In an update published by director and producer Naoki Yoshida, in fact, it has been revealed that following Dawntrail’s release, Final Fantasy 14 went on to enjoy its highest number of concurrent users across all platforms in over a decade, since the launch of A Realm Reborn in 2013.

“First, I would like to thank you all for your patience and cooperation in dealing with server congestion during the early access for Dawntrail,” Yoshida wrote. “With your support, we were able to reach a record number of concurrent users we’ve not seen since the release of A Realm Reborn in 2013.”

It will have helped, of course, that this is the first Final Fantasy 14 expansion that sees the game not only on PlayStation and PC, but also on Xbox.

Yoshida went on to apologize about “several issues that may have proven a hinderance to your overall experience”, and confirmed that such issues and more remain under investigation, with the development team looking to deploy fixes as quickly as they can. That will entail upcoming adjustments for a number of jobs, namely Astrologian, Monk, Viper, Pictomancer, Red Mage, Black Mage, Tank, and Samurai.

Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, and PC,

The issues in question include the Xbox Series X/S version becoming “unresponsive” when moving between field areas and cities. Yoshida revealed that it’s likely due to “a phenomenon known as memory fragmentation.” Though the team is working to rectify it, a patch will need to be deployed, which requires QA testing and could thus take a few days.

Memory fragmentation is less likely to occur on worlds with fewer players on screen, so it’s best to play on the Dynamis, Shadow or Oceania data centres. Several activities like Dragonsong’s Reprise (Ultimate), Minstrel’s Ballad: Shinryu’s Domain and Delubrum Reginae (Savage) are also facing issues where freezing isn’t working. A client patch will address these as well.

Finally, there’s an issue with the animations of certain races, specifically when performing actions like Seraphism. The primary culprit is “incorrect values being input for the corresponding parts during fine-tuning of the graphical update and other fixes.” These issues are deemed “high priority” with a hotfix due later this week, though whether it addresses the freezing and Xbox issues remains to be seen.

Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail is available for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. Check out our feature for more details.

Dawntrail follows the events of Endwalker and various story updates, with the Warrior of Light and some of the Scions venturing to Tural, the “New World.” Once there, the former is caught up in a rite of passage ceremony and potentially unearths more about the Ascians. There’s also an Enigmatic Maiden, who occasionally pops up, seemingly hiding something.

The expansion includes new dungeons, areas, raids and two new Jobs – the Viper and Pictomancer – alongside an increased level cap, Female Hrothgar and more. Check out our feature for more details. Servers will likely be congested for early access and after, so keep that in mind before jumping in.

New Continent

After the culmination of an almost eight-year-long saga, what’s next for the Warrior of Light and the Scions? For starters, a new continent called Tural, which they depart for a rite of succession ceremony. Divided into two landmasses – Xak Tural and Yok Tural – it has plenty of new characters to meet and stories to experience. Though the stakes aren’t quite as high as the previous expansion, there’s plenty of intrigue in Dawntrail, especially when it comes to the mysterious Shades Triangle (inspired by the Bermuda Triangle).

Tuliyollal and Solution Nine

Of course, it wouldn’t be a new continent without some new cities. Tuliyollal is the first, extending from the harbor up a mountain and where people from all over the continent congregate. As such, it’s a melting pot of cultures. On the other hand, there’s Solution Nine, a futuristic-looking city that hasn’t received much information (other than being built by a different civilization). What ultimately leads the player here is unknown, but it’s a huge paradigm shift from Tuliyollal.

New Areas

Beyond the cities, fans will explore Urqopacha with its vast mountains and vibrant greenery; Kozama’uka, with its expansive forests and plentiful waterfalls; Yak T’el, where you’ll find cenotes, wild animals and extensive woodlands; Shaaloani, which are dry plains but also where a railroad is being constructed, giving it some Wild West vibes; and Heritage Found, a neon-lit area full of thunderclouds. Almost all are home to different beings and cultures, not to mention unique enemies.

New Enemies (and Potential Bosses)

Speaking of new enemies, there’s the mysterious mechanical Eliminator with a massive blade (and gun barrel) on its right arm and a huge hand on its left, perhaps for firing lasers. It also has a strange drone near it, perhaps to assist. Another new threat is the Barreltender, which looks like a super-buff Cactuar. However, the most challenging foe may be Valigarmanda, described as Tural’s “mightiest” beast and nicknamed the “Skyruin.” Potential story or Trial boss? We’ll have to wait and see.

New and Returning Characters

Though Thancred and Urianger of the Scions accompany you to the New World, the cast will have plenty of newcomers. There’s Wuk Lamat, competing to win the throne of Tuliyollal for the ruling family; Erenville, Wuk’s childhood friend who guides the player; Koana, who believes technology is the best path forward for the nation; Zoraal Ja, commander of the Landsguard; and, well, the Enigmatic Maiden. No one knows who the latter is but she appears now and again with a mysterious look. Going by the title’s history, this surely won’t lead to anything bigger. Not at all.

