Letter from the Producer LIVE Part LXXXII Digest (6/27/2024)

[Voltenyne]

We are pleased to present the full digest of the Letter from the Producer LIVE Part LXXXII!
If you missed the live stream, or if you just want to watch it again (and again), check it out below!



* Don't forget to select the 1080p option to watch the video in HD!

Launch Trailer



(00:39:00)

The Dawntrail launch trailer is now available, packed full of details—at least the ones we can reveal at this time! The trailer also serves as a terrific showcase of the improvements brought about by the graphical update.

Early access for Patch 7.0 will begin on Friday, June 28, followed by its official launch on Tuesday, July 2.
We're currently in the process of debugging the game to ensure stable gameplay, whereas storyboarding for Patch 8.0 is taking place behind the scenes.

As a reminder, the articles and videos by our media tour guests are based on a pre-release version that was created on Wednesday, May 1. Quite a few finishing touches have been made since then, so information from the media tour may not be wholly reflective of the final version. With that in mind, we hope you'll look forward to seeing the specifics finalized in our Job Guide and patch notes for 7.0.

New Cities and Areas

New areas were introduced with screenshots.

Tuliyollal



(00:57:28)

Tuliyollal will be the first major city you'll be visiting in Tural.
Its various peoples coexist in harmony, and their friendliness shines through in the various aspects of this vibrant metropolis. There is more to adventure than always being on the move, so we emphasized the hustle and bustle of everyday life in Tuliyollal. You may want to walk around and take in the sights of the city when you have a moment!

Urqopacha



(01:01:09)

The beautiful new textures give life to Urqopacha's breathtaking surroundings and lure you to gazing around at the beautiful scenery. The gargantuan mountain garnered a lot of attention in the job action trailer, so it may pique your interest to know that climbing it will be part of the main scenario! You will also explore the archaeological ruins to uncover the intriguing history of this region.

Kozama'uka



Distinguished by an enormous waterfall, Kozama'uka is divided into the highlands and lowlands. Its iconic waterfall was designed with careful attention to detail, such as the clear water turning murky as it plummets into the earth below. The second screenshot seems to be hinting at some sort of settlement in the midst of all that colorful foliage.

Yak T'el



In contrast with the plentiful trees providing shade, we focused on conveying a sense of summery heat in Yak T'el. It's worth mentioning that the second screenshot is not a nighttime picture despite the dark lighting!

Shaaloani



(01:06:04)

Shaaloani has a distinctly different appearance from other areas, as if we've stepped into an old cowboy film. The first screenshot shows clear skies, a rare sight in these parts; the dust clouds seen in the second screenshot are more common.

Heritage Found



Here is yet another area with a drastically different atmosphere from what we've shown so far. We'd rather not spoil anything about this area, so we hope you'll look forward to seeing it for yourself!

Solution Nine



The futuristic Solution Nine will be another major city to explore in Dawntrail. We can't describe it in detail but know this: the transforming vehicles shown in the trailer will be added as mounts!

With the vast technological differences of each area, writing all of them into a single story proved to be quite a challenge, but we hope you'll enjoy the variance in Dawntrail!

[Voltenyne]

Key Characters





(01:13:46)

We went over a few of the many characters who will be appearing in Dawntrail.

Wuk Lamat
Wuk Lamat will play an especially pivotal role in the Dawntrail main scenario. There isn't a lot we can say without spoiling the story, but you can look forward to her friendly banter with her childhood friend, Erenville.

Erenville
A returning character from 6.0 and one of Yoshida's favorite characters. We hope you'll enjoy Erenville's company as he guides our Warriors of Light through their adventures in Dawntrail.

Krile
After learning of her grandfather Galuf's connections to Tural, Krile has taken up the art of pictomancy to join the others in combat and uncover the mystery of the legendary golden city. She will be accompanying our Warriors of Light in battle as an active member of the Duty Support roster.

Thancred & Urianger
There's not a whole lot we can reveal about these two familiar faces, but rest assured they'll be appearing in Dawntrail!





(01:20:02)

The Dawnservant Gulool Ja Ja
The current ruler of the nation of Tuliyollal, whose two heads are separately referred to as the "Vow of Resolve" and the "Vow of Reason." These two phrases will frequently appear in the story and are worth noting.
* A part of the explanation in the broadcast was incorrect and has been amended. (Updated July 4, 2024)

Zoraal Ja
The First Promise of Tuliyollal and sibling of Wuk Lamat. As the most likely candidate in the rite of succession, he will surely be in direct competition with the Warrior of Light.

Koana
The adopted son of Tuliyollal's ruling family. The adopted children of Gulool Ja Ja may be of different races, but their relationships as family members will also play a part in the story.

Bakool Ja Ja
A Mamool Ja whom, like the Dawnservant, has two heads and two voice actors. The birth of a two-headed Mamool Ja is a rare occurrence, one that gives Bakool Ja Ja reason to participate in the rite of succession despite his lack of direct ties to the Dawnservant.

