Big changes are coming to Final Fantasy XIV thanks to the release of Stormblood, and Square Enix has finally detailed what to expect when early access hits the MMORPG on June 16.
The company has released the preliminary patch notes, which solidify previously detailed changes to the battle system, enhancements for newcomers, and show even more of the content coming to the game.
The full patch notes can be read here, but some content is unavailable due to the potential for spoilers. While the patch details could change prior to the start of early access and the official launch of the game, this is the best look at what to expect yet.
After hearing the feedback from media events happening across the globe, fans were a bit concerned about the changes coming to their favourite roles in Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward, but the commitment Square Enix has to the franchise is demonstrated best by the patch notes.
Some of these concerns, such as issues related to the healing potential of the White Mage, are slowly being eliminated, and Square Enix has shown it is committed to the healing class by announcing changes to the DPS potential of the class. The patch notes detail changes to the damage potency of the healer role’s black magic. This means the need for balancing attacker stance and healer stance is gone, and players can focus solely on the new elements that have been added to the game with the Stormblood patch.
Other enhancements include the consolidation of Heavensward’s end-game currency into A Realm Reborn’s Tomestones of Poetics, which allows gamers to have little interruption when levelling from 50 to 70. Additionally, gamers who have stepped away from Final Fantasy XIV can load up with the best-in-class gear sets, as long as they have a little bit of currency left over.
Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood releases on PlayStation 4, Mac, and PC on June 20, but fans can start downloading the patch immediately to prepare for June 16’s early access event by logging into the game’s client. Stay tuned for more Final Fantasy XIV news and a full review of its latest expansion next week.
