Summary
After an eventful 2023 that saw the launch of a new mainline entry, theFinal Fantasyseries is slated to have one of its largest years to date in 2024. From season to season,Final Fantasyfans will have their fill of content to consume across three of the series' numbered titles, with each game offering a different experience from the others.
Between exploringthe modernized world that lies beyond Midgar, reviving a long-lost power with control of the seas, and uncovering the mysterious land of Tural, theFinal Fantasyseries will take players in wildly different directions throughout 2024. Though a lot can change throughout the year, fans ofFinal Fantasy 7,Final Fantasy 16, andFinal Fantasy 14are guaranteed to see their entries get time in the spotlight.
What is Coming From the Final Fantasy Franchise In 2024?
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Hits Store Shelves On Leap Day
Arguably one ofthe most-anticipated game releases in 2024, fans will not have to wait too much longer for February 29, as that is the day thatFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthwill hit store shelves. Picking up immediately whereFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeleft off, the next entry in theFF7saga sees Cloud and the party now on the run from Shinra. While the group will initially start the game as a party of five, they will see new members such as Cid and Yuffie join the fold as they continue their fight against Sephiroth to save the Planet they hold dear. However, Cloud, Barret, and others must confront the ghosts of their respective pasts they ran from, which should play out in emotionally charged scenes.
Set to take place between the escape from Midgar and the events of the Forgotten Capital,Final Fantasyfans will get to see the world ofFF7in an entirely new light. Though Unreal Engine 4 will continue to see use despitethe release of Unreal Engine 5, that has not stopped Square Enix from making the most of what the engine has to offer. With new activities including Chocobo races, Chocobo customization, and mini-games galore in The Gold Saucer,Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthmay have sufficient replay value in that regard. However, Square Enix confirmed that progress made in Final Fantasy 7 Remake will not carry over into the sequel. That said, players will be able to watch a condensed recap of the journey so far, which can be accessed from the game itself.
WhileFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthwill be a longer story than its predecessor, eventually the party will make their way to the Forgotten Capital. From there, players will see how Aerith’s fate will play out compared to the original story. While people have theorized anddebated if Aeirth’s fate inFF7 Rebirthis unavoidable, the fact that Square Enix confirmed thatFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthwill see a permanent character death has given fans some pause. With Cloud and the group now free of the Arbiters of Fate, only time will tell how this part of the tale will go, and how it will affect the upcoming third entry in theFF7 Remakeseries.
Final Fantasy 16: The Rising Tide Comes Ashore This Spring
In a surprise announcement at the 2023 edition of The Game Awards,Final Fantasy 16shadow-droppedthe Echoes of the Fallen DLC, which was well-received by fans looking for an extra challenge. The first expansion saw Clive and his group explore some Fallen ruins to the north of Rosaria that had appeared just before the final confrontation with Ultima. After investigating a rise in dusk crystals, the party fought their way inside the Fallen ruins and discovered more than they initially bargained for. At the core of it was an artificial Mothercrystal which was capable of defending itself by taking the form of a Fallen weapon called Omega, the expansion’s super boss. Eventually, Clive overpowered the Fallen construct and shattered the Fallen-made Mothercrystal.
However,FF16was not done with surprises. The December announcement also confirmed that the game’s second DLC, The Rising Tide, would be released this spring. Featuring the Eikon of Water known as Leviathan the Lost, who was notably absent inFinal Fantasy 16before the DLC, Clive and his companions will travel to Mysidia, whose name is a recurring theme of theFinal Fantasyseries. Traditionally known as a kingdom with mages at the helm, Mysidia appeared in games such asFinal Fantasy 2andFinal Fantasy 4, in which it played a significant role, especially in the latter’s story. However, Mysidia’s magical prowess was often the envy of other kingdoms that sought to take it for themselves. HowFF16’s version of Mysidia will compare will be a mystery until the DLC’s release.
Though information remains limited at the time of writing, The Rising TIde looks to give Clive a new slate of Eikonic abilities as he will eventually gain access to Leviathan’s move pool throughout the expansion, which may come after an Eikonic duel between Leviathan and Ifrit. However, fans should not expect any more fromFinal Fantasy 16, asThe Rising Tide will be the end of the road for the game. While the PC port ofFinal Fantasy 16continues to be developed, Creative Business Unit 3 has largely turned its attention to other projects, including the upcoming expansion to its critically acclaimed MMORPG.
Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail Is a Summer Experience
ThoughFinal Fantasy 14saw some good changes throughout 2023, it was largely a minor year compared to the ones that saw an expansion release. However, fans will not have long to wait, as the critically acclaimed MMORPG’s fifth expansion,Dawntrail, will arrive in the coming months. With the future in full focus,Final Fantasy 14director and producer Naoki Yoshida gave players a lot of information to digest at the 2024 Tokyo Fan Fest.
During the Tokyo Fan Fest Keynote address, the trailer forFinal Fantasy 14: Dawntrailwas shown in its entirety. However, one important detail was notably absent. The release date forFinal Fantasy 14’s upcoming expansion remained under wraps, but Yoshida confirmed that it would be released in the summer. Though Yoshida clarified that an internal target date was decided, he said the two-week delay forEndwalkerwas the reason for not revealing whenDawntrailwould go live.
Immediately after clarifying the release window, Yoshida confirmed that the Pictomancer would join the Viper as a new DPS job inDawntrail, and touched upon how it would differ fromother Jobs already in the game. As a Caster DPS, the Pictomancer is loosely based on Relm Arrowny fromFinal Fantasy 6, who can paint images of monsters to deal damage. However, the Eorzean take on this brush-wielding spell caster adds some additional techniques to their palette. By mixing nearby aether with their brush, the Pictomancer can unleash attacks based on the environment as well as creatures such as moogles. Compared to the Black Mage, the Pictomancer will not deal as much raw damage, but it will have some utility. On the flip side, the Pictomancer will not be a full-fledged support DPS like the Red Mage or the Dancer. How this will factor into raid compositions remains to be seen.
But,Final Fantasy 14players will not be completely without content in the meantime. Patch 6.55 will launch on Tuesday, January 16, which will bridge the gap betweenEndwalkerandDawntrail, and give players the chance tocomplete the Manderville Relic Weapons. Plus, the highly-anticipated collaboration withFinal Fantasy 16will go live in early April, which will award players with a mount and a minion based on Torgal, as well as Clive’s outfit as a glamour.
With three different ways to experience theFinal Fantasyfranchise, fans will have plenty to chew on throughout 2024. While the rest of the year is a blank slate, only time will tell what Square Enix will do to keep the momentum going.