Enigmatic Maiden
We can't share anything about this character for now; just remember that they too, have a role to play!

Plenty of other characters will appear in the story, including other members of the Scions, so stay tuned to find out how they become involved!

New Role Quests




(01:28:49)

We went over the new role quests that will be added in Patch 7.0. Additional quests will be added in Patch 7.1 for those who complete all five role questlines, so be sure to play through them all if you're interested!

The first screenshot shows NPCs in the background wearing new gear, which will also be available for player characters to wear. We showed what they look like for several roles, which you can see in the video. Their designs have a distinct look that may help with your story or roleplaying immersion.

Note that the gear won't be obtained through role quests; we simply introduced them during this segment because the NPCs were wearing them.

Job Quests




(01:35:23)

Job quests for the viper and pictomancer will be added, introducing the origins of their respective jobs. Some of the quests will take place in areas from previous expansions, which will have benefitted from the graphical update, so we hope you'll look forward to seeing what they will look like now! It's also worth mentioning that moogles look a lot fluffier, thanks to the implementation of fur shaders.

For our Namazu fans, Yoshida was quite amused by our fishy friends' involvement in one of the job quests, so please look forward to it!

New Disciples of the Hand and Land Quests: Wachumeqimeqi Deliveries




(01:42:52)

We introduced the new crafter and gatherer quests. The catchy phrase "wachumeqimeqi" means "multicolored necklace" in the Pelupelu language, and is associated with the concept of stringing various gemstones together.

These quests will begin in Tuliyollal and unfold throughout the new Dawntrail areas, and we hope you'll enjoy getting to know the region's various cultures and ideologies. All five questlines will have their own unique themes, which we hope our crafters and gatherers will enjoy alongside the main scenario.

For those curious, the Vanu Vanu-like NPC in the second screenshot belongs to a different society known as "Hanuhanu."

The Japanese name of the quests includes a phrase which roughly translates to "city of myriad currencies," referring to the numerous different currencies in circulation before Tuliyollal was unified as a single nation.
The currency is now unified as "pel," but rest assured that Eorzean gil will be accepted as well.

As with role quests, completing all crafter and gatherer quests will unlock additional quests, which will be added in Patch 7.1 or later.

[Voltenyne]

New Dungeons




(01:51:41)

We took a sneak peek at some of the dungeons that will be added in Patch 7.0.

The location in the first image, which you may recognize from videos of the media tour, is an expansive area that could be easily mistaken as part of the overworld.

The second image features a rocky mountaintop where you might feel the air getting thinner as you ascend its rugged terrain; we strove to emphasize environmental characteristics like those when designing these new locations. Screenshot enthusiasts will surely enjoy the great scenery here!

The third screenshot is closer to the imagery often associated with the word "dungeon." We were quite particular about its color theme, and our artists went through many iterations of faded coloration and visual details to get the sense of antiquity just right.

The fourth image looks like something out of a space opera; a stark contrast from the natural environments shown in the other screenshots.

We have more dungeons in addition to the ones we introduced here, so please look forward to them!

As we mentioned during the media tour, the dungeons tied to the main scenario will be balanced around the same difficulty as previous leveling dungeons. The dungeons you unlock after reaching level 100 are intended to pose an enjoyable challenge, so you may want to set aside any expectations you may have based on previous Expert Roulette dungeons as to not be caught off guard!

New Trials



(02:00:16)

We took a sneak peek at the new trial against the mighty Valigarmanda through live gameplay. The visual atmosphere of the arena shifts as the battle goes on, which you may want to look out for.

A new system mechanic will display the boss's current action in the center of the screen, allowing players to keep track of the situation without diverting their attention to the boss's cast bar. We hope that by displaying battle events as shared information, party members will have an easier time coordinating with each other.

We're hoping to gradually implement this system for older content, but first, we would like to hear your feedback after trying it out in Patch 7.0.

New Raid Series



(02:29:28)

Check out the video for a sneak peek at the general ambience of the upcoming 8-player raid series!

The normal version of the Arcadion will be available in Patch 7.01 (Tuesday, July 16), and the Savage version will be unlocked with Patch 7.05 (Tuesday, July 30).

New Treasure Dungeon (7.05)



(02:41:14)

A new treasure dungeon will be added in Patch 7.05. The graphical update has improved the sheen of golden objects, so look forward to seeing an even more magnificent spectacle at the end of the dungeon!

Gatherer Adjustments




(02:44:52)

Gatherers will have new actions and traits alongside the new level cap. New gathering nodes and regional folklore will be added, along with the new orange gatherers' scrips.

On the system side, the gathering interface will show the remaining number of gathering attempts, and the fish guide will display the type of hook required for a catch. We'll continue to make these sort of relatively minor but helpful improvements in future updates as well.

Crafter Adjustments



(02:47:51)

Crafters will also have new actions and traits to coincide with the new level cap. A large number of recipes will be added, with new master recipes coming in Patch 7.05. And as with gatherers, the new orange crafters' scrips will be added.

