascot Big Sippin’) was trailing behind at this point, still trying to work their way through Honey B. Lovely in M2 when the Race was over. According to MogTalk, they finished 74th in the race overall. Still an impressive feat to those of us just dipping a toe in through the week.

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