New People and Cultures

As noted before, each area you explore has different people and cultures to experience, with some lending a hand. Take the Pelupelu, who are small but skilled in crafting and trade. There are Moblins, who specialize in metalwork and hang around Kozama’uka, searching for materials. The giant Yok Huy inhabit more mountainous areas, though they’re far less in number than others, while the Hanuhanu are bird people with bright feathers found in watery locations.

Viper, Pictomancer and Beastmaster Jobs

It wouldn’t be a new expansion without some new Jobs, and thankfully, there are two new additions to play around with – Viper and Pictomancer. The former specializes in melee combat, striking fast with dual blades, which can combine into a two-handed blade staff. They’re not exactly team players, favoring self-buffs to maximize damage. On the other hand, there’s the Pictomancer, wielding a brush to deploy different magical spells of varying elements and unique abilities. A limited Job, Beastmaster, is also coming, though it won’t be available at launch.

Increased Level Cap

Previous expansions have raised the level cap, and, for better or worse, Dawntrail is sticking to the trend. It’s raising the max level cap from 90 to 100, affecting all Jobs in the game. New Skills will also be added to keep things fresh while the Astrologian and Dragoon are getting some reworks.

Echoes of Vana’diel Alliance Raid Series

New Alliance Raids are inbound, allowing 24 players to get together and tackle some challenging end-game content. The latest series is Echoes of Vana’diel, and if that sounds familiar, it’s because Final Fantasy 14 will be crossing over with its predecessor, Final Fantasy 11. Not much is known, aside from the tease of venturing to Vanda’diel, but it’s exciting all the same.

The Arcadion Raid Series

For eight-player raiding groups, there’s The Arcadion. Judging by the official website’s description, it appears to be a competition, with top-tier fighters pitting “fist against fist and magick against magick” in front of a live crowd. It’s an intriguing concept for the MMO, and like previous raid series, it will have regular and Savage difficulties (the latter arriving later in July).

New Dungeons

Of course, four-player groups can expect new dungeons, one of them, Ihuykatumu, requiring level 91 and starting as a jungle river cruise before venturing to some underground areas. The others have yet to be detailed, but at least one is in Heritage Found, which means players will get up close and personal with those lightning storms.

Cosmic Exploration

If you were a fan of the Island Sanctuary’s lifestyle gameplay, Cosmic Exploration looks to go even bigger. You explore different planets and help the Loporrits to develop them. The moon appears to be one such location, and it seems multiplayer will have a heavier focus in the new activity. Dawntrail will only be the start, with additional planets to be added in subsequent patches.

First Major Graphical Update

For as long as Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn has been available, it’s surprising that Dawntrail will mark the arrival of its first big graphical update. It brings sweeping improvements to material qualities, shadow resolution, textures and environments. You can expect features like skin tones, facial hair, eyes, and more to look better, revamped environmental lighting and shinier-looking armor. Of course, the system requirements are increasing as a result, with listing an Intel Core i7-9700, 16 GB RAM, GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT and an SSD with 140 GB space as recommended.

New Trials, Ultimate Raid, Female Hrothgar and More

Of course, there’s much more for players to look forward to, from new Variant Dungeons and Trials to Gold Saucer and Blue Mage updates. You can also look forward to – yes, somehow – more Inconceivably Further Hildibrand Adventures, new Unreal Trials and a new Deep Dungeon. Futures Rewritten is also getting an Ultimate difficulty for a greater challenge to experienced raiders, and everyone can finally play as a Female Hrothgar.

Early Access

Like many games these days, you can get early access to Dawntrail, which allows for starting on June 28th instead of July 2nd. However, this bonus isn’t exclusive to the more expensive edition. Whether you pre-purchase the Standard or Collector’s Edition, you can get in four days early.

Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail

A new world awaits in Final Fantasy 14’s new expansion, Dawntrail, as the Warrior of Light ventures to a new continent in Tural. Whether it’s new cities like Tuliyollal and Solution Nine; new Jobs, from the Viper and Pictomancer to the limited Beastmaster; or brand new dungeons, it promises tons of content for long-time players. You even have a new Alliance Raid Series tying into Final Fantasy 11, The Arcadion and the MMO’s first major graphical update. What new story threads will be woven, and how do they connect back to the Twelve? We’ll find out when Dawntrail launches on July 2nd for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC.

