Thread: Letter from the Producer LIVE Part LXXVI (04/13/2023)

We are pleased to present the full digest of the Letter from the Producer LIVE Part LXXVI!
If you missed the live stream, or if you just want to watch it again (and again), check it out below!



* Don't forget to select the 1080p option to watch the video in HD!

Patch 6.4 Preview Part 1

(00:00:04)

Before diving into the details of Patch 6.4, we began the broadcast with greetings from Square Enix CEO Yosuke Matsuda and his soon-to-be successor Takashi Kiryu, a fellow Warrior of Light who will be taking over as CEO in June.

Regarding Patch 6.38 (Released April 4)



(00:23:24)

We briefly went over Patch 6.38, which had yet to be released at the time of the broadcast. An extended maintenance was required for this patch, as we were replacing the hardware for our North American data centers with new equipment in anticipation of future updates.

Patch 6.4: The Dark Throne



(00:27:26)

We announced the title for Patch 6.4, which is scheduled to release in late May 2023.

New Main Scenario Quests



(00:28:13)

We took a sneak peek at some scenes from the main scenario, which will be entering the second half of the 6.x series.

Tataru’s Grand Endeavor Continues



(00:29:35)

In the latest update to Tataru’s Grand Endeavor, we’ll be catching up with more familiar faces from journeys past. You may want to complete the Sorrow of Werlyt sidequests beforehand to better enjoy this upcoming story!

Somehow Further Hildibrand Adventures (6.45)



(00:30:46)

As you might expect, these comical snapshots are from Somehow Further Hildibrand Adventures. If you haven’t caught up with Hildibrand’s latest misadventures, there’s still time before they resume in Patch 6.45!

Further Manderville Weapons / Splendorous Tools (Patch 6.45)




(00:34:00)

Here are several screenshots from the questlines for Manderville weapons and Splendorous tools, both of which will also be updated in Patch 6.45.

New Dungeon



(00:35:20)

Pictured above is the breathtaking scenery in the new dungeon, the Aetherfont. In addition to wildlife and landscapes, you can also expect battles with a rhythm to them, so please look forward to it!

New Trials



(00:38:33)

Fans of FFIV will surely recognize Golbez in the new trials. The Development team is working hard to ensure that it’ll be a gratifying encounter for long-time fans and first-timers alike.

New Unreal Trial



(00:40:15)

Zurvan makes his triumphant return in Containment Bay Z1T9 (Unreal).

Considering the multitude of other activities introduced during the later patches of the 3.x series, perhaps those of us who were around at the time only fought him a handful of times. Perhaps his return will remind you of some of the mechanics we’ve forgotten over the years!

We also hope you’ll look forward to the new rewards, as some of them may come off as a bit unexpected.

New Raid




(00:41:50)

Pandæmonium: Anabaseios will be the third and final chapter of the Pandæmonium raid series. The Savage raids will be released one week after Patch 6.4. We’ll leave the details as a surprise, but the screenshots may help with visualizing what’s to come.

Additionally, we’re planning to make quality-of-life adjustments to rewards, which we’ll cover in more detail in the next Letter LIVE.

Variant & Criterion Dungeon #2 (Patch 6.45)




(00:44:32)

Here are screenshots of Mount Rokkon, the Eastern-themed Variant & Criterion dungeon coming in Patch 6.45. Completion of the previous Variant & Criterion dungeon, the Sil’dihn Subterrane, will not be required to unlock any of the three difficulties (Normal, Criterion, and Criterion (Savage)).

We’ll be covering the new Variant & Criterion dungeon in more detail in the next Letter LIVE.

Duty Support for Stormblood



(00:46:43)

Duty Support will be added for dungeons in the Stormblood main scenario.



Stormblood featured a number of iconic mechanics like the one pictured above. Our cast of supporting NPCs have them memorized by heart, but it’ll be up to our Warriors of Light to lead them to victory!