The equipment shown during the role quest segment can be crafted, so be sure to level up your crafters if you want to make them!System Adjustments

New Allagan Tomestones



(02:51:13)

In the video, we revealed the gear that will be exchangeable for the new Allagan tomestones of heliometry which will be added in Patch 7.05. Our goal with their designs was something orthodox that would go well with a variety of glamours. We also showed another different set of sci-fi themed gear.

Plenty of other gear designs themed after the new areas will be added, which we hope you'll look forward to collecting and glamouring!

New Feature: Hiding Other Players Near Quest Icons



(02:57:27)

During the release of a new expansion or patch, it was common for numerous players to be crowding around an NPC or object required for a quest. In these situations, the surrounding crowd made it hard to target the quest objective or see your own character's gestures, so this feature aims to solve those problems.

However, considering the presence of many other players is a core aspect of MMOs, we implemented one option to hide surrounding players when approaching an NPC or object with a quest icon, and another option to hide surrounding players while you're interacting with quest NPCs. These will only apply to NPCs and objects that are marked with quest icons and will not affect other NPCs, nor will they hide players in irrelevant situations.

You can also choose whether to keep party members displayed when hiding other players. We considered allowing friends to stay displayed as well, but considering the load it would have on the server, in Patch 7.0, we only implemented the option for party members for now.

We may consider additional functionality in the future, so please let us know what you think after trying it out!

New Feature: Quest Emotes/Recipes in the Duty List



(03:09:19)

When certain quests require performing an emote or crafting an item, the specific emote or recipe will be displayed in the duty list.
Gone are the days of keeping the emotes on a hotbar and favoriting quest-related recipes!

Dyeing Adjustments



(03:16:15)

We went over upcoming changes to the dye system, which have been extremely popular since their reveal.

First, all of the new dyeable gear added in Patch 7.0 onward will support two dye channels. Additionally, we also implemented two dye channels for a number of popular existing gear in the release of Patch 7.0.
We're working on gradually implementing two dye channels for all dyeable gear by Patch 7.4.

The item dyeing menu will be able to save favored dyes, as well as recall the specific dye combination that was applied before.

Dye 1 will dye the sections of the item that were dyeable pre-7.0, whereas Dye 2 will color the newly dyeable sections. You'll also be able to swap the colors of Dye 1 and Dye 2 with a single click!

Check out the video for live gameplay of these new features! The first stage of the graphical update will update how colors and gear textures appear, so we encourage you to try various color combinations and outfits!

Facewear Implementation



(03:31:29)

Spectacles that were available as fashion accessories will be categorized as "Facewear." Facewear can be selected from the Character menu and equipped at the same time as head gear, as well as saved in gear sets.

Since they can be worn in duties and will be displayed in portraits, facewear will function more like gear rather than fashion accessories. They won't be dyeable but will be available in 12 different colors (including the default color) so you'll have quite a selection to choose from when matching your outfit.

New Fashion Accessories, Minions, and Mounts

(03:38:11)

In the video, we took a sneak peek at the new items that will be added in Patch 7.0. Some of Yoshida's favorites include a "gamer umbrella," a corn-like minion, a cat minion, and mounts that look like the player character grew wings. Please look forward to the many and varied items that will be implemented!

(03:53:00)

We also introduced some points about the landscape while flying over Yak'Tel, one of the aforementioned areas that will be added in Dawntrail. In the new areas, we added a method to seamlessly change the lighting of an area without having to load in between. Our goal with this is to improve immersion and help the in-game world feel more lifelike.

When you want to take a brief break from your adventures, we recommend taking a moment to pause and enjoy the scenery.

Fantasia Adjustments



(03:58:16)

As we previously announced in the last Letter LIVE, a new feature will be added to Fantasia. After you edit your character and log in for the first time, you'll have 60 minutes of playtime to re-edit your character as many times as you like, which won't be counted while you're logged out or when you get disconnected!

Companion App Updates



(03:59:50)

The new Companion App features will require kupo nuts and mog coins, which can be purchased with real-world currency. We'll continue updating the app to expand what you can do on the go, even when you aren't logged into the game!

Housing Updates

(04:01:04)

The increased number of furnishings that can be placed and the ability to change estate interiors will be implemented sometime during the 7.x patches. We showed a new housing exterior that will be added in Patch 7.0, which has a charming fantasy theme and a rooftop terrace.

Many other housing-related items will be implemented, so please look forward to them!

We are also planning to resume the automatic demolition timer on the Japanese data center and will announce the date when it is confirmed.

[Voltenyne]

Upcoming Schedule



(04:06:06)

We shared an overview of our upcoming schedule and update details from early access to the launch of Patch 7.05.

Note that before early access, there will be a 48-hour maintenance starting Wednesday, June 26.

The patch size for the Windows version will be about 55 GB, or about 90 GB when combined with the original files. (PlayStation®4 version: about 80GB / PlayStation®5 version: about 70GB / Xbox Series X|S version: about 100GB) If you're eager to play immediately when early access begins, we recommend starting the download ahead of time when it becomes available!