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By Piyo
There's still a few more weeks until Patch 7.3! Is there enough time to do everything? What's left, crash the hat market in Eorzea?
Final Fantasy XIV's Letter from the Producer LIVE Part LXXXVII just aired yesterday, packed with the latest updates for Patch 7.3! If you haven't had the chance to watch it yet, why not check out our Live Letter summary on IcyVeins?
Patch 7.3 is expected to release early in August, which is only a few weeks away! Each patch cycle is four months long, so I can't believe how fast time flies by. For the busy Warriors of Light, perhaps it's time to check things off your to-do list?
Here are five things you should do before the upcoming changes in Patch 7.3:
1. Ending Soon: PvP Series 8 and Crystalline Conflict Season 15
Have you done your PvP Series this season yet? There are some limited Series Malmstone rewards, such as the Magitek Slasher Identification Key, which will go away once Patch 7.3 arrives!
If you haven't started yet, you still have time! The last unique reward from PvP Series 8 is at Series Level 25. There are a variety of different ways you can get Series EXP, such as:
Crystalline Conflict matches, Rival Wings, and Frontline Roulettes! All three methods are approximately the same amount of time, but you will earn more or less Series EXP based on wins, ties, and losses. Learn more about the PvP Series 8 rewards here!
If you're still looking to rank up in Crystalline Conflict, the last tier of rewards is the Crystal tier. This will be changing, as they're adding two new tiers in Patch 7.3: Omega and Ultima! After reaching Crystal, you can only go up (or down!) based on your Crystal Credits.
Remember you can only progress in ranked matches on specific Logical Data Centers listed below. Good luck!
2. Suzaku Unreal Will Be Replaced
The faux commander asks you to regale him with a tale of fiery passion and heartbreak...
Have you tried out the latest Unreal duty yet? The Hells' Kier (Unreal) is only available until the start of Patch 7.3. Once the patch releases, The Wreath of Snakes (Unreal) will become the new Unreal duty instead. Seiryu will certainly prove to be a challenge!
Unreal duties are only available for a limited-time, and are the perfect way to get started in high-end raiding without committing to Arcadion Savage! You get to re-experience a fight from an older expansion, and learn how to play your job with ease at level 100! Go get some amazing Faux Hollow rewards before Suzaku's gone!
3. Hats, Hats, and More Hats!
Coming soon to Hrothgars and Vieras near you, Patch 7.3 will expand the supported headgear available for these races! This not only includes funny hats and helmets, but also the ability to hide Viera ears! Maybe I won't chop off my fluffy ears just yet...
There will also be newly added support for hair fringes too! We have so many Warriors of Light balding accidentally, now wearing hooded headgears won't feel so... revealing!
Headgear pieces are widely available everywhere: various marketboards, instanced duties, item exchanges, quest rewards... If there's something you might like, get it now before they're all gone!
4. Ready Your Phantom Weapons
With a new patch comes a new Phantom Weapon update, getting you one step closer to "perfection". In Occult Crescent, players can upgrade their relic weapons, eventually becoming the best-in-slot weapons by the end of Dawntrail. This is one way to power up without having to do Savage or Ultimate raids!
If you already completed the current steps for one Phantom Weapon, why not pick up another? Though there will be no updates to the Demiatma grind, relic weapons will surely keep you, well, busy! Maybe you won't suffer as much as the Warrior of Light over here...
5. Quests to Read with Just Enough Time
And last, but not least, why not get some light reading done? In Patch 7.3, there will be many story updates, including the main scenario quests and Echoes of Vana'diel alliance raid series. If you haven't done any of the quests below yet, schedule some reading time!
[Main Scenario Quest] Seekers of Eternity (Patch 7.2) [Alliance Raid] Echoes of Vana'diel - Jeuno: The First Walk (Patch 7.1) [Sidequest] Inconceivably Further Hildibrand Adventures (Patch 7.25) [Allied Society] Pelupelu (Patch 7.1) and Mamool Ja (Patch 7.25) Also, if you want to explore the new Deep Dungeon in Il Mheg, you need to complete the main scenario quest "Endwalker". Stay tuned for more stories to experience in Patch 7.3!
