Patch 6.1, titled Newfound Adventure, is the first major content update for Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker and will feature a number of overhauls to the game as a whole. The newest expansion was released in December of last year and has been praised among fans worldwide. All the details about the update have yet to be revealed to the public, but Game Director and Producer Naoki Yoshida did outline some future plans for the game. Patch 6.1 is set to release in mid-April of 2022 and is the beginning of exciting changes to FFXIV.
2021 was a fantastic year for the game, reaching a total of 25 million concurrent players. However, this popularity did come with some drawbacks. The influx of new and returning adventurers was too much for the system to handle. This caused the development team to put certain measures in place to prevent server collapse, such as the now infamous Error 2002 Message. Players would receive the code when too many characters were trying to to the same server. Recently, the Oceania Data Center was launched, alleviating some stress on the system. Mr. Yoshida and the rest of the development team are constantly working on improvements to FFXIV. Patch 6.1 will add a number of changes to the game, targeting the RPG experience.
In a recent Endwalker is believed to be the best expansion among many fans, yet other aspects of the game fail to live up to this greatness. Patch 6.1 will start to address some of these issues, beginning with A Realm Reborn 2.0 Main Scenario Quests, more PvP content, and a new Housing District.
A Realm Reborn 2.0 MSQ Rework Is In FFXIV Patch 6.1
Completing the base story of FFXIV can take hundreds of hours due to map size, cutscene lengths, and over 400 quests. New players can get lost in the extensive amount of details thrown at them in A Realm Reborn. On top of all of that, adventurers need to learn their job, complete Dungeons, Trials, and Solo-Instances. Matching up with other adventures using the Duty Roullete can also take a long time. This process will be made much easier in Patch 6.1 with an update to FFXIV's Trust System.
As stated during the Live Letter, the Patch 2.0 MSQ duties for A Realm Reborn will become Trust compatible. This will eliminate the time spent waiting in the queue for Dungeons and Trials. It was stated that "Further improvements will be made to some main scenario dungeons and trials." Players should note that eight-player Trials will not have the Trust system implemented during Patch 6.1. Another change that is being made to the A Realm Reborn MSQ, involves the Praetorium and Castrum Meridianum.
Both activities are crucial to the story, yet take an exorbitant amount of time to complete. Due to their length and importance, players are given a large amount of Tomestones and experience for repeat completion of the duties. For now, players should strive to complete the Praetorium and Castrum Meridianum daily for maximum rewards, especially during the Moogle Treasure Trove Event. The former is being split into a four-player dungeon with Gaius van Baelsar as the boss, a four-player Trial against the Ultima Weapon, and a Solo Instance for the Lahabrea fight. Castrum Meridianum is being converted into a four-player dungeon.
New PvP Mode: Crystal Conflict Is Coming In FFXIV Patch 6.1
PvP in FFXIV allows players to pit their skills against others in a wide variety of competitive game modes. Currently, The Feast, Frontline, and Rival Wings are the three game modes that can be accessed. Adventurers must travel to the Wolves' Den to play PvP. Once there, each job will gain abilities and traits unique to the game modes. Teams of 4v4 or 8v8 battle it out in an arena during The Feast, while three different teams face off in Frontline. Rival Wings consists of 24 vs 24 players in a MOBA-inspired team mode. Patch 6.1 will add the highly anticipated Crystal Conflict PvP Mode into FFXIV.
This new content is designed to be played casually and will have quicker rounds, but there will also be ranked matches for players that want more of a challenge. To facilitate the process, skill-based matchmaking will be employed. The Crystal Conflict will have teams of 5v5 consisting of different jobs. The objective is for each team to capture a crystal, avoid obstacles, and push towards their goal. Players will be able to earn special gear, mounts, and other rewards based on their achievements once Patch 6.1 arrives.
Ishgard Empyreum Housing & Lottery System Arrive In Patch 6.1
Housing in FFXIV has always had its issues, due to the high population and limited spaces available for purchase. Patch 6.1 plans to fix some of these problems with the introduction of the Ishgard Empyreum System. Unlike previous districts that required players to stake out their plot of land, a new system will be implemented to purchase a house. Adventures must pay full price for the home and are entered into a lottery. Players that win can accept their prize, while those that lose have a limited time to claim a full refund.
Patch 6.1 has even more to offer fans than the updates to the MSQ in A Realm Reborn, the Crystal Conflict PvP mode, and the new Empyreum Housing District. Fans can look forward to:
- A new side story called Tataru's Grand Endeavor
- The Unreal Trial: Ultima's Bane
- The first part of the Alliance Raid: Myths of the Realm
- Players that have a character of FFXIV's Hrothgar race can enjoy new hairstyles
- A "Calling Card-style" UI
- A new kind of rewards system
Yoshi-P made it very clear that his vision for the future of FFXIV, involves making the game more accessible to all types of players. The new Trust system integration for A Realm Reborn content will allow fans to have a tailor-made experience during the story. The Crystal Conflict will give players the opportunity to play PvP in a timely manner, whether casual or ranked. The Lottery system will grant all adventurers an equal chance to get a House. Patch 6.1 is set to release in mid-April 2022 and is just the beginning of exciting new improvements to the Final Fantasy XIV experience.
