Summary
As Square Enix prepares to launch a new expansion, the 10th anniversary ofFinal Fantasy 14will officially conclude on April 12 and 13 with the ninth annual 14-hour Broadcast. Since the game’s storied downfall and rebirth in the early 2010s,Final Fantasy 14has risen from the ashes and become one of the most beloved entries in theFinal Fantasyfranchise.
The upcoming broadcast will be a bookend to one chapter, and the start of another. On July 2,Final Fantasy 14will release its fifth expansion,Dawntrail, which is stated to be the start of a new saga in the world of Etheirys.Dawntrailwill land in the middle ofa busy 2024 for theFinal Fantasyseries, followingFinal Fantasy 7 RebirthandFinal Fantasy 16: The Rising Tide. The highly-anticipatedFinal Fantasy 14expansion will launch nearly two and a half years afterEndwalker. In the meantime, theFinal Fantasy 14developers have another opportunity to set players' expectations.
What’s Going On During FF14’s Big 14-Hour Broadcast?
Final Fantasy 14’s 10th anniversary was observed in August 2023to mark the game’s relaunch asA Realm Reborn, but the celebrations lasted throughout the year. The ninth annual 14-hour Broadcast will conclude the anniversary festivities. The show will air onTwitchandYouTube, and co-streaming is permitted. The broadcast will be divided into several segments, butFinal Fantasy 14players will want to keep an eye on the first few hours of the show. Starting at 11:00 PM Eastern on Friday, April 12,Final Fantasy 14producer and director Naoki Yoshida will host an Introduction segment. At Midnight Eastern, Letter from the Producer Live Part 80 will start and last two and a half hours. Yoshida and global community producer Toshio Murouchi will discuss what players can expect duringDawntrail. However, one aspect of the expansion remains unaddressed.
Final Fantasy 14 Ninth Annual 14-Hour Broadcast Schedule (All Times Eastern)
Where’s the Dawntrail Benchmark?
ThoughDawntrailis expected to giveFinal Fantasy 14the means to endure another decade, the absence of a Benchmark client for PC players has been among the most asked questions in the lead-up to the expansion. With the new update comes an increase in specification requirements, and the Dawntrail Benchmark would allow players to see how their PCs handle the updated graphics. Only time will tell if Square Enix will discuss theDawntrailPC Benchmark during the Live Letter.
FF14 Players Will Share Some Contributions
While Final Fantasy 14 players areknown for supporting charity through community-run events, some players will have an opportunity to have their in-game and real-life contributions shown off during the 14-hour broadcast. Shortly after the Live Letter, Yoshida and Murochi will pivot to the half-hour “Show Us Your IRL Minions!” segment, featuring players' pets such as dogs and cats, all dressed up in FF14 costumes or collectibles. At 6:30 AM Eastern, Yoshida will host “A Stroll with Yoshi-P” inFinal Fantasy 14, as he will take a tour of player housing across the Japanese data centers. Which servers and houses Yoshida will visit will be a mystery, but players in the Japanese data centers Elemental, Gaia, Mana, and Meteor will have the best chance of having their virtual homes featured.
Shaping Up The Future of Final Fantasy 14
Throughout the 14-hour Broadcast, a second feed dedicated to the upcomingFinal Fantasy 14 TTRPGwill demonstrate the game. While it is not expected to bea lengthy Tabletop game, players interested in it will not want to miss out. On the main feed, Yoshida will be joined by lead composer Masayoshi Soken and other members of The Primals band for a look back at how far the music of Final Fantasy 14 has come since A Realm Reborn. The broadcast will conclude with a lengthy Developer’s Roundtable Discussion over various facets of the game. All in all, a busy slate awaitsFinal Fantasy 14players who want to catch the 14-hour Broadcast in its entirety.
Final Fantasy 14 (2010)
WHERE TO PLAY
Begin your adventure in FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm RebornCreate your very own Warrior of Light and embark upon a quest to deliver the land from an eternity of Darkness.Take to the skies in FINAL FANTASY XIV: HeavenswardTake your first steps in the reclusive nation of Ishgard, locked in a seemingly never-ending struggle with dragons.Rekindle the fires of hope in FINAL FANTASY XIV: StormbloodJourney to the East and rise up against the might of the Garlean Empire.Become the darkness in FINAL FANTASY XIV: ShadowbringersTravel to a world where light ushers all unto oblivion. But hope is not yet lost, for where there is light there is shadow.Journey to the very stars above in FINAL FANTASY XIV: EndwalkerA great calamity has been building - a second advent of the Final Days. The Warrior of Light must journey ever higher and stand firm as hope’s last bastion.Set forth for new horizons in FINAL FANTASY XIV: DawntrailBlue seas, clear skies, and boundless possibilities await! Explore uncharted territories with familiar faces as hope’s light dawns once more.