Remember there's an upcoming Moogle Treasure Trove event, filled with limited-time rewards and fun activities to discover! For the promise of tomorrow, good luck with your adventures!
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By Piyo
Patch 7.3 Live Letter reveals new raids, relic tweaks, and big surprises for FFXIV players. What’s changing in Eorzea next? Find out inside.
Are you excited about the upcoming Patch 7.3 for Final Fantasy XIV? It's been a few months since we got an update on the main story questline, and even longer for the Echoes of Vanadiel Alliance Raid series!
If you haven't gotten the chance to watch the Letter from the Producer LIVE Part LXXXVII, feel free to check out the summary below! Most Live Letters are in Japanese audio only, so a big thank you to Miuna and Iluna Minori for the fan translations at r/FFXIV Discord!
FFXIV Patch 7.3 Tentative Release Date
The upcoming patch for Final Fantasy XIV is called "The Promise of Tomorrow"! Currently, Patch 7.3 is expected to release in early August 2025.
Patch 7.25 Occult Crescent Feedback
Occult Crescent players expressed the desire to enter the Forked Tower with a preformed alliance. Currently, players can only participate if they enter the same Occult Crescent instance together. This poses several co-ordination issues seen with Eureka's Baldesion Arsenal even today.
However, the Square Enix team also felt the Delubrum Reginae Savage player requirements from Bozja were also too difficult to meet on release. It was originally a raid instance for 48 players, but soon reduced the minimum entry requirement to 24 players instead.
In Patch 7.3, they will add a feature allowing a premade alliance of 48 players to queue into the same instance together. In addition, players will require 1 Cypher to reserve their spot in the Forked Tower -- this is similar to getting prioritized for Critical Engagements in Bozja instances.
Will there be a Normal and Savage Forked Tower?
Unfortunately, adding another version of the Forked Tower will be unlikely due to development costs. For future Occult Crescent duties, they will try to develop both a normal and savage version, but no guarantees!
Other Occult Crescent Updates
The disappointing magic pot and happy bunny coffers will also have their rewards adjusted in the future. Thank goodness: I don't want to see another drop of materia or fireworks again! The developers will also consider re-balancing the FATE difficulty scaling and Auroral Mirage weather windows, so they're more reasonable moving forward.
Have you tried working on the new Relic weapon yet? The developers heard your pleas for better demiatma and soul shard drop rates... and nothing will change (for now)! The current drop rates, which are 20% for Critical Engagements and 5% from FATEs, are balanced based on past Relic quest item data. For example, A Realm Reborn's Atma drop rates originally began at just 2% -- thankfully they're now balanced to 20%, but still!
Cosmic Exploration Feedback
For the Cosmic Exploration feedback, you will be able to use mounts starting in Patch 7.3. This also includes the new 7.31 Exploration content too. I liked the local transitway, but it just doesn't beat running around on the Fat Cat mount!
They will also adjust the time limit on some Cosmic Exploration missions, as some players felt they were too difficult to keep up at times. For example, a lot of gathering missions required players to pay strict attention to their GP regeneration while running to the next gathering point. If you missed a potion timing? Say goodbye to your Gold medal!
To solve this issue, the developers have added a feature that returns the GP used during the mission. Though your used cordials won't return, the cast timer will at least reset upon mission completion. They are also planning to add follow-up missions if you happen to fail one, and additional incentives once you have finished enhancing your Cosmic tools.
They will also add retainer bells and a proper transit to the moon as well. Previously, you had to find Drivingway to transport you to the moon, but how can I find them when there are so many Loporrits at Carrotway?! So now there will be a teleport ticket that will take you directly to Drivingway.
Main Story Questline Update
If you have not completed the current main story quests yet, there may be story spoilers ahead!
Does Sphene have a book? Is this the birth of a new Scholar or Summoner? Will she be fighting alongside the Warrior of Light too?!
We've seen these robots before, but what's up with their helmet? Is it glitching? According to the developers, it's very reminiscent of the "Kira-Kira" scenes from the Gundam GQuuuuuuX anime...
