Letter from the Producer LIVE Part LXXIX (10/06/2023)

[Voltenyne]

The Crystalline Conflict Update



(00:37:14)

We went over some fine adjustments to the UI and the new arena, alongside in-game footage.



The minimap and HUD will receive an option to always display your team on the left side, and a “comeback point” will show how far the losing team must progress to turn the tide of the game. These changes will make it easier to understand the current status of a game at a glance, but will also surely be helpful when providing live commentary.

A large countdown will appear on all players’ screens, making it easier to recognize when the match enters the final ten seconds before overtime. Be sure to hop on the crystal when the countdown appears!



The progress gauge will be enhanced with the following information for a better overview of the battle situation.

• Background of the progress gauge will flash to indicate the winning team
• Display of “comeback point”
• Increased visibility of checkpoint breakthrough rate
• During overtime, the match time indicator will change to display how long the losing team has to return to the crystal

In Patch 6.51, the effects of certain actions and pets will indicate if they belong to an enemy or ally, even in the heat of combat. This change will also be reflected in other PvP content as well!



(00:43:14)

We took a sneak peek at the new arena, the Red Sands, which will be added in Patch 6.51. Its unique mechanics include a scorching heat that deals damage over time, dangerous sabotenders, and more! We also took a closer look at the new additions to the UI.

New Alliance Raid: Thaleia



(00:54:16)

The tale of Myths of the Realm and the Twelve will be coming to a close. If you’ve been keeping up with the story, you may have noticed: do we have enough remaining deities to serve as bosses in Thaleia? We have prepared various plans regarding this question, so please look forward to them.

Check out the video for in-game footage of the opening cutscenes, scenery, and the first boss: Thaliak!

(00:58:48)

We also previewed the reward equipment from Thaleia along with some new housing items, glamour gear, and mounts. The faerie-like mounts are based on a new character who will be appearing in content to be added sometime during Patch 6.5x.

Planned Improvements to Server Infrastructure



(01:16:09)

We have been considering the possibility of a cloud server infrastructure, and now that the concept is taking shape, we are looking to begin testing. Setting up cloud-based data centers would enable us to merge or purge Worlds at a moment’s notice, among other capabilities.

First, we will be holding a public stress test in North America sometime during the 6.5x series. In preparation for this test, the cloud data center will appear on the data center selection screen starting from Patch 6.5 but will be inaccessible until the stress test begins. The stress test period and other details will be announced on the Lodestone at a later date.

For about five years, we’ve been testing to ensure that playing on the cloud servers will provide the same experience as a physical data center, and with the cooperation of various companies, we’ve finally reached a state where that can be achieved. Using cloud data centers would allow us to tackle new endeavors with FFXIV in the future, so we’d appreciate your help during the test.

As a note, we went over upcoming content for Patch 6.5 in this Letter LIVE, but not everything that will be added during 6.5x! We still have more to reveal at the upcoming Fan Festivals, so we hope you’ll keep an eye out for future announcements as you enjoy Patch 6.5!