Zenless Zone Zero

From the developer behind Honkai: Star Rail and Genshin Impact comes a brand new free-to-play action RPG with an over-the-top sense of style. Zenless Zone Zero is set in a post-apocalyptic future, where the last bastion of humanity, New Eridu, fights against the Ethereals. Various factions are intertwined in the conflict, and as a Proxy, it’s the player’s job to rally them together on different missions. Featuring fast-paced combat, gorgeous animated visuals and an incredible soundtrack, Zenless Zone Zero could be yet another hit for miHoYo when it launches on July 4th for PS5, PC, iOS and Android.

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn

Ashen developer A44 Games’ next title, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, is a mix of action-adventure, hack and slash, and Souls-like mechanics. Following multiple delays, it’s finally set to launch on July 18th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC. As Nor Vanek, players venture to the City of Dawn after the Great Below’s Door has opened, fighting back against undead forces and other threats. With a flintlock pistol, swords, Nor must fight back and ultimately seal the door. Whether you played the demo or found its trailers intriguing, Flintlock is certainly a dark horse, and we’re looking forward to exploring it.

EA Sports College Football 25

When football gaming needed it most, EA’s College Football series returned. EA Sports College Football 25 launches on July 19th for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, featuring several new features like Wear and Tear for more realistic player health over a match. Abilities like Homefield Advantage can influence how well your team performs on the opponent’s turf, and a new kicking meter, trick plays, and more further add to the strategy. It’s been a long wait, but College Football could surpass expectations.

F1 Manager 2024

After the previous entry and its post-launch controversies, Frontier is back with another F1 Manager. There’s a lot new with this year’s iteration, from creating your own team and Mechanical Failures that alter races in unpredictable ways to the Mentality System where your decisions can affect the morale of different drivers. It’s intriguing, for sure, and hopefully, it can make up for its predecessor’s shortcomings. F1 Manager 2024 launches on July 23rd for PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Earth Defense Force 6

Humanity has finally won against its hostile invaders after a seemingly endless series of conflicts, but Earth is much worse off. Of course, another threat emerges as well, and it’s up to the EDF to instill hope back into humanity by slaying hundreds upon hundreds of enemies (as is tradition). Earth Defense Force 6 touts the most number of missions and weapons in the series yet, with online co-op for up to four players. It’s out on July 25th for PS4, PS5 and PC.

The First Descendant

You’ve probably heard this a few times by now, but the future, invaders from another dimension, humanity struggling to survive, and so on. This time, however, it’s a third-person looter shooter from Nexon, where players control the Descendants – humans with strange powers that lead the fight against the Vulgus and the overwhelming Colossuses. Though there are some Destiny influences, The First Descendant also takes hints from modern shooters with its various Descendants and abilities, weapon modding and more. Launching on July 2nd as a free-to-play title, it will be available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

EvilVEvil

We’re due for a fast-paced first-person shooter in July, and EvilVEvil could be it. As a vampire investigating a conspiracy, players shoot, slice and slay hordes of enemies. Three different classes – Assassin, Berserker and Arcanist – are available, each possessing different vampire abilities. Of course, there’s plenty of firepower to go around, and you can tackle the game solo or with up to two other players. EvilVEvil launches on July 16th for PS5, PC and Xbox Series X/S.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – The Sky Breaker

Though it didn’t enjoy explosive popularity, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora offered a pretty immersive take on the series’ mythos with some compelling action. The Sky Breaker is its first paid DLC, launching on July 16th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC, with players venturing to the new Upper Plains. New locations are available to explore, though the RDA isn’t far behind, bringing new lieutenants to the forefront. Nevertheless, with new Legendary items, an increased rank cap and new challenges to complete, The Sky Breaker may be worth returning for.

Asphalt Legends Unite

While Forza and Gran Turismo are more well-known, Gameloft’s Asphalt series has had a pretty dedicated following through the years. Asphalt Legends Unite continues in that vein, serving as a rebranding of Asphalt 9: Legends, with racing clubs, co-op races, and a new Career Mode. There are over 250 Hypercars to unlock, and the series’ signature arcade racing remains intact. Asphalt Legends Unite is available on July 17th for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS and Android as a free-to-play title.

Once Human

If you were craving some survival action but with more gunplay, Starry Studio’s Once Human could be worth a look. Out on July 9th for PC, it sees players as Meta-Humans, exploring the remnants of the post-apocalyptic world while fighting against the effects of the Stardust. Fighting mutated creatures and inter-dimensional beings, managing one’s sanity, base-building and more await, along with plenty of guns to customize.

Nobody Wants To Die

New York, 2329. Death is but a memory, as consciousness can exist in memory banks. Of course, it’s far from ideal – a serial killer is going around, hunting more affluent citizens, and it’s your job as detective James Karra to stop them. With gorgeous visuals courtesy of Unreal Engine 5 and a cyber noir aesthetic, Nobody Wants to Die presents a compelling mystery as players manipulate time and gather clues to arrive at the truth. It launches on July 17th for PS5, PC and Xbox Series X/S.

