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Final Fantasy XIV will test cross-region data center travel starting March 24
On March 24, 2024, the Final Fantasy XIV team will be launching a test phase for cross-region data center travel. This will allow players to visit other regions hosted in physical data centers across the globe. Currently, visiting other players in the same physical data center is Originally, players would need select the same data center and world to be able to play together outside of instanced duties. Next, the ability to visit other worlds in the same group became possible with the introduction of the World Visit system. Then, the ability to travel to different data centers hosted in the same physical location was added. Finally, players from different regional data centers will be able to travel back and forth — if all goes according to plan, that is. World Visit system(illustration: Square Enix) Data Center Travel System(illustration: Square Enix) The move is also in anticipation of the upcoming Dawntrail expansion, specifically as a potential mitigating factor for data centers experiencing high volume at peak hours. This was especially a problem during the Endwalker expansion, where many players encountered extremely long queue times for weeks after the game's official launch. It created such a bottleneck that Square Enix was forced to suspend
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth orchestra world tour announced for 2024-2025
Following the launch of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth last month, Square Enix and AWR Music Productions will partner to bring the game's music on a worldwide orchestra tour that extends into next year. AWR conductors Arnie and Eric Roth are known for the Distant Worlds: music from Final Fantasy concert series that has been bringing the franchise's music on tour since 2007. This tour will bring orchestral arrangements of songs composed by Nobuo Uematsu, Masashi Hamauzu, Mitsuto Suzuki, and the many other composers that contributed to the Rebirth soundtrack. Check out the tour schedule below. For more information, including when tickets for each venue go on sale, check out the official site here. DateLocationVenueAUG 10, 2024Los Angeles, CA, USAPeacock TheaterAUG 17, 2024 (First)Chicago, IL, USASymphony CenterAUG 17, 2024 (Second)Chicago, IL, USASymphony CenterAUG 23, 2024Fort Worth, TX, USABass Performance HallAUG 24, 2024Fort Worth, TX, USABass Performance HallAUG 30, 2024Rotterdam, NetherlandsRTM Stage RotterdamAUG 31, 2024Osaka, JapanGrand Cube OsakaSEP 1, 2024Osaka, JapanGrand Cube OsakaSEP 7, 2024Kanagawa, JapanPacifico YokohamaSEP 8, 2024Kanagawa, JapanPacifico YokohamaSEP 13, 2024Singapore, MalaysiaThe Star TheatreSEP 14, 2024Munich, GermanyOlympiahalleSEP 15, 2024Rome, ItalyAuditorio Parco Della MusicaSEP 28, 2024 (First)London, UKRoyal Albert HallSEP 28, 2024 (Second)London, UKRoyal Albert HallOCT 3, 2024Detroit, MI, USAOrchestra HallOCT 12, 2024Richmond, VA,
SaGa Emerald Beyond introduces Siugnas the Dismal King and Vampire race
In the latest SaGa Emerald Beyond, we get a look at yet another protagonist you can choose for your adventure: Siugnas, the Dismal King. He's a vampire king who ruled a land of darkness, until he was deposed by an unknown entity. Finding himself in Brighthome, he recruits fallen warriors from this land into repel invaders and to reclaim his lost abilities. Siugnas can recruit generals into his party, amongst others, and use vampiric Sanguine Arts to drain the blood of his fellow party members. By doing so, he can increase his Life Points (LP) and learn additional abilities. When a party member has their blood drained, they become "thralls" to Siugnas. While their LP will decrease, he can equip them with Sanguine Gear and turn them into "knights" that can then use Sanguine Arts. Should those characters have their Sanguine Gear removed, they will be come "wastrels" with 1 LP and lose their ability to use Sangine Arts and Sanguine Roles. This decision is irreversible, so you'll have to think carefully before knighting a character. SaGa Emerald Beyond releases on April 25, 2024 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC, iOS, and Android. Square Enix shares the following: Trailer — Sigunas, the
Little Ladies Day and Hatching-tide seasonal event returns to Final Fantasy XIV on March 14, 2024
The Little Ladies' Day and Hatching-tide limited-time seasonal events are combining in Final Fantasy XIV from March 14th, 2024 through April 1st, 2024. Subtitled "Two festival joined by a blossoming dream", a short scenario quest will be available in game with a variety of seasonal rewards. Limited time items from previous years' iterations of the event can also be purchased from the Online Store at a discount. Since the events are combined this year, the festival decorations will vary from city to city. Ul'dah will appropriately be decked out in Little Ladies' Day decor while Gridania will feature Hatching-tide decorations. Limsa Lominsa and residential districts will switch half way through the event on March 22nd. Take a look at the event details below, and, while you're here, check out where to unlock new content in Patch 6.55, which released on January 16th, 2024. This patch is the final content update before the Dawntrail expansion scheduled for this summer, and includes the finale of the post-Endwalker main scenario quests and the conclusion of various sidequests including Tataru's Grand Endeavor, Somehow Further Hildibrand Adventures, and more. The game is also hosting a new iteration of the Moogle Treasure Trove event, where by challenging various objectives,
Akira Toriyama, Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger character designer, dies at 68
Akira Toriyama, best known for his work creating the Dragon Ball manga series, passed away on March 1st, 2024 at the age of 68 from a subdural hematoma. Toriyama is also famous for his iconic character and monster design work for the long-running Dragon Quest series since 1986, as well as his work on 1995's Chrono Trigger for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System — hugely influential RPG titles that were brought to life by his creations. A message was released from Toriyama's Bird Studio and Capsule Corporation Tokyo via social media tonight: Dear Friends and Partners, We are deeply saddened to inform you that Manga creator Akira Toriyama passed away on March 1st due to acute subural hematoma. He was in age of 68. It's our deep regret that he still had several works in the middle of creation with great enthusiasm. Also, he would have many more things to achieve. However, he has left many manga titles and works of art to this world. Thanks to the support of so many people around the world, he has been able to continue his creative activities for over 45 years. We hope that Akira Toriyama's unique world of creation continues to be beloved by everyone for a
