Now you can play Ultimate Fantasy 14 nearly completely solo. Barring a small handful of its main eight-player boss battles, all the Principal State of affairs Quest could be seen with out the assistance of different gamers, and its NPC companions are even discovering their approach into the elective dungeons. It is a aim that Naoki Yoshida’s Artistic Studio 3 has been engaged on since Shadowbringers, and it means anybody can benefit from the (award-winning) story with minimal social stress. However FF14 continues to be, at its coronary heart, an MMORPG – and its final two seasonal occasions have been a much-needed reminder of simply how a lot I worth that aspect of it, even when it is not taking issues significantly.
After I interviewed ‘Yoshi-P’ through the Ultimate Fantasy 14 Dawntrail press tour, he expressed a want to push again within the route of getting individuals to work together, with the last word aim of “80 to 90% multiplayer content material shifting ahead.” The newest enlargement’s roster of dungeons and trials definitely delivered, and the Arcadion raids show the fight crew is completely cooking proper now. I’ve additionally loved many informal evenings spent crafting in house, or operating Essential Encounters in Occult Crescent, even when the story aspect of that latter exercise hasn’t but delivered the best way I hoped.
Feeling like an MMO is about extra than simply the ‘difficult’ actions, nevertheless. It is hanging out in your backyard along with your free firm associates. It is the handfuls of cries of ‘wall’ because the hunt prepare heads to Heritage Discovered. Sure, it is even strolling by way of Limsa throughout peak hours and making an attempt to not suppose an excessive amount of about what’s being stated in public chat. Top-of-the-line alternatives to seize this essence is with seasonal occasions, and I am happy to report that the event crew seems to have discovered its design caps once more.
I’ve misplaced rely of the variety of seasonal occasions in recent times which have boiled all the way down to operating round city for a collection of NPC chats. A few of them have had respectable tales to inform, however the restrict of human interplay was watching different gamers run alongside you between the checkpoints and noting who was skipping the dialogue. In 2026, nevertheless, Ultimate Fantasy 14 has upped its recreation.
First got here Valentione’s Day, which concerned a cake-making contest. Teamed up in teams of 4, we dashed round an enormous, festive corridor to collect up all of the frosting, garnishes, and toppers wanted to construct a roster of 5 customized desserts. It was maybe a smidge one-note in comparison with the likes of the All Saints’ Wake Phantoms’ Feast (from all the best way again in 2021) or the Haunted Manor occasion that preceded it, however it felt completely different. It put a smile on my face. Plus, it was full of rewards – two full outfits, three orchestrion rolls, and a collection of home decorations. Thumbs up.
The Little Girls’ Day occasion, which started this week and runs till Thursday March 12, is a bit of easier, however nonetheless hits the spot. It sees the return of the Songbirds idol group and the trendy Seneschal Prince for an additional live performance, however quite than merely watching a cutscene, it performs out as a public FATE. The final time FF14 took this method was again in 2018. Seeing a crowd of gamers kind, every of us sporting t-shirts to symbolize our on-stage bias, and all switching between different-colored lightsticks in unison with the music, introduced a bit of tingle of pleasure to my coronary heart.
Once more, the rewards are there in spades too. All 4 idol tees to maintain, together with six new lightstick-waving cheer emotes, one other orchestrion roll, and a contemporary spherical of decorations. I do not know whether or not it is a consequence of the FF14 crew feeling on the again foot of late, or just that there is a bit extra improvement time freed up now that the huge graphics replace has principally been rolled out, however I am glad to see it both approach. Take into account this me including my voice to the refrain asking for Sq. Enix to maintain this momentum up.
On the flip of the brand new yr, Yoshida wrote that “the world is altering, and FF14 have to be prepared to vary alongside it – reflecting the calls for of an evolving market, in addition to the methods you reside and play.” I nonetheless do not know precisely what that entails, however after the spectacular patch 7.4 story and this current return to kind on the seasonal occasions entrance, I am beginning to consider that he means it.