Flock

Imagine shepherding a flock where creatures of all kinds – sheep, birds and whatnot – can join. That’s more or less the premise of Flock from Hollow Ponds and Richard Hogg. Explore the world, discover all the different animals, some rarer than others, and add them to your flock. Maybe encounter some other players doing the same. You can even create scarves, socks and hats from any excess wool. Flock launches on July 16th for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC while releasing day one on Game Pass.

Anger Foot

It feels like Anger Foot’s been, well, kicking around for a while now, each new trailer looking more surreal than the last. However, it’s finally launching on June 11th for PC, allowing players to kick doors, enemies and much more to their heart’s content while on a vigilante mission to recover their stolen sneakers. With a focus on clearing levels quickly and multiple pickups to mix things up, Anger Foot could be a surprise hit.

Though early access ends on July 5th at 11:59 PM (depending on one’s time zone), the expansion officially launches on July 2nd for all players. Nevertheless, from July 5th onwards, PC players must use their registration code for Dawntrail to continue playing.

As is usually the case with early access, there’s the risk of spoilers. The development team has clarified that there are no restrictions on the content players can post or stream. However, it asked access users to “please be considerate and do their best to avoid posting spoiler-related content as there are those players who may start at the official launch or play at their own pace.”

Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail will release on PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, and PS5. Taking place on a new continent, Tural, aka the New World, players will encounter new civilizations, cities and factions. There are also new Dungeons and raids to tackle alongside two new Jobs – the Viper and Pictomancer. Stay tuned for more details en route to its launch.

Yoshida goes quite in-depth about the game’s new graphical update, revealing that while Final Fantasy 14 will be getting a graphical upgrade with the release of Dawntrail, the development team overlooked updating the character creation environment in the benchmark software, instead prioritisng the development of the expansion itself.

The appearance of characters having “lifeless” eyes, according to Yoshida, comes down to a lack of highlights in the pupils, facial contours appearing flattened due to incorrect lighting conditions, and a lack of gloss or excessive gloss due to weather conditions.

“The special conditions created for the existing character creation system are largely responsible for the points outlined above,” says Yoshida in the post. “Changing these settings should greatly improve the situation, and I would appreciate it if you could bear with us as we work on updating the benchmark.”

The benchmark software’s replacement will also be focusing on other aspects of performance problems, including high-resolution textures for certain playable races, issues with uncorrected scaling for different characters’ mouths, and issues pertaining to special data processes.

The next version of the Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail benchmark doesn’t yet have a release date. The expansion itself is slated for release on July 2, with pre-orders getting early access on June 28.

What makes the benchmark tool for Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail interesting, however, is the fact that the expansion is bringing a major graphics update to the game. This is essentially the first time that players will be able to tinker around with the game’s options with the new graphical update.

Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail is currently available for pre-order, and will be coming to PC, PS4, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Players that pre-order will get early access to the game on June 28, ahead of its official July 2 release date.

To access content from Dawntrail, Final Fantasy 14 players will have to play through the story of the base game, all the way through the most recent story content released for the Endwalker expansion. Dawntrail will bring with it a host of new content, including new story, dungeons, raids, and more.

These include the Ark, a new mount based on the famous Eidolon; a Wind-Up Garnet Minion; and the Chocobo Brush for Pictomancers. Check out the trailer below to see the Ark in action. There are digital and physical Collector’s Editions, with the former including the game and in-game bonus items for $59.99. The latter consists of the Collector’s Edition for $214.99, which includes the Digital Collector’s Edition and Collector’s Box for PC.

PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S players who want the physical items should pick up the Collector’s Box separately. It costs $155 and includes box art by Yoshitaka Amano, a high-quality figure of the Warrior of Light as the new Viper Job, an Adventurer’s Cloth Map with all the new locations, The Unending Journey notebook and an Adventurer’s Pen Case.

Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail launches on July 2nd, with pre-orders starting on March 26th. Pre-orders also net some goodies, including three days of early access.

Pre-orders begin on March 26th, with other bonuses like a Wind-Up Zidane Minion accompanying you while traveling. You also get Azeyma’s Earrings, which provide a 30 percent EXP gain on defeating enemies. The effect applies at levels 1 to 90 and can only be equipped by Disciples of War or Magic.

It’s also worth noting that to take advantage of early access, players must complete certain quests in Endwalker, the last major expansion. Stay tuned for more details on the exact quests in the coming months.

Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail sees players venturing to a new continent, with new Pictomancer and Beastmaster Jobs, Female Hrothgar, dungeons, raids and more to experience. Check out the full trailer to see it in action.