2026 FanFests

[ItsKylos]

One BIG factor folks aren't considering right now is FF7 Part 3 is almost definitely hitting a Spring 2027 release for the 30th anniversary. They've already confirmed that is the goal and production and recording has been going full steam ahead more than a year at this point. Part 1 was April 2020 and Part 2 was February 2024, so a February to April 2027 release timeframe is almost guaranteed. FFXIV is going to absolutely avoid that juggernaut, which makes a June/July 2027 release most likely.

Personally, the entire situation is crap. The longer patch cycles, anemic content and just overall sentiment from veteran players is in the toilet and the mixed review of Dawntrail didn't help. Yoshi P still acts like he has the benefits of when FFXIV was in its prime and he could do no wrong and say whatever he wanted and folks would eat it up. That isn't the case anymore.

All I know is I refuse to be held hostage by this game over a house and stuck subbing for something I have ZERO interest in playing during the downtime. So, it is time to jettison my three extra retainers, pack up the house and ditch it because after 7.5 I am peacing out until a month before 8.0 drops. No way in hell I am going to keep subbing 12+ months with nothing new happening over a piece of virtual real estate. I've done it for years. No more.

Square Enix likely wants FFXIV to be in the fiscal year of 2027, so I expect a late January release honestly and let's say FF7 Part 3 releases on its anniversary January 31st... we could still see a March release for 8.0

Genuinely, let's just wait and see lol- dooming won't get us anywhere, and at the same time the situation also doesn't call for complete optimism

[Daralii]

Square Enix likely wants FFXIV to be in the fiscal year of 2027, so I expect a late January release honestly and let's say FF7 Part 3 releases on its anniversary January 31st... we could still see a March release for 8.0

Genuinely, let's just wait and see lol- dooming won't get us anywhere, and at the same time the situation also doesn't call for complete optimism

Japan's fiscal year starts in April for corporations and the government.

[ItsKylos]

Japan's fiscal year starts in April for corporations and the government.

From what I saw in the Square Enix reports, this fiscal year is considered the 2026 Fiscal Year, so the one from April 1st 2026 - March 31st 2027 would be the 2027 fiscal year

[Khutulun]

So much time before the next expansion, but tbh I'm not sure I expect it to go well used. FF14 needs manpower + budget boost when 8.0 drops, that way they have enough time to train up the new blood and shorten 9.0's release schedule- assuming FF14 doesn't crash and burn with a disappointing 8.0.

[DynnDiablos]

So much time before the next expansion, but tbh I'm not sure I expect it to go well used. FF14 needs manpower + budget boost when 8.0 drops, that way they have enough time to train up the new blood and shorten 9.0's release schedule- assuming FF14 doesn't crash and burn with a disappointing 8.0.

They aren't going to boost the game's budget. The writing is on the wall that it won't be getting the same attention it did in the previous expansion years. Folks should expect it to pitter patter along until it hits more of a maintenance cadence like FFXI. This whole plan for a new epic ten year saga? Wishful thinking.

[Aexnidaral]

Let me preface this by saying that I am not a doomer -- I love this game and want it to succeed.

But, holy hell, SE... you've got to communicate better and more clearly. Issuing vague platitudes about "whirlwind pace" while it's easy to extrapolate dates based on your previous history of very rigid calendar structure is just absurd.

The game simply is not in a good place right now, and hedging bets behind PR speak and hoping it will placate people is not particularly helpful towards overall sentiment in the community.

Even if the best case scenario is that 8.0 comes out in January of 2027, that's a long time of... not a lot of things to fill that gap with, quite honestly; and pushing that towards an even likelier may or beyond date is crazy.

[MicahZerrshia]

Even if the best case scenario is that 8.0 comes out in January of 2027, that's a long time of... not a lot of things to fill that gap with, quite honestly; and pushing that towards an even likelier may or beyond date is crazy.

BuT Dt HaS mOrE cOnTeNt ThAn AnY oThEr ExPaNsIoN

[remiff]

BuT Dt HaS mOrE cOnTeNt ThAn AnY oThEr ExPaNsIoN

Stormblood overall had a bit more content, and the patch cycle was about 3.5 months.

[theunhappypotato]

why berlin that place sucks

[Carin-Eri]

I'm not usually one to outright criticise when it comes to these matters....

but I really do wish that once, just once, YoshiP would stop making ambiguous statements . "Major future plans which we'll be rolling out at a whirlwind pace". That tells us absolutely nothing.

Edit: Aexnidaral conveyed what I was trying to say far more eloquently!