2026 FanFests

[Kisshu]

You have now realized that we're only half way through Dawntrail.

Looking at DT launch till today, it's 421 days.

From last Fanfest till release, it changes a lot, so lets go with 5 months from the JP Fanfest, same time frame as last expansion.
That puts us in early April, so lets go with the 6th.

That would be 1008 days. We aren't even halfway if that's the case.

[Naraku_Diabolos]

Wait, I forgot. A few months ago, were they not look for a new narrative (MSQ) writer?

[RedLolly]

Allow me to prog my first ultimate for a full year

I'll join ya. What class do you need?

[RedLolly]

The dates freak me out a bit, too. I'm really glad a new Pokemon comes out in a couple months, but it looks like 2026 might be a gaming back log year.

That said, the shift from Vegas in felt inevitable after the ADA disaster from last one.

[Pimsan20]

I think it’s best not to dwell on it. Fanfest is just announced, so we can’t confirm when 8.0 will start.

[Shinku_Tachi]

That said, the shift from Vegas in felt inevitable after the ADA disaster from last one.

Anaheim is a great city tho. So I'm sure ppl will enjoy it. ^_^

[RedLolly]

Anaheim is a great city tho. So I'm sure ppl will enjoy it. ^_^

That's great news, too. I hope attendees do.

I was kind of hoping we'd finally get an East Coast USA one since I could drive there, oh well.

[Yuella]

3rd Fanfest to Heavensward early access: 180 days
3rd Fanfest to Stormblood early access: 117 days
3rd Fanfest to Shadowbringers early access: 96 days
Digital Fanfest to Endwalker early access: 202 days (initially 188 days)
3rd Fanfest to Dawntrail early access: 172 days

3rd Fanfest to 8.0 early access:
If we go by fastest (96 days): February 5, 2027
If we go by slowest (188 days, initial release date of Endwalker): May 7, 2027

[InfestedOne]

what speaks against december 26?

History of patch and expansion cadence. If this holds true, then this will be a longer expansion release then even the Covid induced cadence.

[InfestedOne]

It really is extremely strange having the fanfests so spread out, and very much indicates 8.0 not releasing until at least spring 2027. But that doesn't make much sense; if we go by the usual cadence, 7.4 should release early January and 7.5 in late May, leaving almost a year to go until the next expansion. Such a massive amount of time between the final big patch and the next expansion would be a VERY bad idea, especially with how poorly DT has been received when it comes to content drought and release cadence being too long.

The only thing I can think of, and it's VERY farfetched, is that they're increasing the number of .x patches per expansion; a theoretical 7.6 would release around mid-October, which would them put 7.65 in early February and 8.0 on schedule for the usual mid-summer release.

But what would they fill it with? The MSQ is complete as of 7.3