As part of the MSQ update, there will also be a new Level 100 dungeon added: "The Meso Terminal," along with a mysterious new Level 100 trial too. Our last trial was the Recollection, so I wonder what -- or who -- this statue could be?
If you haven't caught up with the main story yet, you better start reading!
Other Quest Updates
The new Allied Society quests will be with the Yok Huy! This seems to be for the Disciples of Hand, as we already have the Pelupelu for battle jobs, and the Mamool Ja for Disciples of Land. The background looks like Urqopacha, but I've yet to see a whole area covered in snow like this one...
There will also be an update to the Inconceivably Further Hildibrand Adventures questline, which was first released back in Patch 7.15. Nashu's expression while looking at the egg scares me a little; is this the new mystery? If you don't know anything about the Hildibrand Adventures questline, be sure to check it out!
Echoes of Vana'diel Alliance Raid Update
As expected, the next instalment of Echoes of Vana'diel will be added in Patch 7.3. San d'Oria: The Second Walk is the second alliance raid in the series, and is heavily related to Final Fantasy XI. If you haven't finished Jeuno: The First Walk yet, now's the time! I'd love to nap under the dreamy aurora night sky...
Unreal Duty Update
Have you guys tried out the Unreal duties yet? These are the Extreme trials from past expansions, which have been re-balanced for level 100 players to enjoy. The upcoming duty in Patch 7.3 will be The Wreath of Snakes (Unreal), featuring Seiryu from Stormblood!
Treasure Dungeon Update
As is tradition, there will also be a new treasure dungeon added, the Vault Oneiron. This looks just like the Living Memory dungeon! ? And is that a DJ Mandragora?!
Duty Support Update
If you are still working through the main story in A Realm Reborn, the Duty Support system will be adding Cutter's Cry to its list of compatible duties. Perfect for new players, or even veterans trying a new job for the first time!
PvP Updates
PvP gets regular updates every few months, such as beginning a new PvP Series and PvP action changes. But did you expect a new Crystalline Conflict arena too?! I LOVE the beach: it makes me feel like I can play some serious matches here!
For those who enjoy ranking, they have also added two new Crystalline Conflict tiers: Omega and Ultima. Be sure to start the PvP Series 9 season at the Bayside Battleground, and get those rankings up!
Cosmic Exploration Update
As mentioned before, Cosmic Exploration will get several updates in Patch 7.3, including exploration on a new star. We will finally get to survey beyond the moon -- Phaenna awaits!
The same features from Sinus Ardorum are in place on Phaenna, such as Cosmic Tool enhancements and the Starward Standings stela. Better return to work, gatherers and crafters! If you have yet to try Cosmic Exploration, it's a perfect opportunity to level up your Disciples of the Land and Hand!
Phantom Weapons Update
There will also be another update to Phantom Weapons, the Relic weapon series from Occult Crescent. I wonder why the Warrior of Light is so disappointed here...
Deep Dungeon Update
THERE'S ALSO A NEW DEEP DUNGEON? Gamers, we know this may not be the most exciting content to progress through, but this is one part of the game many players secretly enjoy (including me!). Those wanting to level fast and looking for a new solo challenge will surely have a great time here.
You will need to complete the main scenario quest "Endwalker" and progress to floor 50 of the Palace of the Dead. You must be level 91 or above to enter, and the new Deep Dungeon can be accessed by speaking to a NPC in Il Mheg.
In addition, something new to Deep Dungeons is a post-completion Bonus Duty! A harder version of the floor 99 boss battle will be accessible after completing floor 100. You can challenge this at level 100 with a party of four players.
No Ultimate Raid in Patch 7.3
I know a lot of players were expecting a new Ultimate in Patch 7.3, but there will be no Ultimate raid this upcoming patch. It will release one day, just not soon. Sorry!
That disappointed Warrior of Light is more relatable the longer I look at it...
Miscellaneous Updates
A few other things the development team has worked on includes chat bubbles! This feature is both optional and toggleable in/out of combat (PvE and PvP). As well, you can select the bubble colour and which channel(s) that will appear!
