The Next Live Letter is on October 31st, which means 7.4 is likely mid December..

Missing out on the week 1 blind raiding experience, especially when you aren't in a static for whatever reason can suck for the players who look forward to that. Post-week 1 it quickly becomes more and more bothersome to try and do the raids blind in PF, so missing that timing leaves you with a worse experience.

I’m betting that Patch 7.4 releases EARLY December. It’s more logical because they wouldn’t want the patch to coincide with a major holiday, regardless of whatever countries do or do not celebrate Christmas.

Honestly whenever they release 7.4 it will set the date for 8.0

My guess is early January to help push 8.0 to the same window that Endwalker had.

Given this raid tier will be the current raid tier for the entirety of 2026, and likely half of 2027, people sure are in a rush to get it done quick.

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Originally Posted by CarlCarl

Missing out on the week 1 blind raiding experience, especially when you aren't in a static for whatever reason can suck for the players who look forward to that. Post-week 1 it quickly becomes more and more bothersome to try and do the raids blind in PF, so missing that timing leaves you with a worse experience.

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tbf I believe you might be overestimating PF if you think no one will be doing prog in week 2, esp knowing that the final tier will be harder than the other 2 already esp for others who are busy with IRL or started later will want to do them eventually for months later.

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Originally Posted by CCheshire

tbf I believe you might be overestimating PF if you think no one will be doing prog in week 2, esp knowing that the final tier will be harder than the other 2 already esp for others who are busy with IRL or started later will want to do them eventually for months later.

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Emphasis on blind prog, which quickly dwindles in popularity in PF past week 1.

There's a difference between delaying SAVAGE timing and the entire patch. I've seen folks advocating delaying 7.4 to January which would have a serious domino effect for everything else to 8.0. I don't see a reason the entire patch needs to be delayed. If they want to delay Savage access until after Christmas/New Years not sure why that would be an issue. Drop the patch on schedule early December, Savage comes second week of January.

Still, we will learn when it comes out. Who knows, maybe it will come out next month.

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Originally Posted by Pimsan20

Still, we will learn when it comes out. Who knows, maybe it will come out next month.

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7.3 came out at the beginning of August, and every patch for the last several years has been 4-4 1/2 months long. The chance that CS3 of all groups will shake up the schedule and accelerate is practically nonexistent.

There is a valid concern about blind PF drying up a bit after week 1 but things happen. It makes sense to release the 16th and then Savage the 23rd because that gives their devs time for hotfixes before they would be out on their own holidays. And the patch would be consistent. The last two patches have both been 6 weeks (plus a few days until a Tuesday) after the part 1 LL. I don't find it likely they will release early, because that gives them less time to be ready. It's possible the could delay until early January after the New Year, but that would throw off 7.4 and 7.5 potentially. The 16th and Savage a week later really makes the most sense.

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Originally Posted by CarlCarl

Emphasis on blind prog, which quickly dwindles in popularity in PF past week 1.

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I know, but you can always make a blind prog static or your own PF listing for it in week 2. I've even seen blind prog parties for old Arcadian Raid Tier 1 on PF during the evening.

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Originally Posted by Dakam

Christmas is not as important as New Year Eve in Japan, heck Christmas is basically their Valentine's day.
It's a Japanese game first and foremost.

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Originally Posted by Korrcen

As far as I know, Japanese people visit KFC around Christmas, and that's basically their entire celebration of the holiday. It means little to them, so I could see it.

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Originally Posted by Vrankyl

As others have said Christmas isn't as big of a deal as New Years is to Japan, so if they were going to pick one to interrupt it would be Christmas. Not to mention MANY people don't even celebrate Christmas too so it makes sense. The only ones that are going to retaliate are likely the NA crowd and some of the EU crowd.

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Originally Posted by Infindox

Japan literally treats Christmas as mearly a day for people to give their loved ones sweets and treats and maybe have a small party while continuing to work.

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Sony is Japanese.
SEGA is Japanese.
Nintendo is Japanese.
Stop infantilizing Japanese people. This is not a Japan problem. This is a Square Enix problem. You know, the same company that uses your sub fee to sell you remakes of games you already own? Square Enix is a laughing stock among its own investors.

Fact #1: the non-Japanese player base accounts for 2/3rds of this game’s subscriber count. Other directors know this. Yoshi-P knows this, which is why he wrote FF16. You do not need to submit to Glorious Nippon. You ARE important.

Fact #2: a raid on the evening of the 23rd in Japan time will cut in to plans on the 24th, which is an important day. For everyone including them. This is not disputable. It’s important for every other Japanese company.

