Square Enix held on August 12, 2022, a new Final Fantasy XIV livestream, the Letter from the Producer Live Part LXXII (72), most notably revealing the release date for FFXIV Endwalker Patch 6.2, with new details and gameplay for Raids, Quests, and the Sanctuary Island feature - find our summary below with all the news alongside translated comments from producer Naoki Yoshida.
The livestream started with the usual audio test, with Naoki Yoshida and Toshio Murouchi being asked if they watched One Piece Film Red yet: YoshiP hasn't. They didn't talk about One Piece as much as last time though. The stream then moved on to the new trailer for Patch 6.2 Buried Memory.
Patch 6.2 Buried Memory Release Date & Trailer
FFXIV Patch 6.2 will be launching on Tuesday, August 23, 2022. The trailer most notably featured a cool rearranged version of the FF4 boss battle theme, and a new vocal theme song. Check out the Japanese dubbed version through this link. The Japanese dub has some huge seiyuu voicing the 6.2 story characters, including Tomokazu Sugita (Kyon, Gintoki) and Shuichi Ikeda (Char Aznable).
FF14 Patch 6.2 Part 2 - Content Details
Main Scenario Quests
YoshiP specified you'll have to clear The Shadow of Mhach quest series to play Tataru's Grand Endeavor Continues. You should play that before Patch 6.2 releases.
Weapon Enhancement Quests, Tribal Quests
A screenshot of the new quests was also shared, check it out below. YoshiP mentioned it's normal to get confused seeing the screenshot, and you'll get what's happening when playing the quest.
Dungeons, Trials, Raids
YoshiP mentioned he'd like players to go through the main story first before playing the Raids. Speaking of which, as specified on the previous stream, this time Savage Raid will only be added one week after patch release, so players can go through the story first. Screenshot from the Raids:
Improvements To Main Scenario Quests
YoshiP specified The Steps of Faith has been through a lot of changes by becoming a solo quest, so veteran players should check it out via New Game + when they have some free time. As for Thornmarch, it will have new gimmicks but it'll be easy to understand. A screenshot was also shared:
Job Adjustments, PvP Update, Island Sanctuary, Variant Dungeons, Criterion Dungeons
They'll show live gameplay of the Variant Dungeons and Island Sanctuary in the second part of the livestream. For Island Sanctuary, they'll show what an island can look like a bit after the optional tutorial.
Adventurer Plates & Portraits
This was all detailed on the previous stream. However, they now found a method to avoid deleting Beta portraits when officially launching the feature in 6.2, as long as your Beta portraits are currently linked to an adventurer plate or gear.
Miscellaneous Updates
YoshiP mentioned lot of players were asking for a Glamour dress limit expansion so they're increasing it now. Though he jokingly mentioned that it still won't be enough for some players.
Preparations For The Graphics Update in 7.0
If you end up getting some frame drops, make sure to enable the new "prioritize framerate" option in the Settings.
Job Adjustments in 6.2
The devs will explain the logic behind each change with the detailed patch notes in a few days. It will only be minor changes, with no major overhauls.
Critical & Direct Hit Adjustments
PvP & Crystal Conflict Updates
Crystal Conflict Season 3 Will Start In 6.2
If you loose a match with 0 Crystal Points you'll loose Rising Stars till you get demoted.
YoshiP explained a lot of players mentioned on social media it's unfair that they can't get rewards for tiers they previously attained. They're making this change following that feedback.
Pandæmonium: Abyssos Live Gameplay
Needless to say they're playing on the dev servers, and they purposefully avoided showing the cutscenes before the fight. Naoki Yoshida was the one playing. We'll add some specific timestamps for this gameplay part once the stream ends. Update: the gameplay segment starts at 1:39:56.
YoshiP mentioned the arena is pretty small, but there's a gameplay-related logic behind it.He showcased some of the boss's attacks and gimmicks. The BGM was really good too.
New Gear To Redeem
YoshiP: "Who said in the chat just now that these designs look like Elden Ring??? Actually, would have been pretty cool if we could have released these and patch 6.2 around the time Elden Ring got released".
Pandæmonium: Abyssos Changes
Tribal Quests: The Omicrons Live Gameplay
Again, we'll add specific time stamps so you can check out that segment once the stream ends. Update: the gameplay segment starts at 1:53:25. While showcasing the quest, YoshiP mentioned this is like a 6.0 "after story". Everything shown was very early stage in the quest. YoshiP also showcased the new mount, which the devs nicknamed "the space jellyfish". This is also an actual character appearing in the quest. You'll learn what they are by playing it.
The first part of the livestream ended with this gameplay segment. A 15 minutes break followed, where they showed the recently released starter guide videos.
Island Sanctuary Live Gameplay
The second part of the livestream started directly with some Island Sanctuary gameplay. They started the sequence from the top of a mountain to show the island's scale. We'll add specific timestamps for the gameplay sequence once the stream ends. Update: Watch it starting 2:15:38.
YoshiP reexplained the optional tutorial will walk through the basic functions and how to develop the island. Sprinting was also sped up on the island when compared to rest of the game to make it as stress-free as possible. You'll unlock mounts pretty early on too.
The island has magic dolls NPCs acting as guides. Their names are all puns such as "Mr Cat Ears" or "Mr Shopkeeper", and they will help you out with the island's development.