There is also expanded headgear support for both Hrothgars and Vieras!
They not only get some newly supported hats and helmets, but also the option to hide Viera ears?! I'm pretty conflicted, I quite like the fluffy ears clipping through my hats...
WAIT IS THAT THE HAIR FRINGE PEEKING THROUGH TOO?! If you like what you see, be sure to buy your hat glamours before they sell out!
Whiteboard Feature in Patch 7.4+
The Whiteboard will NOT release in Patch 7.3. This is an in-game tool that the development team has been working hard towards implementing, but it seems the release date is much later than anticipated. At least it looks really good so far, keep up the good work!
Some functions that they are also considering are:
Ability to display the board whenever (like in combat!) Highlight specific jobs Set-up multiple boards for a single duty Shareable with others! If they can add these features, it would be an amazing game-changer to the current learning scene. I can't wait to see more!
Live Events and New Merchandise
That's all for the in-game updates! But what about any new live events?
If you happen to live close to, or will be visiting Shibuya, Tokyo, the FFXIV Summer Festival of Light will be celebrating its one-year anniversary from Saturday, July 12th to Tuesday, July 15th. More details will be available on the Japanese Lodestone.
What if you're in Los Angeles, California? For this year's Anime Expo convention, FFXIV events will be happening from Thursday, July 3rd to Sunday, July 6th. In addition, Producer & Director Naoki Yoshida will be hosting a panel discussion on Friday July 4th at 12:30 PM (PDT). Better mark your calendars!
As for new merchandise related to Final Fantasy XIV, the Square Enix Store currently has pre-orders open for the silver ear cuff, inspired by the Elezen twins from Eorzea! This will be the perfect accessory for cosplaying as Alphinaud and Alisaie, because I can wear it on either ear!
There are also an assortment of other goods too, such as stickers and a Doman Mahjong inspired T-shirt. The Sugar Riot stickers have holographic sparkles too, they're so shiny! I need to pre-order these soon!
You can also purchase the new merchandise early at Japan's pop-up stores in Osaka and Tokyo! The pop-up stores will be open between July to September, though the schedule is always subject to change.
What if you love the outdoors? Well, now you can bring the game you love with you! Collaborating with LOGOS, a Japanese outdoor brand first established in 1985, the marketing team has created a whole set of outdoor goods for you to camp with! They'll be releasing later this year in North America and Europe.
Are there any FFXIV lore enjoyers reading this? Well, you might be interested in the Chronicles of Light Volume 2! This features 30 different stories, including 4 brand-new stories, the Tales of the Shadows, Tales from the Twilight, and so much more! Pre-order now, before its digital release on October 7th!
In addition, there is a 10% purchase discount off the custom order photobook: Memories of Light. This is a limited-time Japan campaign from Friday, June 20th to Monday, July 21st. Check out its official website to learn more!
And last, but not least, the Primals Dark Decades Tour has sold out completely! This music tour will be happening across various locations in Japan, from late July to late August. Be sure to take photos for me!
Job Opportunities
Currently, the FFXIV team in Japan are looking for new applicants to join their staff! How would you like to work on a game millions of players, including yourself, love?
Even if you are not interested in the following jobs, you can also apply for a Square Enix position too. Please note: both positions require professional-level Japanese. Oof!
And this will be the end of the Part 1 Live Letter for Final Fantasy XIV Patch 7.3! I know this was quite a long summary, but I hope you enjoyed reading through it. See you next time for Part 2!
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By Piyo
FFXIV Mobile's Open Beta in China just released yesterday, and players are discovering what the monetization has in store for them... literally and figuratively!
If you haven't heard already, Final Fantasy XIV's Mobile game is currently available for open beta testing on their Chinese servers. We have previously covered how to play and what features the game offers, but what about their plans for monetization? Has it held up to what the developers said, and what the community wants to see?
Over at the r/FFXIV_Mobile community on Reddit, a lot of players have already dipped their toes, excited to revive their love for the Final Fantasy XIV universe. If it’s been a while, watching a new player go through A Realm Reborn might hit you right in the nostalgia.