If the patch schedule are not as described in the OP, it would be even more shameful for us as people are actively yearning for it to happen. I will be here next week to remind you all about how much you desperately wanted to raid on Christmas.

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Originally Posted by caffe_macchiato

Sony is Japanese.
SEGA is Japanese.
Nintendo is Japanese.
Stop infantilizing Japanese people. This is not a Japan problem. This is a Square Enix problem. You know, the same company that uses your sub fee to sell you remakes of games you already own? Square Enix is a laughing stock among its own investors.

Fact #1: the non-Japanese player base accounts for 2/3rds of this game’s subscriber count. Other directors know this. Yoshi-P knows this, which is why he wrote FF16. You do not need to submit to Glorious Nippon. You ARE important.

Fact #2: a raid on the evening of the 23rd in Japan time will cut in to plans on the 24th, which is an important day. For everyone including them. This is not disputable. It’s important for every other Japanese company.

If the patch schedule are not as described in the OP, it would be even more shameful for us as people are actively yearning for it to happen. I will be here next week to remind you all about how much you desperately wanted to raid on Christmas.

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Have fun with that. I honestly don't care about Savage and don't want the rest of the stuff held because some people can't be bothered to wait because they have to go go go. I'm also not Christian so it being around Christmas wouldn't bother me if it did. And while the 24th is important in Japan it doesn't have the same meaning and doesn't result in the same level of celebration as it does here in the US. I should know. Lived there through a few Christmas celebrations.

Honestly, even bigger take? Regional and Religious holidays should not have an impact at all in determining services meant for world wide audiences so Christmas shouldn't even be a factor in determining the schedule beyond what days the devs are actually going to be working to be able to deploy things.

They've done it before.

wont there be enough people who also miss the christmas days to raid?
you are not alone.

means there are still people who wanna do it blind after christmas

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Originally Posted by Vrankyl

Have fun with that. I honestly don't care about Savage and don't want the rest of the stuff held because some people can't be bothered to wait because they have to go go go. I'm also not Christian so it being around Christmas wouldn't bother me if it did. And while the 24th is important in Japan it doesn't have the same meaning and doesn't result in the same level of celebration as it does here in the US. I should know. Lived there through a few Christmas celebrations.

Honestly, even bigger take? Regional and Religious holidays should not have an impact at all in determining services meant for world wide audiences so Christmas shouldn't even be a factor in determining the schedule beyond what days the devs are actually going to be working to be able to deploy things.

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Even bigger take? You go to blacklist and i suggest others to do same. Probably someone doesn't want their 30 minute story quest being delayed because christmas/new year....

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Originally Posted by Derio

Honestly whenever they release 7.4 it will set the date for 8.0

My guess is early January to help push 8.0 to the same window that Endwalker had.

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I don't think it works like that. There's (probably) no rule carved in a stone tablet somewhere that says that the time between patches must be fixed. They probably aim for a consistent time frame (just like they aim for a major patch every 4 month) but if they need some more weeks for it to be ready or if they need to move it to avoid clashing with the release of some other major game they will probably adjust the release week accordingly.

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Originally Posted by Naraku_Diabolos

I’m betting that Patch 7.4 releases EARLY December. It’s more logical because they wouldn’t want the patch to coincide with a major holiday, regardless of whatever countries do or do not celebrate Christmas.

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It would be nice if they released it earlier than anticipated, but history suggests they won't, if only because they are such sticklers for a release schedule that puts them at odds with major holidays

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Originally Posted by TaleraRistain

Snip

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it doesn't though. the entire reason why the schedule was shifted from 4 months exactly to 4.5 months was because Yoshi-p wanted the devs to have time to unwind during the summer and at Christmas, so having Savage drop 2 days before Christmas where there could be a major bug that could potentially go unaddressed for days is something i think they'd want to avoid.

I have no idea why so many people seem to believe i suggested that they delay the 7.4 patch, but that is incorrect. I said If i were in Yoshi-P's place, i would either release 7.4 a week earlier than expected, or delay enabling savage by an extra week, so savage would become available on December 30th and people who want to blind prog savage week 1 can do so. Delaying savage by a week will not impact the release schedule because Savage already comes bundled with 7.4, it's just not enabled, much like how they add holiday content with a patch, but it's not enabled until a specific time. Yoshi-p decided to start doing that for the benefit of people who want to take their time doing the story content on patch day instead of rushing through it as fast as possible to start savage.