Once we finish adding Duty Support to the rest of the 4.x series, it’ll cover all main scenario dungeons up to the current patch, so that’s our goal for now as we continue expanding upon the system.

Job Adjustments (PvE / PvP)

(00:49:48)

Patch 6.4 will feature job adjustments for both PvE and PvP, which we’ll go over in more detail in the Patch 6.4 Preview Part 2.

PvP Updates



(00:50:10)

Patch 6.4 will mark the beginning of PvP Series Four and update rewards, as well as Season Seven of Crystalline Conflict.

Frontline Adjustments



(00:50:40)

Frontline adjustments will finally begin in Patch 6.4. We understand some of you have been asking for them for quite some time and we appreciate your patience in the meantime.

A new UI element will be introduced, making it easier to see the score and remaining time. The rules for the Fields of Glory (Shatter) will be updated to better account for how PvP jobs are currently designed with Crystalline Conflict in mind. On the other hand, the Borderland Ruins (Secure) will be temporarily unavailable while we work on revamping the game mode.

Once we’ve established a solid footing with these updates, we’ll be working on adding a new map with new rules. We’ll be going over the details in the next Letter LIVE.

Blue Mage Updates (Patch 6.45)




(00:51:53)

Blue mage’s level cap will be raised to 80 along with new spells and exclusive gear. And of course, new matches will be added to the Masked Carnivale.

Ocean Fishing Update




(01:17:44)

A new route towards Kugane will be added to Ocean Fishing. As you can see from the screenshots, you can look forward to seeing quite a few magnificent views on this route.

Island Sanctuary Updates





(01:21:47)

The Development team’s goal is to deliver a relatively sizable update to Island Sanctuary every other patch. Patch 6.4 will be one such update to bring various features and items, including new creatures and structures as pictured above.

After the update, players will be able to place up to 90 outdoor furnishings in the hideaway, allowing for a fair amount of customization. However, please note that you will not be able to place furnishings with special features, such as striking dummies and gardening plots. Stay tuned for the next Letter LIVE, where we’ll go over this new feature in more detail!

Separately, we’re also working on increasing the maximum number of both indoor and outdoor furnishings for housing, though that will be coming in Patch 7.0 or later.

Miscellaneous Updates





(01:28:59)

Here we introduced a number of miscellaneous updates coming in Patch 6.4.

Up until now, the number of available gear sets gradually increased based on quest progression. The update will instead provide the maximum number of gear sets from the beginning, allowing players to create and save various outfits early on in their adventures.

The option to display job icons in the chat log and nameplates will be added, which we understand was a very popular request. We’re also working on other changes to further improve the overall feel of the UI. We’re hoping to add more new features in future patches, so please look forward to hearing about them in announcements to come.

As for fashion accessories, we’ll be looking into more ways to improve their usability.

When you’re in an inn room, you’ll be able to cast glamours stored in the glamour dresser and armoire.

The command for changing fairy glamours will be listed in the patch notes, so we hope our scholars will give it a try.

Fan Festival 2023 - 2024



(01:39:31)

We reviewed the dates for our upcoming Fan Festival events in 2023-2024.

We’re currently reviewing the stage designs and other aspects of the North American Fan Festival, which will be held in Las Vegas in late July 2023. Our floor plans for the Tokyo Fan Festival venue are also in the works.

There will also be an orchestra concerts on the days following the North American and European Fan Festivals, so we hope you’re looking forward to those as well.

We imagine many of you are eager to hear more about the graphics update coming in Patch 7.0, so we’ll be sharing a progress update at the North American Fan Festival. We look forward to bringing you new experiences with our updated graphics; that said, rest assured that the PS4 version of the game will still be supported.

Fan Festival 2023 – 2024 Official Merchandise Round 1




(01:43:04)

The first round of official Fan Festival merchandise is now available for pre-order. We showcased the physical items during the broadcast, so be sure to check them out in the video.

View the lineup of official merchandise in your region.