Thanks to Reddit user RablaAndrews, they have summarized all of the things you can pay for in FFXIV Mobile. The game is currently free to play, but any game development takes time and money. For example, FFXIV on consoles and the PC requires you to pay a monthly subscription. So what are the ways you can support the game financially?
In-Game Currency & the Shop
Well, for starters, you can obtain exclusive in-game items using "Top-Up Points," which are purchasable with Chinese yuan. The approximate conversion rate is 1 Yuan for 0.14 USD, but keep in mind the current conversion rate changes and the Global version of the game may not reflect the same prices. These look just like the Crysta you can purchase from the Mog Station!
Everything in the "Mog Station" shop is purchasable using these Top-Up Points. This includes discounted costume sets we've seen from the actual FFXIV Online Store, mounts, minions, and even consumables such as the infamous Fantasia!
Surprisingly, even regular armor — the kind you'd normally grab off the marketboard for under 1,000 Gil — has been monetized. Have you seen how cute the penguin mount is?!
Monthly Subscription
FFXIV Mobile also offers a "daily check-in" subscription service that you can purchase for 30 days at a time. The game is free-to-play, but this is an optional premium service. It provides Top-Up Points each daily reset, and also seems to offer unique buffs and discounts, such as:
EXP Boost and Booster Consumables Less Marketboard Tax More Marketboard Slots Faster Mount Speed This is very similar to the "monthly card" system you can see in a lot of gacha games, such as Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero. However, it is a little more player-friendly, as you can apparently "store them for up to 15 days if you [forget to login]". The current FFXIV subscription model does not account for daily gameplay, though this is slightly different for other regional versions of FFXIV.
Battle Pass System
FFXIV Mobile also offers a battle pass system, where players can do daily activities for battle pass points, and receive valuable rewards when the battle pass levels up. They originally didn't have a free tier in place, but it was added for the Open Beta after receiving player feedback. The battle pass provides up to 60 free levels of rewards, and an additional 80 (and some more) if you purchase for the paid tier instead.
Some of the free rewards this current battle pass offers include:
If you purchase for the paid tier instead, you'll get the free items along with some paid-exclusive things that appear to be purchasable from the shop too. Check out the full list here, translated by Reddit user RablaAndrews.
That’s everything noted so far from the Open Beta. What did you think of the different ways FFXIV Mobile has monetized their game? Do you think we will see something similar in the Global version of the game when it releases? If you want to show your appreciation, be sure to check out the full post on Reddit! Or even better, try FFXIV Mobile yourself!
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By Piyo
If you have played Final Fantasy XIV since Dawntrail's release, you may have heard about PlayerScope, a third-party tool. Recently they got a cease and desist letter!
Let's discuss what this means for the plugin's development, distribution of data, and what players should expect moving forward. As a reminder, Square Enix does not encourage any use of third-party tools. You can consult the official Prohibited Activities FAQ for more information.
What is PlayerScope and How Does It Work?
In summary, PlayerScope is a third-party plugin that records data from thousands of players without their explicit permission. This data can include anything regarding your character data to even learning about your User ID (which ties all of your characters together). Previously, Square Enix had officially confirmed third-party plugins cannot access your account, such as address and payment details, unless you give away your security information.
How does collecting this data work? According to what the community knows, players using this third-party plugin can automatically collect information from other players nearby. It’s like walking up to a stranger and they instantly know everything about you. Weird, but more importantly, scary: it only takes one nefarious player to ruin someone's day.
And opting out wasn’t easy either—you had to dig into their Discord and hand over your info just to be removed. Talk about unnecessary hoops! Square Enix has previously implemented a solution by changing how the information was being collected, but there is no official confirmation yet on its success, nor any hints we will get one. You can review the Letter from the Producer LIVE Part LXXXV where this topic was addressed below:
PlayerScope Stops All Development
Well thankfully, the PlayerScope third-party plugin announced on Discord they will be ceasing all activities due to a "formal cease and desist notice." Shared by the community on Reddit, the activities include "all stored data, including character and user records have been permanently and irreversibly deleted." This supposedly covers files from the public server and the developer's personal server.
