Summary
WARNING: MAJOR Spoilers for Final Fantasy 14 AheadFor the last decade,Final Fantasy 14has seen its share of tonal shifts. From the disastrous 1.0 release that ended with an explosive cinematic toFinal Fantasy 14finding success in the years following its relaunch, Square Enix’s critically acclaimed MMORPG has been a metaphorical roller coaster ride for players.
With the reveal of theDawntrailexpansion at the 2023 Las Vegas Fan Fest and plans formoreFinal Fantasy 14expansionsin the future, the parallels betweenEndwalkerandDawntrailare apparent at more than just first glance. WhileEndwalkerwas the climactic bookend to a major saga that spanned many years,Dawntrailis the first chapter of another tale that will takeFinal Fantasy 14to unseen places and maybe give players a new take on the game.
RELATED:Predicting the Next Final Fantasy 14 Jobs After Endwalker
Endwalker: A Finale Under the Nostalgic Moonlight
From the start,Endwalkerwas pushed as the conclusion of the first major arc ofFinal Fantasy 14,the Hydaelyn and Zodiark saga. During the lead-up toEndwalker, the moon served as a main motif for the expansion, which referenced both the fall of Dalamud at the end of version 1.0 and the vastness of space. With the Paladin as the poster Job and the addition of the moon-based Loporrits to the game,Endwalkerwas considered a nostalgia trip in part for fans of theFinal Fantasyfranchise’s fourth entry.
As far as the story went, Zodiark’s demise in the expansion’s opening act allowed the Endsinger, the true main threat ofEndwalker, to enact her plan to overrun Etheirys with Dynamis. This energy fed on emotions such as hope and despair, and the latter turned people into monstrous Blasphemies, which subsequently caused panic that bred even more monsters. Knowing about the Endsinger and the despair she wrought, Hydaelyn tested the Warrior’s resolve in a trial by combat.
With her purpose fulfilled, Hydaelyn guided the Warrior of Light and the Scions of the Seventh Dawn to the edge of existence, where they defeated the Endsinger. Hope reigned over Etheirys once again. But, the subsequent patches ofEndwalker’s main story leaned further on the lunar references. At the time of writing, the current patch arc has taken the Warrior of Light and the Scions to the Thirteenth Shard and its blood-red moon.
With more nostalgic references toFinal Fantasy 4on full display,Patch 6.5 will take players to the Lunar Subterranefor a final clash with Zeromus, a dark entity named afterFF4’s final boss. Only time will tell how the battle will turn out. During the 2023 Las Vegas Fan Fest,Final Fantasy 14producer and director Naoki Yoshida stated that the final major patch ofEndwalker, titled Growing Light, will give players a clear idea of what will bridge the plot betweenEndwalkerandDawntrail.
Dawntrail: A New Day in the Vibrant New World
IfEndwalkeris symbolized by the moon and by nostalgia,Dawntrailis pictured by fresh beginningsand new adventures into uncharted territory. At first glance, the land of Tural, also called the New World, is a sun-kissed, tropical nation filled with vibrant and diverse cultures that have not been seen inFinal Fantasy 14before. Though information aboutDawntrailis limited at the time of writing, the thought of figuring out what places are still left to discover on Etheirys has givenFinal Fantasy 14players plenty to ponder.
Given the fact thatEndwalkerwas the finale of a saga between two god-like Primals spanning years,Dawntrailwill have some expectationsahead of it. The close of one story will allow theFinal Fantasy 14development team to try and experiment with new story ideas and give players fresh new experiences with each content update. Suffice it to say, the sky is the limit for the future ofFinal Fantasy 14and for its players.
Final Fantasy 14is available now for PC, PS4, and PS5, with an Xbox Series X/S version launching in Spring 2024.
MORE:Interview: How a Final Fantasy 14 Fisherman Ignited the Player-Run Museum Scene