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Originally Posted by caffe_macchiato

Sony is Japanese.
SEGA is Japanese.
Nintendo is Japanese.
Stop infantilizing Japanese people. This is not a Japan problem. This is a Square Enix problem. You know, the same company that uses your sub fee to sell you remakes of games you already own? Square Enix is a laughing stock among its own investors.

Fact #1: the non-Japanese player base accounts for 2/3rds of this game’s subscriber count. Other directors know this. Yoshi-P knows this, which is why he wrote FF16. You do not need to submit to Glorious Nippon. You ARE important.

Fact #2: a raid on the evening of the 23rd in Japan time will cut in to plans on the 24th, which is an important day. For everyone including them. This is not disputable. It’s important for every other Japanese company.

If the patch schedule are not as described in the OP, it would be even more shameful for us as people are actively yearning for it to happen. I will be here next week to remind you all about how much you desperately wanted to raid on Christmas.

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How is understanding that the devs' development and release schedule works around the holidays that they live with "infantilizing" them. It's actually extremely common for games to have releases, updates, and events November to January because of holiday sales and vacation time. I usually can't play on patch days because of the tragedy of having a full time job. It's not a big deal.

Actually, delaying it WOULD be an issue since a few weeks from the theorized release is Golden Week, which is a massive work holiday in Japan. Do we really want to push a patch a month back because a few people are sad they can't game on Christmas? Are you serious?

I don't know how people can say this only affects world firsters when there's weekly loot limits, I don't do savage I barely even do extremes but I would be slightly miffed if I missed out on the first week of loot of an alliance raid because I was busy with something else, normal raid tokens too I guess but especially alliance raid loot

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Originally Posted by RedLolly

Actually, delaying it WOULD be an issue since a few weeks from the theorized release is Golden Week, which is a massive work holiday in Japan. Do we really want to push a patch a month back because a few people are sad they can't game on Christmas? Are you serious?

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What are you talking about? Golden Week starts at the end of April.

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Originally Posted by tuypo1

I don't know how people can say this only affects world firsters when there's weekly loot limits, I don't do savage I barely even do extremes but I would be slightly miffed if I missed out on the first week of loot of an alliance raid because I was busy with something else, normal raid tokens too I guess but especially alliance raid loot

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That's absurd. In either case (raid released a week during which you can't play versus raid released a week during which you can), you won't have loot for the week where you couldn't play. So it doesn't change anything at all for you personally, the two hypothetical scenarios are identical. The only difference is that some other people may have some loot a week earlier than you. If that's enough to make you anxious you need to touch some grass.

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Originally Posted by Daralii

What are you talking about? Golden Week starts at the end of April.

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While not golden week, Jp along with several other counties take a few days up to an entire week off for the week of New Years, its also been mention dozens of time Yoshi P gives devs a week or 2 break during that. Ive worked for a few JP logistics companies, even while being situated in NA we also got off New Years week because a vast majority Asian freight literally halts for it.

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Originally Posted by Vrankyl

Regional and Religious holidays should not have an impact at all in determining services meant for world wide audiences

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If holidays are meaningless, should we do away with these then?
https://files.catbox.moe/9ucy1x.jpeg

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Originally Posted by caffe_macchiato

If holidays are meaningless, should we do away with these then?

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You know some folks here are going to say Yes because it's content not tailored specifically for their tastes

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Originally Posted by Azurarok

You know some folks here are going to say Yes because it's content not tailored specifically for their tastes

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They have content?

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Originally Posted by Daralii

They have content?

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I mean they're not really made for me either, but there's clearly some that do enjoy the set pieces.

It's the raid series that has to hold you over for the entirety of 2026 so I mean it isn't like the race is that meaningful.

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Originally Posted by CCheshire

I know, but you can always make a blind prog static or your own PF listing for it in week 2. I've even seen blind prog parties for old Arcadian Raid Tier 1 on PF during the evening.

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More often than not people will join blind prog and hint at how to do mechanics or nudge everyone else into a PF strat they've already done. Once strats begin to get adopted, it's nearly impossible to prog blind via PF. Even finding a static who specifically wants to prog blind is difficult.

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Originally Posted by Aidorouge

You'd think this would be a perfect time to think about everything wrong with the raiding culture, if not the fights themselves, if its one big ball of FOMO anxiety where people struggle to find others to do the content with only 7 days after it drops.

Instead of people asking "why is the pain slated for this date instead of another one" why not ask "why is this painful to do in the first place".

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Part of this FOMO reaction is due to the patches themselves taking so long. People are starved for content because they're otherwise bored. So when something new releases they rush to do it. This isn't unique to Savage nor raiding, but every piece of content in the game.