What does this mean for the general playerbase? Thankfully, there is one less person who will advocate for sharing your data without permission. However, this does not stop future plugin developers, or those who have previously saved your data, from trying again. Unfortunately, the best we can do is to try and prevent it whenever we see it.
Are third-party tools prohibited in Final Fantasy XIV? It really depends. For example, we can say using a VPN or communicating over an external voice program are third-party tools. But neither of those really impacts how others enjoy the game. It definitely toes the line with the Terms of Service, but as far as we know, no one in any community has any positive feedback about PlayerScope.
Square Enix has been putting in the effort to prevent harassment and privacy breaches as much as possible, so we should be helping them. You can provide player feedback through their official channels. If you can't stop it from happening, at least spread the word so others can stay vigilant too.
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By Piyo
Have you ever wondered what soloing Final Fantasy XIV is like? Some may see this as a lonely experience, but it certainly isn't for RathGames and the solo community.
MogTalk is a Final Fantasy XIV podcast where the host FrostyMog interviews people of interest within the community! This podcast started many years back in February 2015, well before the Heavensward expansion even released in June; both the game and podcast have definitely come a long way.
The latest interview on June 16th, 2025 released as Episode 317 on MogTalk, featuring RathGames, a FFXIV player who exclusively does everything in-game solo. This includes the entire main story questline; no marketboard, trading, or partying with other players; no Trust Support; and so much more. His in-game name, Solo Only, is but a glimpse into his devotion to the cause.
If you want a transcript, a digest from Frosty_TV was released earlier today on Reddit. Just want the interesting tidbits? Read on!
RathGames and the rest of the Final Fantasy XIV solo community are well-known for their "single-player adventure" efforts. Many of them help each other and new players learn how to beat Deep Dungeons alone—a feat less than 4.9% of players across all data centers have achieved. If you've ever tried to clear Deep Dungeons alone, you know it is a difficult challenge!
Now imagine that, but for everything else in the game, from when you first started as a new adventurer to the end of the current Main Story. That's basically what RathGames has been doing for 870 hours (and counting!). The fact that he has already made it to Titania, around the start of Shadowbringers, is impressive!
Now, this doesn't mean that soloing FFXIV is necessarily easy: RathGames has had his share of struggles and often had to restart duties from scratch if his melds are a little off, or he misses some very critical hits. Thankfully, his supportive community has grown over the length of his journey, offering to help him with maximizing his damage output or even counting the number of frames it takes to kill a boss. That is some impressive dedication!
Did you know RathGames also has his own favorite solo-friendly jobs? I hear he's a big fan of Warrior's mitigation and healing, but don't forget Paladin either! This is one job that gets better through Stormblood, trust us. He's also tried out other Tanks, and notes his favorite DPS to play level-synced is, in fact, Red Mage.
If you've never tried any of the jobs he mentioned, we have several guides on Icy Veins to help you learn! Each one is written by someone who knows the job well, so you're sure to learn something new -- and maybe start another challenge just like RathGames.
One of the biggest difficulties with this challenge is that leveling a new job takes time. Like, a lot of time. RathGames, as well as anyone who has tried leveling a brand-new Level 1 class, knows there are not that many fast ways to level without the boosted experience from Main Story Quests. As a result, he notes that he doesn't try to pick up a new job unless he has to—and is incredibly thankful the Palace of the Dead level grind is over. Phew!
RathGames's current goal is to reach the end of Endwalker, but maybe the Seat of Sacrifice LB3 check will prove to be impossible to overcome? This was a mechanic to check that many new players failed back in Shadowbringers, and it is very difficult to execute on Blue Mage without any limit break. He plans to expand the challenge to Dawntrail once the next expansion releases, but until then, you can check out his content on Twitch and YouTube below!
RathGames on Twitch RathGames on YouTube Also, a big thank you to MogTalk for hosting this interview! This summary can't possibly cover everything they discussed, so maybe consider checking out their podcast sometime!
FrostyMog on Twitch MogTalk on YouTube
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