Final Fantasy XIV sets March 21 release date for Xbox platforms
During today's Xbox Partner Preview, Final Fantasy XIV was given an official release date for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. On March 21, 2024, the full release will become available on the platform, following an actively running open beta that kicked off last month. Those subscribed to Xbox Game Pass, particularly the Ultimate Tier, will be able to claim the Starter Edition for free (note that this is the same content available in the free trial on other platforms) and includes the base A Realm Reborn content as well as the Heavensward and Stormblood expansions. Looking to what's new and upcoming in Final Fantasy XIV, the game is currently running a Moogle Treasure Trove event where you can collect tomestones for exclusive rewards for a limited time by fulfilling certain (and now a greater number) of objectives. This runs through March 11, 2024. Those who missed out on the Final Fantasy XV collaboration event A Nocturne for Heroes can participate in a rerun continuing through March 13, 2024. In this event you'll team up with the Lucian prince himself: Noctis Lucis Caelum. Rewards for completing it are a four-seater Regalia mount, Noctis' princely attire and hairstyle, as well as orchestrion rolls
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Review
Many players of the original Final Fantasy VII describe emerging from Midgar onto the world map as a critical turning point — a moment that greatly expanded what they thought scope of the game would be. The hours spent in Remake's Midgar, as rigid as they are at times (but for good reason), set the stage for a similar surprise. Cloud and company venture into a world that is brightened by and abundant with ideas. While not everything glimmers in this new light, it creates a world that is rich in texture - not only in the characters you meet and the places you go, but in the variety of gameplay itself. We've learned by now that this "Remake series" is not merely replication, but a rethinking what these moments can mean for players old and new alike. In that context it presents a captivating frontier, just like those first footsteps outside Midgar's walls. When Square Enix revealed that Remake, the first part in its ambitious trilogy reimagining of the company’s most famous game, would take place entirely in Midgar, many fans were… not pleased. While a great deal of story development occurs in Midgar in the original FFVII, the dystopian cyberpunk
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth demo updated with Junon section
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a mere week away, with launch scheduled for February 29, 2024. Today though, you can play a little bit more of the game in an update to the free demo that was released earlier this month. In the first portion of the demo, Cloud recalls the events of his past, taking place at the start of the Rebirth story. Here he is joined by the SOLIDER hero Sephiroth and local guide Tifa Lockhart for an investigation into the mako reactor near Cloud's hometown: Nibelheim. In this portion available today, players can explore the Junon region. Once home to an independent republic, it lost a war with Shinra and has since been occupied. Above a modest fishing village, a massive military city has been constructed, home to an enormous cannon created in the company's fervor for world domination. This segment will allow you to play with Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith, and Red XIII in your party. The demo has also been streamlined and tweaked from what you'll see in the final product. After emerging from the Mythril Mine, the party is following enigmatic black-robed figures as they pursue Sephiroth around the world. Here they're able to use a type
Final Fantasy XIV 6.57 beckons you to return to the Waking Sands
Final Fantasy XIV has a small scale update available today that adjusts a variety of the game's features and offers even more Aetheryte Tickets for Vesper Bay. You may well know the location as the secret base of operations for the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, primarily featured in the A Realm Reborn scenario, as well as the frequent requests by the Scions' antecedent Minfilia to "return to the Waking Sands." What was then an inconvenience became an enduring joke within the game's community. As time went on, the team eventually added special tickets that, when used as an item, could teleport the player closer to its destination. Recently, the game's director and producer Naoki Yoshida was asked by Megumi Han to add even more tickets during a talk show at the most recent Fan Festival in Japan. Han, who voices Jill Warrick in the Japanese version of Final Fantasy XVI, had picked up the game and was playing through these chapters. Today, it seems, that request was granted. Patch 6.57 also includes a number of updates to restrictions on duties and currency acquisition. Firstly, the weekly entrance restriction on the Savage mode difficulty of the Pandaemonium Anabaseios raid has been removed, and
Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis next story update “Memories of the Planet” arrives February 8
Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis will be adding a new story chapter in an update landing February 8th, 2024. This will be the sixth chapter of the Final Fantasy VII the First Soldier scenario, based on the now-closed smartphone title of the same name. It following the fifth chapter in which SOLDIER P-0 operatives Glenn, Matt and Lucia are tasked to work under a young Sephiroth for an operation in Rhadore. Here we learn more about the future antagonist's exploits as the Shinra company seeks to establish a site and build a mako reactor in this location, and encountering anti-Shinra resistance groups. In this update a new dungeon Grastia Path will be added, with Normal, Hard, and Very Hard modes. The La'paina Coast dungeon will also get a Very Hard mode. A crossover with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will also kick off on February 15, 2024. This will feature Cloud and Sephiroth as they conduct their investigation of the mako reactor on Mt. Nibel. In an update last month, a new chapter for the Final Fantasy VII scenario was added, following Cloud and company's travels outside of Midgar and recruiting the ninja Yuffie. Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis is now available on iOS, Android, and PC via Steam. Final Fantasy VII The First