Regardless, it isn't a struggle to find people to do the content with. It's finding people who deliberately want to restrict themselves by not looking up strats or going into PF and learning mechanics ahead, i.e. blind prog. Not to mention, every week gear power creeps Savage. M6S was a wall because not only did people struggle with adds, but they didn't have tome gear to muscle through the rather tight DPS check. That experience was largely non-existent by week 3-4 when people had several pieces of gear and/or weapons.

I wouldn't mind if they delayed the Savage raids until Jan because of those holidays.

But I feel they'd need to shuffle their stuff and release at least one optional content with 7.4.0 - like the Blue Mage update.

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Originally Posted by Raikai

I wouldn't mind if they delayed the Savage raids until Jan because of those holidays.

But I feel they'd need to shuffle their stuff and release at least one optional content with 7.4.0 - like the Blue Mage update.

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It’s easy to delay Savage if thy want. The work will be done and it’s changing a release timer.

Considering this is the last savage for at least 12 months, no need to rush.

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Originally Posted by Jason_Ashford

it doesn't though. the entire reason why the schedule was shifted from 4 months exactly to 4.5 months was because Yoshi-p wanted the devs to have time to unwind during the summer and at Christmas, so having Savage drop 2 days before Christmas where there could be a major bug that could potentially go unaddressed for days is something i think they'd want to avoid.

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They dropped Chaotic on Christmas Eve. It seems like they're not all going to be out right around that time. More likely New Year's is their major business holiday where businesses will be closed and the 23rd still gives them time before that.

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Originally Posted by YumieYumiki

I don't think it works like that. There's (probably) no rule carved in a stone tablet somewhere that says that the time between patches must be fixed. They probably aim for a consistent time frame (just like they aim for a major patch every 4 month) but if they need some more weeks for it to be ready or if they need to move it to avoid clashing with the release of some other major game they will probably adjust the release week accordingly.

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One of the reasons people are so up in arms when all we have is the PLL part 1 release date is that SE is so consistent you can predict the patch schedule based on things like the PLL release dates. A week or two delay, maybe, but weeks would just be highly unusual for them.

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Originally Posted by TaleraRistain

They dropped Chaotic on Christmas Eve. It seems like they're not all going to be out right around that time. More likely New Year's is their major business holiday where businesses will be closed and the 23rd still gives them time before that.



One of the reasons people are so up in arms when all we have is the PLL part 1 release date is that SE is so consistent you can predict the patch schedule based on things like the PLL release dates. A week or two delay, maybe, but weeks would just be highly unusual for them.

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Chaotic is different from the Savage world race though. sure people rushed to do it blind week 1, but it was brand new content and the very first 24 hard mode alliance raid and it got conquered pretty quickly, but people weren't racing for it. People were still upset mind you, but it'd be a whole different ball game to have the world race start the week of Christmas, specifically 2 days before.

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Originally Posted by Jason_Ashford

Chaotic is different from the Savage world race though. sure people rushed to do it blind week 1, but it was brand new content and the very first 24 hard mode alliance raid and it got conquered pretty quickly, but people weren't racing for it. People were still upset mind you, but it'd be a whole different ball game to have the world race start the week of Christmas, specifically 2 days before.

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the race will be over before christmas day.

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Originally Posted by Jason_Ashford

Chaotic is different from the Savage world race though. sure people rushed to do it blind week 1, but it was brand new content and the very first 24 hard mode alliance raid and it got conquered pretty quickly, but people weren't racing for it. People were still upset mind you, but it'd be a whole different ball game to have the world race start the week of Christmas, specifically 2 days before.

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It may make it difficult for some but the race is over in less than a day isn't it? Wasn't this last one like 13 or 14 hours? Or was it less? I didn't really watch the entire thing.

maybe they'll see the feedback so they gonna release the raids on patchday... but oh wait, the players wouldnt be happy with that either.

Why is the only point of discussion here it releasing on Christmas or being delayed?

You are too used to them releasing content and snails pace.
It's already 4.5 to 5 months per patch.

If anything they should release it a week or 2 early.
Don't care about their laziness and for sure they don't need every single day to push out the usual content with 1-1.5 extra months of time for it.

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Originally Posted by ViinaS

Why is the only point of discussion here it releasing on Christmas or being delayed?

You are too used to them releasing content and snails pace.
It's already 4.5 to 5 months per patch.

If anything they should release it a week or 2 early.
Don't care about their laziness and for sure they don't need every single day to push out the usual content with 1-1.5 extra months of time for it.

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If they release it early, we get more bugs. That's the tradeoff.