Seen on the screenshot below is the basic user interface to develop, build, and check your inventory. The island has its specific inventory. All items obtained on the island will be stored in it.
You can teleport back to your base on the island at any time.
The text below the mini-map are lists of objectives to help you out, like "make this specific tool to be able to obtain this specific material to make this specific facility".
One of your first biggest objectives will be to build an Island Hall. This will be your base of operations, and it will also unlock several more magic dolls NPCs dedicated to other functions, including shops. Each time you want to build something, you'll first have to develop the necessary land space for it by talking to the "Land" magical doll.
YoshiP explained it'll take you around 2 hours to complete the optional tutorial that'll walk you through the basics. He also explained you'll be able to access the island and work on it while waiting to match for other content. So players who want to optimize their time as much as possible can still work on their island.
The island is primarily solo content, but up to 15 players can come and visit your island simultaneously. There's also an in-game manual explaining everything you can do in Island Sanctuary.
Gear Added Via Island Sanctuary
YoshiP: "You can feel like you've turned into Luffy by equipping that straw hat."
Farming & Crops
Once you're done building the Island Hall, you'll unlock the NPC that deals with farming. First you'll have to make fields, and then plant some seeds, and water them. To do all that, you must switch between various modes with the main interface, like "capture mode" to capture animals, "watering mode" for crops, "feeding mode" for feeding animals, etc. Each mode has its own symbol and color.
Crops won't grow if you don't water them. You don't have to water crops when it rains. Personally speaking, I feel it's very similar to Story of Seasons and its spinoff Rune Factory.
Capturing & Raising Animals
Next, you'll be able to build enclosures to capture animals with nets and raise them. You'll be able to give a nickname to each animal and check their status via a dedicated "Farm Animal Management" menu.
Placing Minions
You can place Minions on various parts of your island. You can place up to 40 of them in total.
Island Sanctuary Update Schedule
YoshiP explained they'll try to add new content to Island Sanctuary around every two patches. They don't want players to try and "100%" the island as fast as possible and do everything. Instead, players should prioritize what they like the most, be it raising animals, farming, crafting, etc.
Activities Summary
Variant Dungeons Details & Live Gameplay
The live gameplay segment started after these explanations. We'll specify the segment's start time once the stream ends. Update: The Variant Dungeons gameplay started at 2:59:34.
YoshiP explained the Variant Dungeons have a specifically-made new UI where you can set your Variant Actions before entering them.
You get to choose between 3 different paths right from the start, and it'll have more splits later on. In this Variant Dungeon, Nana accompanies you as the ally NPC and will keep talking as you progress deeper. This time she picked the right path, but the AI is not set in stone and she could pick another path next time you run the dungeon. The path you take is decided by majority vote. You're not forced to go for the same path as the NPC and could pick another one.
Once the gameplay segment ended, YoshiP explained this is casual content, but it can also be quite difficult, so it'll give players a lot of content to work with.
New Mount To Unlock
Criterion Dungeons Details & Live Gameplay
Note that during the gameplay segment, YoshiP, using the debug menu, made it so he could enter the dungeon alone, so this isn't representative of actual gameplay. He also made his character invincible so he could slowly show everything without worrying about the enemies. Update: The Criterion Dungeons gameplay started at the 3:18:17 time stamp.
New Furniture Coming To Housing
Announcements Segment
New FFXIV Orchestra Concerts Happening In Japan This December
As a reminder, you always need to win lotteries to purchase tickets for concerts, console pre-orders, or overall to get into any big event in japan.
FFXIV Will Appear At PAX Australia 2022 From October 7 To October 9
Mogchute Farm Livestream On Twitch Announced
6.2 Patch Notes Reading Livestream Scheduled For August 22 At 11 PM PT
Eighth 14-Hour Livestream Planned For October 8
These are pretty interesting to listen to assuming you can speak Japanese. They often end up chatting about other games as well and inviting prestigious guests like Yoko Taro.
Official FFXIV Endwalker Paladin Jacket
This is the same jacket YoshiP was wearing on the stream.
Scenario Book The Unending Journey Volume 1: A Realm Reborn / Heavensward / Stormblood Digital Release (Japan Only)
FFXIV Complete Edition Sale (Japan Only)
FFXIV Is Always Hiring More Devs And Translators
Final Comments From YoshiP
As the stream ended, Naoki Yoshida and Toshio Murouchi ended up replicating the "バルス / Balse" scene from Ghibli's Laputa: Castle In The Sky.Long story short, Laputa is rebroadcast nearly every year on Japanese TV since 1989, and with the advent of Twitter in Japan, it became a meme to tweet バルス simultaneously when the protagonists say it at the end of the movie.
Naoki Yoshida and Toshio Murouchi mentioned this is actually the second time a FFXIV livestream coincidences with a Laputa TV broadcast. YoshiP mentioned he'd like to keep FFXIV going for many years to come so that hopefully this will keep happening again. The duo thanked the players and Studio Ghibli and ended the stream with those words.
FFXIV Letter From The Producer Live Part LXXII Livestream
The stream is currently still ongoing and can be watched below. Make sure to regularly refresh this page as we'll keep adding details and comments from YoshiP. Update: The stream is now over. Find it below, and thanks for reading our summary as always.