With the summer coming to a close, the time has come forFinal Fantasy 14to begin The Rising event–a holiday celebrating the MMO’s anniversary. TheFinal Fantasy 14event’s history of breaking the fourth wall to tease the game’s future continues this year, with a cryptic hint of great change on the horizon afterEndwalker.
In universe, The Rising is a holiday which celebrates the anniversary of the Seventh Umbral Calamity–the event which heralded the end of the originalFinal Fantasy 14via the release of Bahamutfrom the lesser moon, Dalamud. Outside the game, it coincides with the launch ofFinal Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborna few years after the original servers shut down.
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Every year,The Rising event inFinal Fantasy 14allows developers to speak directly to players and give hints about the future of the game. This year is no different; players are once again transported to a mystic, liminal space by the Wandering Minstrel–a mysterious, ever-present bard who looks suspiciously like director and producer Naoki Yoshida. While there, Yoshida himself thanks players for being a part of the community, and claims “another great change” is coming soon, and that it will “open the way to exciting new journeys.”
Players are already speculating as to what this could mean. InFinal Fantasy 14’scurrent patch story, it is plumbing the depths of the Void in search of a missing dragon, but story hints suggest there may be a way to restore the damned world to its original state. Other players wonder if the events ofEndwalkermight trigger another Calamity or other terrible event, which may coincide with aworld revamp similar to whatWorld of Warcraftdid inCataclysm.
Others speculate that Yoshida’s cryptic hint could be referring to a change outside the game. In February,Final Fantasy 14announced an upcoming graphics overhaulwhich would begin with the critically-acclaimed MMORPG’s unannounced sixth expansion pack. Such a drastic overhaul could qualify as a “great change,” and the improved graphical fidelity could lead to “exciting new journeys” as well.
Players who want to experience The Rising event for themselves can accept the quest “Newfound Journey” from the Wandering Minstrel in Ul’dah once they reach level 15 . This limited-time quest takes only a few minutes to complete, and will be available until early morning on September 12. Players who complete it will also acquire the newSolus zos Galvus minion inFinal Fantasy 14, and the chance to see Yoshida’s cryptic hints for themselves. WhateverFinal Fantasy 14has in store for its fans promises to be exciting, one way or another.
Final Fantasy 14is available now for PC, PS4, and PS5.
