ffxiv FFXIV - Naoki Yoshida Discusses Dawntrail and Future Plans at Japan Expo 2024!

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Naoki Yoshida, who returned to the Japan Expo in Paris after 5 years, has given some interesting information during various interviews with French fans and media outlets, providing details about Dawntrail and the future of FFXIV!

At Japan Expo, producer and director Naoki Yoshida made a highly anticipated return to meet French fans after a five-year absence. This visit coincided with the recent release of the latest expansion, Dawntrail. Furthermore, the interview, which was conducted in collaboration with FFDream and facilitated by Odilon Grevet, head of French localization, covered various aspects of the game.

Below, we will go over the most interesting talking points:

Balance and Gameplay

Yoshi-P stated that he was very happy about reconnecting with fans and discussed the challenges of balancing game difficulty and progression, particularly for new players. He also mentioned the possibility of creating an "intermediate hall" to bridge the knowledge gap, but expressed a few concerns about potential community division.

On top of that, Yoshida also highlighted FFXIV's technical difficulties, emphasizing the issues caused by server-client connections. Despite these limits, the development team is still committed to improving gameplay and exploring new ideas.

FFXIV Lore

Regarding the game's storyline, Yoshi-P hinted at unresolved mysteries left by the Ascians, suggesting that future content may delve into these lingering questions without going over old plots.

Furthermore, concerning the many references to previous Final Fantasy games in FFXIV, particularly in Dawntrail, Yoshida explained that they are not systematized but are the result of the team's passion for the franchise. The goal is to pay homage to past titles and introduce FFXIV players to other Final Fantasy games they might not have played.

Yoshi-P also mentioned the complex lore of the game, encouraging players to explore content like the Aloalo Island Dungeon for a deeper understanding, talked about the branch theory of space-time within FFXIV, where multiple timelines exist, and hinted at ongoing battles in alternate realities.

Story Skip Option

On the topic of allowing new players to skip previous expansions and start directly with Dawntrail, Yoshida revealed that such a system was considered but ultimately rejected. He emphasized the importance of the game's story and the community's role in mentoring new players, stating that skipping content would undermine these elements.

Cultural Inspiration

Last but not least, Yoshi-P addressed the team's efforts to draw inspiration from different cultures for Dawntrail. Although they could not travel due to time constraints, the scenario team visited a Mesoamerican art exhibition in Tokyo to capture the expansion's atmosphere. Yoshida also acknowledged the complexity of the names used in the game, stating that they are carefully researched and meaningful, but he also hinted at a possible simplification in the future. 

Overall, this interview sounds like Final Fantasy XIV has an amazing future ahead and many more adventures to come! So stay tuned for more!

If you want to read the full interview, you can find it here: JE 2024 - Interview with Naoki Yoshida

Please keep in mind that the entirety of the interview may include spoilers, so if you care about that, make sure you have finished Dawntrail before reading it.